THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Chapter 2 – Literature Review

Mrs. C. Bogle

“Too often the review of literature is seen as a necessary evil to be completed as fast as possible so that one can get on with the ‘real research’.”

The Literature Review

PURPOSE:• Literature review means consulting

works done by researchers in one’s area of research in order to understand and investigate a research problem

• The works could include: journal articles, books, theses, dissertations, etc.

Literature Review

• It helps the researcher to determine what is already known in the area of study• The researcher is able to know the

main concepts and variables previously studied• The researcher is able to learn

about the existing theories in the area of study

Literature Review

• The researcher is able to identify inconsistencies or shortcomings in the literature

• The researcher is able to know about the views of other researchers that need to be investigated further

• It helps the researcher in identifying gaps in the existing literature and stating how the present study can fill the gap

Literature Review

• The researcher is able to state the contributions the present study can be expected to make• It helps the researcher to

determine the research designs or methods that seem unsatisfactory and the ones that are satisfactory

Literature Review

STYLE• The literature is written in the Present

Tense. However, when reporting on a finding, the Past Tense is employed.

• (1) Tuckman (1994) defines an independent variable as the factor that is measured, manipulated……..

• (2) Brown (2009) in a study of cooperative learning found that collaboration among students in group…

Literature Review

PREPARATION• Write the problem at the top of a sheet

of paper• Write out each variable to be

researched – independent and dependent

• Write each sub-problem or variable• Identify keywords and phrases in each

sub-problem or variable

Literature Review

PREPARATION• Write these keywords and phrases in a

column under the appropriate sub-problem or variable. The list you generate becomes your agenda as you read the literature

• Go to the library to seek out resources related to your agenda

Literature Review

• After you have identified your primary

and secondary sources, you need to

abstract your findings. This involves

locating, summarizing and classifying

your references according to the

headings or theses of your study.

Literature Review

Primary Source:

• First hand information, such as the

testimony of an eyewitness, an

original document, or a description

of a study written by the person

who conducted it

Literature Review

Secondary Source

• Second hand information, such as a

brief description of a study written by

someone other than the person who

conducted it

Let’s Emphasize!!!

Literature Review

• Review literature that is related to the key variables. Use 10 to 15 primary sources no older than 1998.

• Theory • Philosophical underpinnings • Review related to the problem • Literature is current and relevant • Sources cited are in reference list and

vice versa

Literature Review

• Identify key words and sources• Identify sources as primary and

secondary• Evaluate and analyze sources• Reference sources using APA writing

style• Analyze, organize and report the

literature

THANK YOU