Literature Review

Anne René Elsbree

California State University San Marcos

How do you review research?

When reading an article you need to identify what kind of research it is and how it can help you. Consider:– Research Questions– Methodology– Sample Population & Implications– Findings– Conclusions– How does this inform your work?– How can you use this in your lit rev?

Locate the following in the article and highlight with different colors.

Research Questions = pinkLit Review = orangeMethodology = yellowFindings = greenConclusions = blue

What can inform your work?Is there anything from this article that

can set a foundation for the research you want to do?

Is it helpful or contradictory?What would be the key things to share

about this? Study information - questions,

grounded in what theory (lit rev), methods, findings, conclusions

Is your study a replication?

Take another article and repeat the steps.

Highlight the following sections:Research Questions = pinkLit Review = orangeMethodology = yellowFindings = greenConclusions = blue

Research Article?Not all journal articles are what we want

you to consider for your literature review research. Some examples include book reviews and literature reviews. Now they maybe useful to inform your work, but they would be extra.

For your article critique only use using research where data was collected from participants, analyzed and reviewed.

Literature Review Approach

Think about the researchers from your lit rev sitting and having dinner, what would their conversation be about?

What areas might they agree onWhat areas would they differ? How would they reconcile their

differences?What advice would they give you on

your research?

Chapter Two Objective

To review what is known and not known about topic of study

Written in present tense - because literature is perceived as a living

Introduction to Chapter Two

Identify problem & restate the research question (Do not repeat your entire Ch 1.)

Preview the contents of the chapterLabel your methods: qualitative or

quantitative, data collection method, participants, tools, design …

Use all of the titles of subsection in the introduction as sign posts for the reader to know what is coming.

Overview the Context of Literature

Identify the key areas of literatureIdentify the theoretical framework that this

research comes out of or is influenced byExplain how each area connects to the

research study Establish writer’s reasons for reviewing the

literature & the criteria in analyzing and comparing literature, the organization of the review as well as why certain research is excluded.

Literature Review AreasProvide headings for each research areaGroup research according to themesPoint out trends in research Illustrate multiple author views with

distinction, including conflicts in the theory, methodology, evidence and conclusions; or gaps in research or scholarship

Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the research summarized

Use research from the last decadeUse proper APA citation format

Connections to the Literature

Summarize literature in the research area(s)Evaluate the research and how it supports

this studyPoint out major methodological flaws or

gaps in research, inconsistencies in theory and findings, and areas or issues pertinent to future study.

Describe the relationship(s) between the literature areas

Make the literature come alive and fresh

Chapter Two Conclusion

Summarize key components of Chapter 2

Re-articulates research questionProvide a transition to Chapter 3