Conducting A Review of Literature

The review of related literature is a systematic process that involve three

steps.
 Finding relevant materials.
Gathering data or information that can be found or source anywhere. But of course, the
richest source of materials is the library, where journals, textbooks, reference books,
abstracts of theses and dissertations, and computers with internet connection can be found.

 Actual reading
After the pre-selection process the researcher must thoroughly critique the
contents of the materials. Critiquing involves asking question which at this stage should
focus on the variables.
1. What variable are mentioned?
2. What are the characteristics or descriptions of the variable?
3. What relationship exists between the variables based on the information
given?
4. How can the information provided in his material be of use to my research?
 Note-taking
- Since one of the characteristics of a good researcher is being systematic, he/she
must establish a system of note-taking for him/her to be able to save time and
effort.
- note-taking is useful, especially when the researcher is already synthesizing and
compiling ideas obtained from different resources or reference.

4 types of reading

1. Elementary reading
--It consists merely of the recognition of letters and basic sounds and the
literal comprehension of sentences.
2. Systematic skimming
--Researcher demands a lot of reading; hence, the researcher must
establish a system through which he/she can maximize his/her time
searching for pertinent or relevant literature.
Guide to Systematic Skimming
 Quickly read the title page and the preface for the abstract.
 Study the table of contents carefully or scan the headings or subheads of the article to
get a general sense of the structure of the piece.
 Check the Index. Make a quick estimate of the range of topics included to see which one
are interesting and relevant to your study.
 Read the publisher’s blurbs or any boldface excerpts.
 From your knowledge of the general nature of the book’s or article’s contents, look
more carefully into chapters or sections that pivotal.
 Finally, leaf through the whole piece, dipping in here and there to read a paragraph.
3.) Analytic reading
The investigator or researcher asks questions to understand the article such as; “what is
the book or article all about?”; “what is being said in detail and how?” He/she takes time to
understand every detail of the piece.

4.) Comparative reading

This is the highest level of reading which requires one to place what he/she is currently
reading in relation to other materials he/she has previously read. This skills is very essential in
research, as a researcher has to look for similarities studies for the firm foundation of his/her
investigation.

Guide to Comparative Reading

 Express the ideas of the various authors using your own words
 Formulate your own set of questions, and read comparatively to determine how the
respective authors do or not address them.
 Define the issues that emerge so that you can recognize, sort out, and resolve
controversies or contradictory finding in the literature
 Analyze the discussions you read by asking “are they true”