1. Workshop for Literature Review

2. What is a Literature Review
It is an evaluation and comparison of various pieces of research.
It shows the reader what:
previous research has been done in your field,
critiques previous methodology,
evaluates prior studies to show information gap which will be filled with your own research.

3. Why do a Literature Review
Avoid making the same mistakes as others
Carry on where others have reached
Increase your breath of knowledge in your subject area
Identify key works, information and needs in your area
Identify and learn terminology
Position your own work in context

4. Identify opposing views
Demonstrate that you can access research in the field
Identify methods relevant to your research
Identify studies that are worth replicating or improving
Find experts in your field in whom you could contact.
Source :

5. What is a critical Review?
The common misconception is that a “critical review” needs to be a negative criticism of an article.
A critical review requires you to question the information and opinions in an article and present your own evaluation or judgement of it.
What do we mean by evaluation or judgement?
We are asking you to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the article you have chosen.
This is usually based on specific criteria such as the significance of the study and its contribution to the field or the research methodology that was used.

6. Example of a critical review
For an example exert – see this website

7. Journal Article Analysis
Find and select a journal article published in 2010, 2011 or 2012 on a subject matter of (i) emotions at work, (ii) emotional intelligence, (iii) values or (iv) motivation.
A suitable journal article:
Is a Research paper (ie. Not a literature review or a metadata report)
Is peer reviewed
Has been cited by other researchers
Has in-text references and reference list (or bibliography)
Has quantitative or qualitative data
Is of a reasonable length (at least 8 pages long)

8. 3. Read the article in detail and note the key themes.
What is the author proposing / hypothesising / researching?
How has the research been conducted?
What are the key findings?

9. 4. Critically evaluate the article
Clarity of ideas - Has the author(s) presented their case clearly? How have the data and findings been obtained? Is the integrity of the method acceptable, repeatable, etc?
Adequacy of literature review - Have other reputable texts been evaluated? Are there evidence of claims? Are there limitations or bias?
Contribution to theory – Are there new discoveries? Does it reinforce current thought? Does it contradict current thought? <- This is where you source for other relevant articles that you can apply here.
Contribution to practice – Can the findings be applied? Are the findings useful?

10. 5. Source for additional articles that will support or oppose the key findings of the article. This assignment requires you to find at least 8 relevant journal articles to support your analysis. 6. Take notes from the additional articles, keeping in mind the key themes or findings from the original article that you are reviewing. 7. Ensure that you have finished taking notes before you proceed with writing your literature review.

11. How do you write the report?
Introduction
Aim (purpose), scope and limitations
Set context
Outline of report structure
2. Describe and summarise the key themes of the article.
What is the author proposing / hypothesising / researching?
How has the research been conducted?
What are the key findings?

12. 3. Critically evaluate the article – this is the most important section of the report as it will test your knowledge of the subject matter and how well you have researched it. This is where you include other articles that you have researched.
Develop your line of argument about the article
How well was the paper was researched?
What is the integrity, reliability and repeatability of the research – data collection, analysis and conclusion?
Can the findings be used? Is the idea supported? Is it a new concept? Does it reinforce other findings, etc.

13. 4. Conclusion
Restate your position/key message
State your opinion of the article

14. Example of an introduction
Source:

15. Example of referring from another source

16. Example from own analysis

17. Where to find references
As students of Flinders University, you have free access to a number of databases for journals, articles, conference papers, newspaper articles, textbooks, reference books etc.
You can access databases online at:
Go to (or
Click on the Library tab.
Click on Databases
Choose your database you want to search from. For example, ProQuest, Business Periodicals Index Retrospective, AEM (Informit), ABS, Econlit, Factiva, Wiley Interscience
You can then start your search once you are in the database.

18. Academic writing style
Formal academic writing is quite different from informal spoken English. The differences can best be seen from a number of examples:
Source:

19. Useful on-line resource for Academic Writing

20. Contact details
If you would like any further information or have any questions from today please contact
Heather Dawson-Howard
Oliver Yeo