Understanding and Critically Appraising the Literature Review The Pennsylvania state university college of nursing Nursing 200w

What is the Purpose of a Literature Review? Identifies theoretical and scientific knowledge Identifies what is known and unknown about a topic Identifies available evidence for use in practice Identifies what the current research study can add to the literature

What is the Purpose of a Literature Review in Quantitative Studies? Direct the development and implementation of a study Cite relevant and current sources Document background and significance of study Identify theoretical ideas to guide a study

What about Qualitative Research? Compare and combine study findings with literature To explain, support, and extend research theory As a background for research As a way to formulate research questions As a source of data

What are Typical Sources included in a Literature Review? Periodicals and Journals Internet Publications Conference Proceedings Theses and Dissertations Books Textbooks

What are the Two Types of Sources? Primary sources In research, written by the person(s) who conducted the research In theory, written by the theorist(s) who developed the theory Secondary sources Paraphrase the works of researchers and theorists.

Important Questions When Critically Appraising Literature Reviews Are primary sources cited in the review? Are the references current? Are relevant studies identified and described? Are relevant theories identified and described? Are relevant landmark studies described? Are the studies critiqued?

Important Questions When Critically Appraising Literature Reviews Are sources paraphrased to promote the flow of content? Is the current knowledge about the research problem described? Does literature review identify gap(s) in the knowledge base that provides a basis for study? Is the literature review clearly organized, logically developed, and concise?

What Components are in the Literature Review? What is known and not known about the topic The focus of the study Sources must be current—published within the past 5 years Landmark studies may be included if essential to the background of the problem

What Sources are Suitable for a Literature Review? Academic libraries—The Penn State Libraries Special libraries—your hospital library, Sigma Theta Tau Center for Nursing Scholarship Interlibrary loan Online searches using reputable sources Public libraries

Which Databases are Suitable for Nursing and Allied Health Reviews? CINAHL PubMed/Medline PsychINFO OVID EBSCO host

Check Your Understanding: Question What is the primary purpose for reviewing relevant literature? Delineate the existing knowledge base of an identified problem. Develop conceptual and operational definitions of variables. Interpret previous research findings. Select the research design.

Check Your Understanding: Answer ANSWER: A A. The literature review includes what is known and not known about the study problem. B. Conceptual and operational definitions of variables are created by the researcher for the study and, although based on what can be found in the literature, are not the most important reasons for conducting the literature review. The literature review includes what is known and not known about the study problem. C. The literature review presents what has been found in previous studies. The literature review includes what is known and not known about the study problem. D. The research design is selected according to the research problem. The literature review includes what is known and not known about the study problem.

How are Keywords Determined? Major concepts or variables of a research problem or topic used to search a database May be single terms or phrases Most databases have a thesaurus that can be used to identify keywords. Each keyword used should be listed in a written search plan.

What Information should you record from the Search? Name of database Date of search Exact search strategy used Number of articles found Percentage or number out of the total of relevant articles found This information can be stored in a table.

How can you Limit your Search? English language The publication dates to recent years (last 5 years is recommended) To papers that are research To full-text articles (this can be risky) Peer-reviewed publications

What about an Internet Search? Search engines provide the means to search the Internet. Some are better than others. Google Scholar is an excellent search engine. University libraries provide a list of good search engines. You may find information on the Internet that is useful to your topic.

Advantages and Disadvantages to Information Obtained from the Internet Advantage: information is more current than that found in books. Disadvantage: information is uneven in terms of accuracy. There is no screening process for information put on the Web. It is important to check the source of any information obtained on the Web to judge its validity.

Steps in Writing a Literature Review Purposes Document current knowledge of selected topic Indicate findings ready for use in practice Outline Introduction Empirical literature Summary

What is Included in the Introduction? Indicates focus or purpose of review Describes organization of sources Indicates basis for ordering: Most important to least Earliest to most recent Categories

What is included in the Data-Based Literature? Includes quality studies relevant to topic For each study, purpose, sample, sample size, design, and specific findings are presented, using paraphrasing rather than direct quotes. Scholarly, but brief, critique of study’s strengths and weaknesses

What is included in the Summary Section? Concise presentation of research knowledge about selected topic— what is known and not known Judgment stating whether there is adequate knowledge to direct change in clinical practice Brief statement of proposed change in practice

Questions? Comments? The end!