Writing a Review Paper
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Transcript of Writing a Review Paper
Abd Karim Alias@2010
Writing a Review Paper �
Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]
Research may be done alone – but it is never done in isolation. The production of new knowledge is fundamentally dependent on past knowledge.
‘I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.’
- Woodrow Wilson
• Research paper in peer-reviewed journals (preferably with high impact factor)
• Short communication
• Review articles (usually highly cited)
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Which type of publication?
• Conference proceedings (often not refereed, fewer citations)
• Popular articles (to promote your activity)
• Letter to editor
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Which type of publication?
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Impact Factors for different types of article
What is a review paper?
Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]
Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]
A review paper is…
‘a succint review of a specific topic that provide sufficient and in-depth interpretation and synthesis of published work’
Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]
Meta-Analysis
…is a method of combining results of several studies into a summary conclusion, using quantitative strategies…intended to answer a focused question.
‘A research study about research studies…
• It provides extensive review of previously published literature and to put them into perspective
• It offers critical evaluation of the published literature
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Why is review paper very popular?
• It creates an understanding of the topic
• Identify gap in knowledge
• It provides a new approach/perspective that would stimulate further research
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Why is review paper very popular?
Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]
Generate your OWN IDEA!
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Review paper is more than annotated bibliographies! You are not trying to list
all the material published, but to synthesize and evaluate it so as to provide
a new approach or stimulate further research
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‘…a collection of all the scholarly writings on a topic.’
What is literature?
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Study 1
Study 2 Study 10
Study X
ORIGINAL WORK
ORIGINAL WORK Your own idea will connect to the
developing knowledge network in the field
What is literature review?
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‘…a systematic…method for identifying, evaluating and interpreting the…work produced by researchers, scholars and practitioners.’
What is literature review?
Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]
What is literature review?
Literature is about telling a story…kind of a chain story
where each writer starts with a partial story created previously by others and expand on it…the existing literature is the story so
far…
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Before deciding to write a review paper, ask the following questions:
Do I know my stuff
sufficiently?
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Before deciding to write a review paper, ask the following questions:
Which journal to
publish by review?
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Before deciding to write a review paper, ask the following questions:
Would it be
considered at all?
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• Do a thorough literature search
• Consult the Journal Editor
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Write a convincing cover letter & explain…
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Consulting with the Journal Editor
• Rationale why you want to write about the topic;
• Explain how you would handle the subject matter;
• Explain why you are qualified to write on the proposed topic;
• Estimated length (incl. no of figures & tables);
• Estimated date of completion.
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Approach to doing a literature review
Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]
READ PUBLISHED WORK SYNTHESIS
Study a wide range of print- and web-based materials.
Creation of an “integrated whole” – Coherent argument of the topic that you are reviewing.
INTERPRETATION
Explain the significance & interpret the evidence presented in each piece of literature – not simply listing what others have written.
How to review the literature?
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The key is…be selective in what you read – or else you’ll get drown in too much information!
It is impossible to read all the research ever published in your area…
Approach to doing a literature review
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Filtering & sorting the essentials from the irrelevant…
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See the wood for the trees…
Image source: hAp:// sciencebhakta.wordpress.com
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The range of literature to explore
• Background material which is of broadly relevance to your topic
• Literature and research studies which address issues that are closely related to your topic
• Literature which is directly related to your topic
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Searching & reading strategy (example)
Industrial application of
gelatin
Halal gelatin alternatives in
industry
Halal gelatin in food industry
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Searching & reading strategy
Field specific papers
Quantity of relevant publications
Less specific, less recent
More specific, more recent
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Components of lit. review…
§ Background information • Introduce topic • Describe scope &
organization • Review past & present
literature • Clarify purpose
Hmm…where do I look for resources for my literature review?
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Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]
Academic libraries Public libraries National libraries Museums Archives Special collections Commercial organizations Commercial databases (SCOPUS, Web of knowledge, Springerlink)
Literature sources
Sources & organizations providing publications
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Library catalogues Subject indexes Subject abstracts Bibliographies Encyclopedia Internet directories Internet search engines
Tools for searching published works & data
Literature sources
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Sources where research & information is published
Textbooks Articles Theses Government publications Legal & professional publications Trade literature Conference papers Monographs Statistics
Literature sources
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Organizing information
Summarize, tabulate Use bibliographic software (Endnote)
Managing the literature
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Analyzing information
Note taking Summarizing the key findings Extracting critical facts/arguments Examine evidence Understand interpretation
Analyzing & “digesting’ the literature
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Reading critically & analytically
Definitions
Problem
Theory
Hypothesis
Techniques
Interpretations
Concepts
Arguments
Standpoint
Evidence
Perspective
Styles
Justification
Ways of thinking
Events
Motives
Politics
Conclusions
Things to extract from each piece of reading material
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Skills for “digesting” the literature
Select, differentiate, break up
Integrate, combine, formulate, reorganize
Understand, distinguish, explain
Define, classify, describe
Dissecting data into their constituent part.
Rearranging the elements derived from analysis to identify relationship.
Interpreting & distinguishing between different types of data , theory & argument to describe the substance of an idea Describing the principles, uses, & function of rules, method, etc.
ANALYSIS
SYNTHESIS
COMPREHENSION
KNOWLEDGE
Adapted from Hart, 1998
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Components of lit. review…
§ Theory • All research has a precedent • Integrate key points & make
appropriate inferences • Be aware of relationship to
your topic
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Components of lit. review…
§ Critical appraisal/synthesis • Not jus a list of the work of
others • Identify issues highlighted • Highlight differences &
similarities • Identify consensus
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§ A citing of all key studies in the subject area
§ A selection & synthesis of existing arguments to form a new perspective
Any critical review should incorporate…
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Any critical review should incorporate…
§ An assessment of the strengths & weaknesses of some of the theories
§ A clear understanding of the topic
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Length of review
§ Comprehensive review (up to 12,000 words)
§ Concise review (approx. 5,000 words)