1. Literature Review: UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND

2. Analyse ideas
Find relationships between different ideas
Understand the nature and use of argument in research
Without it no understanding of your topic
Ask:
What has already been done?
How has it been researched ?
What are the key issues ?

3. WHAT ARE THE MAIN THEORIES?
HOW HAVE THEY BEEN APPLIED AND DEVELOPED?
DOES THIS RESEARCH CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING NEW?

4. QUALITY
APPROPRIATE BREADTH AND DEPTH
RIGOUR AND CONSISTENCY
CLARITY AND BREVITY
EFFECTIVE ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS
USE OF IDEAS IN THE LITERATURE TO JUSTIFY A PARTICULAR APPROACH

5. EXAMPLES OF LITERATURE REVIEWS
Technology-library
Transferable skills required
Literature review:
Summary of the literature
Compile accurate and consistent bibliographies
Summarise key ideas with critical awareness
Philosophical and Theoretical decisions p.

6. Literature review :
To demonstrate skills in library searching: to show command of the subject area and understanding of the problem; to justify the research topic; design and methodology
LR: ensures the researchability of the topic before ‘proper’ research commences p.13

7. Questions the LR can answer:
What are the key theories, concepts and ideas?
What are the key sources?
What are the major issues and debates about the topic?
What are the political standpoints?

8. What are the origins and definitions of the topic?
How is knowledge on the topic structured and organised?
What are the main questions and problems that have been addressed to date?
What are the epistemological and ontological grounds for the discipline

9. What to do and not to do in a literature Review:
Identify and discuss the relevant landmark key issues on the topic
Include as much up-to-date material as possible
Check the details
Try to be reflexive, examine your own bias
Critically evaluate the material and show your analyses
Use extracts, illustrations and examples to justify your analyses
Be analytical, evaluative and critical
Manage your information: have a system for Records
Be clear , systematic and coherent

10. DON’T:
Omit classic works or core ideas without proper reference
Discuss outdated or old materials
Misspell names or get date of publications wrong
Use concepts to impress without definitions
Use jargon and discriminatory language to justify a personal position
Accept anything at face value
Only produce a description
Drown in information by not keeping an accurate record of information
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