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