Research+Project 5

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Chapter 2: Literature Review



Learning OutcomesBy the end of this chapter students should:

understand the importance and purpose of the critical literature

review to their research project;

know what they need to include when writing their critical review;

be aware of the range of primar y, secondar y and tertiar y literaturesources available;

be able to identif y key words and undertake a literature search using

a range of paper-based and electronic methods including the

Internet;

be able to evaluate the relevance and sufficiency of the literaturefound;

be able to reference the literature found accurately; and

be able to apply the knowledge, skills and understanding gained to

their own research project.



Critically Reviewing the Literature

A critical review of the literature is necessar y to help the

students to develop a thorough understanding of and insight

into previous research that relates to their research question(s)

and objectives.

Their review will set their research in context by critically

discussing and referencing work that has already been

undertaken, drawing out key points and presenting them in a

logically argued way, and highlighting those areas where they

will provide fresh insights. It will lead the reader into

subsequent sections of their project report.



Critically Reviewing the Literature

There is no one correct structure for a critical review, although

it is helpful to think of it as a FUNNEL in which they start at a

more general level prior to narrowing down to their specific

research question(s) and objectives.

Literature sources can be divided into three categories:

primar y, secondar y and tertiar y. In reality, these categories

often overlap. Their use of these resources will depend on their

research question(s) and objectives. Some may use only

tertiar y and secondar y literature. For others, they may need to

locate primar y literature as well.



Literature Sources Available



Planning your Literature Search

When planning their literature search they need:

to have clearly defined research question(s) and

objectives;

to define the parameters of their search;

to generate key words and search terms; and

to discuss their ideas as widely as possible.

Techniques to help you in this include

brainstorming and relevance trees.



The Literature Review Process



Defining Search Parameters

a. The period to be covered by your search.

b. The geographic boundaries of your material.

c. The type of literature you would like to include in your

search.d. Language

e. Single or multidisciplinar y/multi-concept approach

f. Business sector



Evaluating Literature Sources

a. Relevance

a. Sufficiency



Y our literature search is likely to be undertaken

using a variety of approaches in tandem

These will include:

searching using tertiar y sources and the Internet;

following up references in articles you have already read;

and

scanning and browsing secondar y literature in the librar y.



Searching the Internet



Take Note:

Do not forget to make precise notes of the search

processes you have used and the results.

Once obtained, the literature must be evaluated for itsrelevance to their research question(s) and objectives

using clearly defined criteria. This must include a

consideration of each item¶s currency.

Each item must be read and noted. Bibliographic details, a

brief description of the content and appropriate

supplementar y information should also be recorded.



Referencing Y our Literature

Harvard System

used in social sciences and business studies fields.

Most suitable for the form of HND Research Project.

As a sort of review, you could refer to the system of

referencing used throughout the Research Project Course

Book.



Student PreparationRefer to the following questions to guide your note taking:

1. Why is it important for a researcher to review the

literature?

2. What are the main issues associated with using

information from each of the following sources in their

literature review?

a. booksb. refereed journals

c. professional and trade journals

d. newspapers

e. Web sites found via an Internet search engine



Student Preparation3. Outline the general structure their literature review is likely

to take?

4. Why is it important to record the bibliographic details of

ever y article they read?

5. a. What referencing system is stipulated in the

requirements for a research project by this university?

b. What details must they record for this referencing

system?



EXTRA SLIDES...



Using a matrix in the planning of the content

for the Research Findings (Chapter 4) &

Conclusions/Recommendations (Chapter5)

CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5

Research+Project 5

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