THE LITERATURE REVIEW EDUC 6540: Data Based Decision-Making for School Leaders

Literature Review Review of Related Literature Literature Review Subtopic heading. Begin your text here. And as you write, don't forget to double-space your text. The second line begins at the margin. Indent five spaces to begin each new paragraph.

Literature Review Second Subtopic Heading Begin the text for your second subtopic heading here. Note the five space indentation. Note that the second line again begins at the margin. Etc. Third Level Subtopic Heading. Begin text for third subtopic heading here.

Literature Review  Notes:  Consult six to ten (+) sources.  Expected length: 3-5 pages.  Summarize what you learned as you completed your literature review.  Organize the material around themes you noted across articles.

Literature Review  Include quotes from your research as you discuss the information you gathered.  Include citations within the body of the work like this: (Author's Last Name, Date)  This should be a substantial section of your proposal.  You have done a lot of reading in a specific area. What did you learn?

Literature Review:  “An examination of journal articles, ERIC documents, books, and other sources related to your action research project” (Johnson, 2005)  My reviewing related literature, you can identify a topic, narrow its focus and gather information for developing a research design, as well as the overall project (Rousseay & Tam, 1996)

Literature Review:  “The literature review can also help establish a connection between your action research project and what others have said, done, and discovered before you” (Johnson, 2005).  “A literature review allows you to use the insights and discoveries of others whose research came before yours in order to make your research more efficient and effective.” (Mertler, 2006)

Literature Review: Literature Review Topic/Broad Question Narrowed Question Background Information Methodology Reflection on Question, Process, etc. Data AnalysisAction Plan Reflection on Data Analysis, etc.

Selecting Literature to Search:  1) Understand the wide range of literature available. Well-researched articles, that include the collection of original data = empirical research. Grounded in research, not opinion.  2) Representative Cross-section of Literature Available. Look for a variety of viewpoints that both support and contradict your views.

Selecting Literature to Search:  3) Be aware of the timeliness of the literature you find. Consider both historical ‘grounding’ and current updates.  4) You may begin to recognize the ‘big names’ in your field.  5) Master’s theses typically call for 25+ sources. Doctoral dissertations usually call for 50+. Action research: 2 – 15.

Literature Reviews:  See sample literature review on p. 50 in your Action Research text.  Guidelines: See Action Research Proposal Guidelines – Literature Review Section.  Consult 6 – 10+ sources.  Expected length: 2 – 3 pages.  Section can be completed in narrative or outline form.

Literature Reviews:  Literature review includes:  A) Introductory paragraph summarizing what you found by doing the literature review.  B) Related research to support opposing views.  C) Themes or strands you may have uncovered.  D) Historic context.  E) Purpose: To explain to the reader what you learned by consulting the literature.  F) Use either narrative or outline format to summarize your findings.

Citing Sources :  In the body of the literature review: (Mertler, 2006) (author’s last name, copyright date)  At the end of your research proposal: In ‘Sources’ section: A) Include the entire citation: (examples: see pp. 214 – 243 in Action Research text) B) Mertler, C. S. (2005). Action Research: Teachers as researchers in the classroom. Thousand Oaks, Ca: Sage Publishers.

Organization of Literature Review:  Identify Common Strands  Compare and Contrast  Historical Outline  Story  Diverse Strands