Business Project Nicos Rodosthenous PhD 14/10/ /10/20141Dr Nicos Rodosthenous

Critically reviewing the literature 1. Introduction Two major reasons exist for reviewing the literature (Sharp and Howard, 1996) 1) the preliminary search that helps you to generate and refine your research ideas 2) the critical review which is part of your research project. Project assessment criteria usually require you to demonstrate awareness of your subject and 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous2

Critically reviewing the literature how your research fits in its wider context (Gill & Johnson, 1997). In Jankowicz’s (2000:159) words: Your work and your findings will be significant only to the extent that they are the same as, of different from other people’s work and findings. 2. The critical review 2.1 The purpose of the critical review 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous3

Critically reviewing the literature The critical literature review will form the foundation on which your research is built. You should not start your research without reading what other researchers have found. Your review also has a number of other purposes:  To help you to refine further your research questions and objectives  To highlight new research findings that have been overlooked 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous4

Critically reviewing the literature  To avoid simply repeating work that has been done already  To sample current opinions in newspapers, professional and trade journals  Your analysis is considered effective when new findings and theories will emerge that neither you nor anyone else has thought about (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous5

Critically reviewing the literature 2.2 The content of the critical review In writing your critical review you will need:  To include the key academic theories  To show that your knowledge is up to date  To combine your research to previous research  To assess the strengths and weaknesses of previous work  To justify your arguments with reference to previous research 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous6

Critically reviewing the literature  To enable the readers of your project to find the original work through clear referencing.  2.3 What is meant by critical  The term critical refers to the judgment you exercise.  2.4 The structure of the critical review  The literature review should be a description and critical analysis of what other authors have written (Jankowicz, 2000) 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous7

Critically reviewing the literature  A structure of a critical review should :  Start at a general level before narrowing down to your specific questions and objectives  Provide an overview of key ideas  Summarise and compare the work of key writers  Provide a detailed account of the research findings 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous8

Critically reviewing the literature 3. Literature sources available The literature sources available can be divided into 3 categories: 1) Primary ( published and unpublished) 2) Secondary ( books and journals) 3) Tertiary (search tools ) 3.1 Secondary literature sources: Journals: professional journals, trade journals, academic journals 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous9

Critically reviewing the literature Books: sometimes may contain out-of-date material. Some academic textbooks, are now supported by web pages providing additional information. Newspapers: produce special reports, like Financial Times. They have also web sites or on line in most universities libraries. May contain bias, political or personal coverage. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous10

Critically reviewing the literature 3.2 Primary literature sources: Reports: include market reports, government and academic reports. Individual academics publish their reports and research on the Internet. Conference proceedings: referred to as symposia, and are published in journals or as books. Many conferences have web pages providing abstracts and the full papers of the conference. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous11

Critically reviewing the literature Theses: are unique for major research projects and can be a good source of detailed information; will also be a good source of further references. 4. Planning the literature search Planning enables you to ensure and to locate relevant and up-to-date literature. Will also enable you to establish what research has been previously published in your area and to relate your own research to it. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous12

Critically reviewing the literature Students found their literature search a time- consuming process. Time spent for planning will be repaid in time saved when searching the literature.  Before start your literature search it is better to:  Define the parameters of your search;  Generate key words and search terms;  Discuss your ideas as widely as possible. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous13

Critically reviewing the literature 4.1 Defining parameters:  Language of publication (e.g. English)  Subject area (e.g. tourism)  Georgaphical area (e.g.Europe)  Publication period (e.g. the last 10 years)  Literature type (e.g. journals and books)  Worked example: Simon’s research question. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous14

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Critically reviewing the literature 4.2 Generating key words:  The identification of key words or research terms is the most important part of planning your search for relevant literature.  Those found most useful by the students include:  Discussion with colleagues, your project tutor and librarians  Initial reading 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous16

Critically reviewing the literature  Dictionaries, handbooks, internet  Brainstorming-discussion (feedback)  Worked example: “Management requirements of a school pupil record administration system” : schools, pupil, records, administration, user requirements, computer, management information system, access, legislation, information, database, security. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous17

Critically reviewing the literature 5. Conducting the literature search  Searching by using tertiary literature sources  Obtaining relevant literature from books and journals articles  Scanning and browsing secondary literature in your library  Searching by using the Internet 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous18

Critically reviewing the literature 5.1 Tertiary literature sources Most of these publications are called indexes and abstracts, and can be accessible via the Internet or held by your university library. Most index searches will find articles by using key words, including the author’s name. The abstract includes also a summary of the article. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous19

Critically reviewing the literature  Indexes and abstracts are produced in printed and electronic formats, as databases.  Searching printed sources and databases is normally free.  On-line databases provide a wealth of information.  With the development of the Internet many databases can be accessed using the technology. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous20

Critically reviewing the literature Some examples: British National Bibliography (BNB) since 1950, Global Books in Print (internet) books from the most of the world. 5.2 Searching using tertiary literature Printed sources: databases can normally be searched by author or by one subject heading Databases: key words need to match the database’s controlled index language of terms and phrases or descriptors. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous21

Critically reviewing the literature 5.3 Scanning and browsing To make browsing and scanning easier you should: Identify those journals that are the most relevant Browse new book displays in libraries Scan new book reviews in journals and newspapers Discuss your research with your tutor and librarians 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous22

Critically reviewing the literature Professional journals can be accessible on the web pages of professional organizations. Web sites of bookshops such as Amazon, Blackwell and the Internet Book Shop provide access to catalogues of books.( by author, title and subject) Amazon.com:Amazon.com: 5.4 Searching the Internet The internet is a worldwide network that provides access to a vast range of literature 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous23

Critically reviewing the literature and other resources around the world. Home pages: Address of Internet sites or home pages Oxford Brookes University can be the quickest and most direct method of accessing these resources.Oxford Brookes University Search tools: Often referred to as search engines and are the most important method of Internet searching for your literature review. e.g Google, Yahoo. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous24

Critically reviewing the literature Bookmarking Once you have found a useful Internet site, you need to address electronically. This process is termed bookmarking or add to favorites. 6. Obtaining and evaluating the literature 6.1 Obtaining the literature: to do this you need: 1. To check your library catalogue that the appropriate publication is there. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous25

Critically reviewing the literature 2. Locate the publication and scan it 3. Browse other books and journals 4. Use inter-library loan for those items that are not held by your library. 6.2 Evaluating the literature Two important questions are: 1) How do I know what I’m reading is relevant? 2) How do I know when I’ve read enough? 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous26

Critically reviewing the literature 7. Recording the literature The process of note making will help you in the literature in relation to your research. There are also another 3 sets of information:  Bibliographic details  Brief summary of content  Supplementary information  Three of the most common styles are: the Harvard system, the American Psychological 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous27

Critically reviewing the literature Association (APA) System, and the Vancouver or footnotes system. Some examples: 1)Journal: Douglas.N. (2001), Special Interest Tourism, National Library of Austrtalia, 5,1,p12 2)Book: Saunders M., Lewis P., (1997), Research Methods for Business Students, Third edition 2003, England, Pearson Education Ltd. 14/10/2014Dr Nicos Rodosthenous28

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