1.04 Crafting a literature review

What exactly is a literature review?

The goal of a literature review should be to show readers (your tutor) you’ve read, where you can good grasp of, the primary printed work concerning a specific subject or question in your field. The task might be in almost any format, including online sources. It might be another assignment, or among the opening regions of research, dissertation or thesis. Within the latter cases particularly, review will most likely be introduced from your research objective or using the issue or thesis you’re quarrelling and could give you the framework for your further work.

It is essential to notice review shouldn’t be merely a description in the products others have printed by means of some summaries, but need to take the type of an essential discussion, showing insight along with an understanding of differing arguments, theories and approaches. It should be a synthesis and research to the relevant printed work, linked whatsoever occasions on your own purpose and rationale.

Based on Caulley (1992) of los angeles Trobe College, the literature review should:

&#8226 assess different authors’ ideas of a problem
&#8226 group authors who draw similar conclusions
&#8226 criticise regions of methodology
&#8226 note areas by which authors come in disagreement
&#8226 highlight exemplary studies
&#8226 highlight gaps in research
&#8226 show the means by which your study pertains to previous studies
&#8226 show the means by which your study pertains to the literature generally
&#8226 conclude by summarising what the literature states

The needs within the review are:

&#8226 to define and limit the issue you’re focusing on
&#8226 to place study in a historic perspective

&#8226 to prevent unnecessary duplication
&#8226 to judge promising research methods
&#8226 to relate your findings to previous understanding and suggest further research

A great literature review, therefore, is essential in the products remains written, identifies areas of debate, raises questions and identifies areas which require further research.

Structure within the literature review

The general structure in the review depends usually on your own thesis or research area. What you will need to do should be to group together and appraise the different opinions of several authors on certain topics. Everything you shouldn’t do is simply describe what one author states, then is continually provide a general overview of another author, then another, and so forth. Your structure must be determined rather by subject material, questionable issues or by queries that you will find different approaches and theories. Within every one of these sections, you’d discuss what the different literature argues, remembering to link this on your own purpose.

Linking test is important. If you’re grouping together authors with just one opinions, you’d utilize phrases or words for example:

similarly, in addition, also, again

Furthermore, if there is disagreement, you have to indicate clearly that you’re conscious of the through linkers for example:

however, however, however, nonetheless

Inside the finish within the review you need to include all the what the literature implies, which again links for that hypothesis or primary question.

You need to determine what you need to read. Oftentimes you’ll get yourself a booklist or directed towards areas of helpful printed work. Ensure that you use this help. With dissertations, especially theses, it will be more lower for you decide. It’s important, therefore, to obtain the parameters in the research. Just what are your objectives together with what in the event you uncover? In your review, are you currently presently presently searching at difficulties with theory, methodology, policy, quantitive research, or what? Prior to starting studying it might be helpful to compile all of the the primary areas and questions involved, then read for the exact purpose of researching or answering these. Unless of course obviously clearly something seems that’s vital, stick to a listing, as it is fairly simple to get sidetracked, particularly on the web.

A great literature review requires a apparent type of argument. You thus wish to use the critical notes and comments you earn although doing studying to talk about an instructional opinion. Make certain that:

&#8226 you set a apparent, short introduction which gives an overview within the review, such as the primary topics covered along with the order within the arguments, obtaining a short rationale using this.

&#8226 more often than not there’s a apparent outcomes of ones own arguments along with the evidence uncovered in your studying. Give a short summary inside the finish of each section.
Use quotes if appropriate.

&#8226 you normally acknowledge opinions that do not accept your thesis. In case you ignore opposing viewpoints, your argument would really be weakened.

Your review needs to be coded in a highly effective, academic style. Keep the writing apparent and concise, remaining from colloquialisms and language. You should act as objective and sincere of others’ opinions this isn’t the location for emotive language or strong personal opinions. In case you thought something was rubbish, use words for example sporadic, missing inside a few areas or according to false assumptions! (See Guide 1.21)

When presenting someone’s opinion, avoid states, but rather a appropriate verb which more precisely reflects this attitude, for example argues, claims or states. Make use of the present tense for general opinions and theories, or possibly yesteryear when talking about specific research or experiments:

Although Trescothick (2001) argues that attack could be the finest type of defence, Boycott (1969) claims that.

Within the field study transported out among the destitute of Sydney, Warne (1999) found that.

Also bear in mind whatsoever occasions to prevent plagiarising your sources. Always separate your source opinions out of your own hypothesis. making sure you consistently reference the literature you’re talking about. When performing your studying and making notes, it may be a concept to make use of different colours to differentiate concerning the ideas and individuals of others. (See Guide 1.13).

This is often a final listing, due to the College of Melbourne:

Choice of Sources

Perhaps you have indicated the aim of review?
Would be the parameters within the review reasonable?
Why maybe you have incorporate a few in the literature and exclude others?
Which years maybe you have exclude?
Perhaps you have emphasised recent developments?
Perhaps you have focussed on primary sources with simply selective use of secondary sources?
May be the literature you’ve selected relevant?
Could be the bibliographic data complete?

Critical Think about the Literature

Perhaps you have organised your material based on issues?
What is the logic to how you organised the fabric?
Does the quantity of detail put into an issue communicate with its importance?
Are you currently presently presently sufficiently critical of design and methodological issues?
Perhaps you have indicated when effects were conflicting or inconclusive and discussed possible reasons?
Perhaps you have indicated the relevance of each mention of pursuit?

Has your review of the present literature introduced for the reader’s understanding in the issues?
Does the perception of pursuit reflect the methodological implications within the literature review?

The literature review will most likely be judged poor your completed research.
Review must further the reader’s understanding in the issue and whether it provides a rationale for your research.

Links to help sources on writing dissertations