Literature Review

Dr. Faisal Al-AllafAssistant Professor of Genetics and Molecular Medicine

fallaf@uqu.edu.sa

Tel/Fax: 5270000 Ext: 4197/4198

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Dealing with writing blocks

No time

Personal problems or illness

You do not know what to do

You do not know where to begin

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Getting Ready to Write Pre-write

Write inside out

Follow the guidelines of the funding agencies

Work from an outline

Find a model proposal

Find a mentor

Establish a timetable and meet periodically

Review, pretest, and revise repeatedly

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Elements of a Proposal Title Abstract or summary Introduction Problem or needs statement Project goals and objectives Literature review Project method or design Project evaluation Project management Organizational capabilities Project budget Resumes of Applicants

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What is a Literature Review?

Background

Literature review is a section which sets the proposed study in context and gives its rationale

It is a classification and evaluation of what other researchers have written on a topic, organized chronologically or according to the research objectives

This section cites previous research that is relevant and indicates the problems with prior research and what uncertainties remain

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Literature Review: Background and SignificanceSignificance

Specify how the findings of the proposed study will help resolve uncertainties

Potential discovery and/or new scientific knowledge

How the finding will influence practice guidelines or public health policy.

Will the results of the research fill a defined gap in our knowledge or advance our understanding of this subject?

Will the research facilitate the development of valuable techniques or experimental models, lead to rational treatment for some pathological condition, or change existing practices?

Is this research likely to yield new conclusions that will have general theoretical value or practical clinical significance, or impact on the delivery or organization of practices or health services?

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Why do a Literature Review? To place the study in a historical perspective

To define and limit the problem

To explain how the question to be investigated fits into the larger picture

To asks why to approached the topic this way

To allows the readers to be brought up to date regarding the state of research in the field and familiarizes them to any contrasting perspectives and viewpoints on the topic.

Does my professional background, research experience, past progress in the topic, knowledge in the field and preliminary experiments, as outlined in this application demonstrate that I am qualified to perform the study

Do I have the technical competence and skills needed for the proposed work, and that my results will be reliable and inspire confidence in my peers?

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Components of Literature Review: Searching, Assessing, and Integrating Literature review is

A critical reading (searching) Analyses (assessing) Summarizing (integrating)

of peer reviewed articles about a specific topic to determine the following: What is known about the topic? How it is correlated with the research question? What kind of answers will the study provide?

It is not a list of all the books and papers that you have read

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Components of Literature Review: Literature search (searching) What is known about the subject?

Find materials relevant to the subject and avoid irrelevant references

Make sure that you have collected thoroughly

Your favorite search engine may not find most of the relevant literature!

Place the study in a historical perspective and avoid unnecessary duplication

Not all relevant materials are published - show familiarity with unpublished work, gained through personal contacts

Identify the next logical stage of research beyond your current application

Not all appropriate sources of information will be relevant all of the time

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Components of Literature Review: Literature search (searching) Provide preliminary data, this extremely important section helps build

reviewers confidence that you can handle the technologies, understand the methods, and interpret results.

Preliminary data should support the hypothesis to be tested and the feasibility of the project.

Explain how the preliminary results are valid and how early studies will be expanded in scope or size.

Preliminary data may consist of your own publications, publications of others, unpublished data from your own laboratory or from others, or some combination of these.

Include manuscripts submitted for publication. Make sure it is clear which data are yours and which were reported by others.

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Components of Literature Review: Data evaluation (assessing):

Is there consensus about the topic?

What sources of information or data were identified that might be useful to you?

Are there any gaps in the knowledge of the subject?

Have areas of further study been identified by other researchers that you may want to consider?

What aspects have generated significant debate on the topic?

What is the most productive methodology for your research based on the literature you have reviewed?

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Components of Literature Review: Data evaluation (assessing): Review critically and organize logically the data and events that led to the

present proposal

Determine which literature makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the topic.

Determine if the findings and conclusions should be relied upon and are not misleading (Evaluate research methods).

Ask, does this background information justify the next step, which is this proposal?

Ask, have I made a clear distinction between (a) what others/or collaborators have done, (b) what I have done, (c) what I intend to do?

Ask, have I demonstrated a thorough understanding and a balanced knowledge of the pertinent literature, and have I emphasized or clarified discrepancies?

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Components of Literature Review: Data interpretation (integrating) Literature review may exhibit apparent contradictions Discuss the findings and conclusions of relevant literature Determine the advantages and disadvantages of previously used

methodologies Identify ways to improve conceptual frameworks for research Identify promising future research

Ask, have the preliminary studies demonstrated that the methods, procedures, techniques, and protocols are feasible, adequate and appropriate, and that the hypothesis is therefore readily testable?

What methods or problems were identified by others studying in the field and how might they impact your research?

What is the current status of research in this area?

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Effective Literature Review Compare and contrast different researchers' views on an issue

Group research that draw similar conclusions

Criticize aspects of methodology

Note areas in which authors are in disagreement

Highlight perfect studies

Highlight gaps in research

Show how your study relates to previous studies

Show how your study relates to the literature in general

Conclude by summarizing what the literature says

Caulley, 1992

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Plagiarism The deliberate or reckless representation/Publication of

another author's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions, and the representation of them as one's own original work

To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use another person’s idea, opinion, or theory any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings any pieces of information—that are not common knowledge; quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words paraphrase of another person’s spoken or written words.

How to paraphrase & avoid plagiarism? http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/plagiarism.html

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References It is advisable to use software to cite and organize your

references Endnotes Reference manager

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Characteristics of a Good Literature Review Clarity of the presentation

Clear outline

Meaningful subheadings

Point by point summaries

Concise tables

Simple diagram

Potential flaws

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THANK YOU