Week4-GuidelinesforwritingagoodLiteratureReview.pdf

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Week 4:

Guidelines for writing a good

Literature review

Topic goals

To study the most important characteristics of a good literature
review

To plan a brainstorm for his/her literature review To develop a

good literature review

Tasks –Forum

Forum: Discuss the challenges that you faced during your study for the

development of your literature review.

Task: Submit your ideas about your literature review,

which will be a part of Chapter 2 of the dissertation (500 words).

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GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A GOOD LITERATURE
REVIEW

1.1 Importance of literature review?

Literature review is a required section for the most scientific fields. Its

importance is related with the increasing number of research articles publications

(Rapple, 2011). As a result of the great number of papers, researchers cannot be

expected to examine in detail every single new paper relevant to their interests

(Erren, Cullen & Erren,2009). Thus, it is both advantageous and necessary for the

development of literature review. Reviewing the literature may spend a vast amount

of work. For this reason, the researchers who have been focused during their career

working on a certain research issue are in a perfect position to review that literature

is (Pautasso,2013).

The literature review combines relevant material, synthesising multiple

abilities like finding and evaluating information from various sources, critical

thinking to paraphrasing, evaluating, and citation skills (Budgen & Bereton, 2006).

1.2 Steps for writing a good literature review

For the development of a good literature review it is very important to follow

the following steps:

1. Search and Research the literature

Since you have decided the topic you have to conduct the literature review by

searching and downloading relevant articles. Five tips for a successful search:

Keep track of the search items you use (Maggio, Tannery, Kanter, 2011)

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List the papers whose pdfs are not accessible immediately (so as to retrieve

them later with alternative strategies),

define early in the process some criteria for not accepting the less

important papers (these criteria can then be described in the review to help

define its scope), and

do not just look for research papers in the area you wish to review, but also

seek previous reviews.

discuss in your review the approaches, limitations, and conclusions of past

research studies.

Try to find new aspects that has not been examined adequately in the previous

research studies, and when searching the literature for relevant papers and

reviews, follow these rules:

i. be thorough,

ii. use different keywords and database sources (e.g., DBLP, Google Scholar,

ISI Proceedings, JSTOR Search, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science), and

iii. Look at those who have cited past relevant papers and book chapters

(Pautasso, 2013, page 2).

2. Take Notes While Reading

While you are reading some articles, it is very important to keep notes for most

important information and some ideas for how to organize the review. This draft

will be used as the base of your literature writing.

Don’t forget to follow the rules of APA referencing style for any quotation that

you will use. It is more preferable to use your own words for express some ideas.

Give attention for all the references source that you will use (Pautasso, 2013).

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3. Choose the Type of Review You Wish to Write

Some decisions that you have to take are related with the limit of the word count.

For example, you have to decide if you wish to have a mini or a full review. A

mini-review gain the interest of the busy readers. However, there is the danger to

avoid including some important information. A full review, although gives the

opportunity to the writer to provide more details about the topic, many readers,

due to time constraints, avoid giving attention to such reviews.

Another decision that the writer has to take is related to the choice of descriptive

type of review or integrative type of review. The first choice gives more attention

at the methodology, findings and interpretation of each review article and the

second one aims to find similarities ideas on the reviewed articles.

A similar distinction takes place between narrative and systematic reviews. The

narrative review is qualitative and lead to a meta-analysis, while the second one

aims to examine a hypothesis (Pautasso, 2013).

4. Be Critical and Consistent

A good review is not just collection of ideas but it also approaches the

information with critical stance. For example, it specifies the

methodological weakness and brings into the light any research gap. So as soon

as you read the review of the literature the reader has to be able to refer the

points below:

 the major achievements in the reviewed

field,

 the main areas of debate, and

 the outstanding research questions.
(Pautasso, 2013)

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5. Find a Logical Structure

It will be very helpful to develop a conceptual diagram of the review, e.g., using

mind mapping techniques. Such diagrams support the development of the logical

structure for ing and linking the different sections of the review. You can add

this diagram in your final text. (Pautasso, 2013)

6. Make Use of Feedback

Feedback from reviewers is important for identifying any mistake in to

submit a successful and effective draft. Having read he review, reviewers may

be able to identify any inaccuracy, inconsistency and ambiguity that the writer

will not be able to identify them. However, it is very important for the writer to

read the manuscripts too many times before submitting the final draft

(Pautasso, 2013).

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7. Be Up-to-Date, but Do Not Forget Older Studies

Today’s reviews of the literature need to take into consideration the date of each

study in to be assured that they will not become out of date and they will not

discuss any research gap which has been addressed already (Pautasso, 2013).

1.3. A good literature review VS a poor literature review

A good literature review A poor literature review

…is a synthesis of available research…

is a critical evaluation…..

has appropriate breadth and

depth….. has clarity and

conciseness…..

uses rigorous and consistent methods

an annotated bibliography…..

confined to

description….. narrow

and shallow…..

confusing and longwinded…..

constructed in an arbitrary way

1.4. Common mistakes

Failure to provide the proper context to frame the research question.

Failure to delimit the boundary conditions for your research

Failure to accurately present the theoretical and empirical contributions by

other researchers.

Failure to stay focused on the research question.

Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the

proposed research.

Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues.

Too much rambling — going “all over the map” without a clear sense of

direction (The best proposals move forward with ease and grace like a

seamless river.)

Too many citation lapses and incorrect referencing. Too long or too short.

Failure to follow the APA style. Sloppy writing.

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1.4. Task – Forum

Forum: Discuss the challenges that you faced during your study for

the development of your literature review. You are expected to post

a comment to at least one colleague’s contribution on the VLE.

Task: Submit your ideas about your literature review, which will be a part of

Chapter 2 of the dissertation (500 words). Don’t forget to start working on

your literature review. The word limit of words is 1500 (10% plus or less).

Suggested articles

Pautasso, M. (2013). Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review.

References:

Erren, T. C., Cullen, P., & Erren, M. (2009). How to surf today’s information

tsunami: on the craft of effective reading.

Wong, P. T., & Psych, C. (2016). How to write a research proposal. Langley:

Trinity Western University Langley.

Pautasso, M. (2013). Ten simple rules for writing a literature review. PLoS

Comput Biol, 9(7).

Topic goals
To study the most important characteristics of a good literature review

Tasks –Forum
Forum: Discuss the challenges that you faced during your study for the development of your literature review.
which will be a part of Chapter 2 of the dissertation (500 words).
1.2 Steps for writing a good literature review
1. Search and Research the literature
2. Take Notes While Reading
3. Choose the Type of Review You Wish to Write
4. Be Critical and Consistent
5. Find a Logical Structure
6. Make Use of Feedback
7. Be Up-to-Date, but Do Not Forget Older Studies

1.3. A good literature review VS a poor literature review
1.4. Common mistakes
1.4. Task – Forum