1. LITERRITURE REVIEW
DOING THE LITERATURE
REVIEW

2. In general, a Literature Review is…
A discussion of your knowledge about the topic under study supported by the research literature

3. More specifically, a Literature Review …
Is a critical and evaluative account of what has been published on a topic
Is meant to summarize, analyze and synthesize arguments of others
Should reveal similarities and differences, consistencies and inconsistencies, and controversies in previous research
Describe and analyze knowledge that exists and what gap still exists in the topic

4. The Literature Review is not…
A study-by-study, or article-by-article, description of studies previously done
A re-statement of the studies previously done
A brief overview of articles

5. The Literature Review is therefore…
organized around ideas, not the sources themselves
assess previous studies and discuss their strengths and weaknesses
highligting themes and issues the sources have in common

6. Purpose of a literature review
Helps map and define your research topic
Presents a balanced view
Justifies your research question
Provides literature for you to compare your findings with at the end of your research

7. When to review the literature?
Three stages at which a review of the literature is needed:
an early review to establish the context and rationale for your study and to confirm your choice of research focus/question;
as the study period gets longer, you need to make sure that you keep in touch with current, relevant research in your field, which is published during the period of your research;
as you prepare your final report or thesis, you need to relate your findings to the findings of others, and to identify their implications for theory, practice, and research
Thus, literature review is a long process and is ongoing from the beginning to the end!

8. How to get started
What is the specific thesis, problem, or research question that my literature review helps to define?
What type of literature review am I conducting? Am I looking at issues of theory? methodology? policy? quantitative research? qualitative research?
What is the scope of my literature review? What types of publications am I using (e.g., journals, books, government documents, popular media)?
What discipline(s) am I working in (e.g., economics, psychology, sociology, medicine, engineering)?
What time period? What geographical area?
Start with narrow and work outwards? Or start wide before focussing in?

9. Four sources of knowledge or truth
What sources of knowledge to review?
Mythical
Authoritative
Logical
Scientific

10. Ways of finding relevant materials
Electronic sources
References of references – a very good review article not only presents a coherent body of knowledge, but also list relevant and important articles
Hand searching of journal – not all printed materials are available in the internet/online

11. Some more ideas/considerations
Collecting and organizing materials – use endnotes
Plagiarism – a big problem especially as materials are readily and freely available in the internet
When to stop? Build an argument, not a library!

12. Writing the Literature Review
As suggested by Wellington et al. (2005):
It should be framed by your research questions.
It must relate to your study.
It must be clear to the reader where it is going: keep signposting along the way.
Wherever possible, use original source material rather than summaries or reviews by others.
Be in control, not totally deferent to or ‘tossed about by’ previous literature.
Be selective. Ask ‘why am I including this?’
It is probably best to treat it as a research project in its own right.
Engage in a dialogue with the literature, you are not just providing a summary.”

13. Structure of Literature Review
Having a lot of literature to report on can feel overwhelming. It is important to keep the focus on your study, rather than on the literature (Wellington 2005). To help you do this, you will need to establish a structure:
chronologically; although be careful not just to list items; you need to write critically, not just descriptively;
by theme; this is useful if there are several strands within your topic that can logically be considered separately before being brought together;
by sector e.g.: political background, practice background, methodological background, geographical background;
by development of ideas; this could be useful if there are identifiable stages of idea development that can be looked at in turn;
by some combination of the above, or by another structure you create.

14. Reviewing the Literature
Identify the topic (recall how to choose a topic)
Begin with a search of the available literature
Critically analyze each article (study) you select
Organize the review with an outline, and according to topic/subtopics
Write the review
Summarize the review
Using the literature, present a rationale for your study

15. Critically Analyzing the Literature
Abstract
the author’s description of the study
related to your area of interest?
conclusions relevant?
Statement of the Problem
restate the topic
problem stated clearly?
purpose?
significance?
Hypothesis or Research Question(s)
Clearly stated?
Relevant?
Related to your area of interest?
Assumptions
Explicit assumptions?
Implicit assumptions
Similar to yours?

16. Critically Analyzing the Literature
Delimitations
How was the study narrowed?
Which considerations are relevant to your study?
Definitions
Key concepts & terms?

17. Critically Analyzing the Literature
Method
research design?
population & sample?
measurement?
procedures?
Findings
make sense?
what do they say about your area of interest?
Discussion
Presented clearly?
Meaningful interpretations?
Implications discussed?
Suggestions or recommendations?
Limits to practical application?
Conclusion
What did you learn?
Re-state your new knowledge

18. Organizing the Literature Search: the Tree Diagram
Topic
subtopic
subtopic

19. Tree Diagram Example Equity capital Debt capital Share buyback
Capital structure
Cash Flow
Information
asymmetry
Debt capital
Equity capital
Dividend policy
Share
buyback
Firm Value
Agency problem

20. An Example Topic: Impact of Capital Structure on Firm Value
Equity Capital
A. Share buyback
B. Dividend payment
Debt Capital
A. Information asymmetry
B. Agency problem
Impact to Cash Flow
A. ROE
B. ROA
Firm Performance
Look! An example!

21. Writing the Literature Review
Always begin with an introduction to the review & end with a summary
Make the connection for the reader between the subtopics & the topic
Use direct quotations infrequently
Always cite your sources
Present your knowledge on the topics & subtopics
Summarize each subtopic
Include a transition paragraph from one subtopic to the next

22. Organizing the Literature Review
Example paragraph 1
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of poor coordination on the effective delivery of consultant services.
Introduction
Example paragraph 2
Reiterate the
research problem
Introduce the sub-
topics
Effective organiza-
tional structures
Service coordination
practices
Consultants’ profes-
sional support needs

23. Effective Organizational Structures
In order for the coor- dination of services to be effective, a struc- ture must exist within which service units are organized and can operate. Etc, etc, …
First Subtopic
Discussion should in-clude:
How is the subtopic
connected to the
problem?
Your knowledge,
based on the literature
you have studied
Specify subtopics (if
any)
Summary & transition
Mission & Pur-
pose
Goals & objectives
(planning)
Task units
Long range strategic planning characterizes organizations with ef-fective internal struc-tures (Brown, 1997). Key to such an effort is the identification of…
So, given all that, bla, bla, bla…., it is important to note the role of…

24. Reviewing your review Useful questions at this stage include:
What is the balance between description and comment?
Have I missed out any important dimension of the argument, or literature?
Have I supported the development of each step in my argument effectively?
Is the material presented in the most effective order?
Are there places where the reader is left with unanswered questions?

25. Reviewing your review (cont’d)
Is every element of my research question supported by the preceding material?
Have I explained to the reader the relevance of each piece of evidence?
Is there any material that is interesting but which does not contribute to the development of the argument?
Have I explained adequately the justification for this research approach / topic / question?
Are my references up to date?
How effective is my linking of all the elements?

26. Writing
Use APA style & format (or format specified by the University or journals)
Have your work proofread before submitting
Follow all format guidelines
Must be a thorough review, reflected by the depth of the discussion
And of course the review should be free of language errors

27. Wish you research success!

28. THANK YOU