LITERATURE REVIEW: WHAT, WHY

WHEN AND HOWM.Ali

University of the Punjab

Lahore

• Is an extensive, detailed survey of relevant research and/or theory related to a specific topic •Should be analytical and evaluative, not descriptive•Demonstrates understanding of current thinking/research and recent developments in the field•Identifies key authors and important theoretical, technical and/or methodological issues

• Identifies key authors and important theoretical, technical and/or methodological issues

•Shows any relationship between previous studies and/or theories

• Identifies gaps or limitations in previous research

• Shows how previous research is related to your topic

4

• At the beginning of the research project

▫ Proposal▫ Chapter 2, 1 & 3

• Constantly update during the research

• When writing the discussion and conclusion chapters

•How is your research topic placed within existingdebate on the topic?

• What definitions do you need to provide?

• What have other researchers done before?

• What are their findings and/or conclusions?

•What questions remain unanswered?

•How can previous findings, theories or views belogically extended?

1. Establishing a territory (claiming centrality/topic generalizations and reviewing items of previous research2. Establishing a nichei. Counter-claimingii. Indicating a gapiii. raising a questioniv. Continuing a tradition

3. Occupying the niche

i. Outlining purpose and announcing present research

Due to the profound political and economical changes in the world, the commercial relations of different nations have noticeably increased and English is now considered by many nations as an international language. According to Strevens(1987) English is used by more people than any other language on the earth

To be involved in the world business, there is always a need for an internationally accepted language. English is used in global business for transactions in goods and services throughout the world (Arvani, 2006)

In spite of wide spread developments in communication technology, business letters are still widely used in the world as a main channel of business correspondence. However, to achieve desirable results in communicating through business letters , the communicators should deal with two major functions of language termed by Brown and Yule (1983) as “interactional and transactional functions”. It means that a business letter, in addition to being scrutinized from …………………………………………………………………………………….

Counter-claiming

This article argues that learner autonomy should not be seen as a goal only for highly committed students completing optional courses, or for students operating within selected educational or cultural contexts. Rather, it should be seen as an essential goal of all learning.

Indicating a gap

However, much of the past research on cross cultural strategy choices is descriptive in nature and have a very limited explanatory role in comparative research.

Raising a question

How could C-R theory be sensibly integrated to meet learner needs in this researcher’s teaching situation? Who were the learners? How could C-R be designed according to the ………………………………….

Continuing the tradition or extending the knowledge

This article is an expansion of recent research concerning the design of an ESP program for multi-disciplinary technical learners.

Outlining purpose and announcing present researchThe purpose of the present investigation was to study ………………………………….

This paper describes the …………………………………

This research contributes the field of GVC framework…………………..

• When writing the literature review, organize materials into key concepts/themes

• Use headings to group similar studies

• Describe the most important studies in detail

• Mention less important studies like “the results are confirmed in similar studies………. See xyz, 2013, abc, 2010

• Use example or evidence to support points made

• Think about the wider significance of the material

• Discuss implications of previous research

• Relate this research to important theoretical concepts and own insights

• Point out gaps in current knowledge on the topic

• Indicate directions for further study

14

Meta-analysis Quantitatively combines the results of studies that are

the result of a systematic literature review.

Capable of performing a statistical analysis of the

pooled results of relevant studies.

Narrative review Selective review of the literature that broadly covers

a specific topic.

Does not follow strict systematic methods to locate

and synthesize articles.

Systematic review Utilizes exacting search strategies to make certain

that the maximum extent of relevant research has

been considered.

Original articles are methodologically appraised and

synthesized.

Organization

Chronological/sequent

ial

Problem, contextual

solution

Similarities/differences patterns

Against/ for

16

• Books

• Journals

• Conference papers

• Theses and dissertations

• Bibliographies

• Maps

• Internet

• Indexes/Abstracts

• Audio-visual material

• CDs/DVDs

• Electronic databases

• Government reports

• Magazines

• Newspapers

• Interviews and other unpublished research

17