Critically Reviewing Literature

Dr N L Reynolds

Lecture Objectives

• To provide guidelines on how to get the most out of the literature and secondary data

Importance of Critically Reviewing Literature

• Broadly searching the literature helps ensure that you know what is available in a particular subject area

• Critically reviewing the literature enables you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the body of work you are considering

• Combined they allow you to identify a research gap which, when filled, will be an original contribution to your area of interest

Key Issues

1. Finding literature and other secondary sources of information

2. Assessing the relevance of information sources

3. Critically reviewing individual papers4. Organizing literature and writing literature

reviews5. Referencing and plagiarism

Key Issue 1:Locating journal articles

• Searching databases via Metalib

• Searching the table of contents of highly relevant journals

http://www.brad.ac.uk/library/elecinfo/MetalibDetailedGuide.pdf

Key Issue 2:Selecting journal articles to read

• Title• Author(s)• Abstract • Discussion/Conclusions

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Key Issue 3:Thinking critically

• Is not … description, unsupported generalizations or assumptions, lack of discrimination

• Is … assessing whether the material is robust and valid by using your knowledge of the subject and the evidence presented to you

• Is … being able to show why you agree, disagree or are undecided about, the robustness and validity of the material presented

Key Issue 3:Critically reviewing literature• Why am I reading this?

• What are the authors trying to do in writing this?

• What are the authors saying that is relevant to what I want to find out?

• How convincing is what the authors are saying?

• In conclusion, what use can I make of this?

Key Issue 4:Putting a literature review together

• Finding relevant information – Knowing who talks about what– Physical/ electronic organization of papers– Locating quotes and other ‘interesting bits’

• Structuring your literature review– Identify the major issues/topics– Identify sub-topics– Identify viewpoints on topics and sub-topics

including their strengths and weaknesses

Key Issue 5:Referencing and plagiarism

• See additional material provided.

Contribution to your dissertation

For most people• Demonstrates that you know your subject area and

how the research you are doing fits into that subject area

• Provides the information required to identify the relevant models and/or theories that may apply to the research problem

For a very few people• Critically assessing the body of literature is the

objective of their dissertation

Information on critical analysis (apart from sources listed in the module manual) can also be found in – Effective Learning Service: Effective Note-

making– Effective Learning Service: Your Assignment

Results and How to Improve Them– Effective Learning Service: Critical Thinking

(Quick Read)

Additional Sources