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Module 3: Literature Review and Citation

Learning Outcomes

After studying this chapter, the student should be able to:

1. explain how to support the conceptual framework variables with literature review;
2. learn how to synthesize the RRL; and
3. know how to cite the sources and paraphrase concepts or ideas of other writers.

Business research writing: Part 2

Why are the variables used in the conceptual framework supported by literature review and
synthesized?
The RRL is composed of related literature and related studies. The literature should focus on
each of the conceptual framework variables. It discloses some unexplored area or gap that the
researcher will focus on. The RRL may also include the background of the industry/group being studied.
The related studies are necessary for correlational studies to find out the relationship/degree of
influence or predictability of variables in prior studies. A researcher may look for published journals or
repository of completed studies in the university library. Some universities have extensive subscription
of online journals. Not only that the researcher will look for the literature of variables and indicators in
different journals, but should also check the findings of those studies seriously, and if the variables and
indicators have high predictability or can explain the dilemma or problems in the dependent variables.

The literature about the variables covered in the conceptual framework is discussed in this
chapter. The reason for this is to validate the findings of the study (the variables measured or described)
with the existing literature and studies, aside from validating the variables with the anchored theory.
This way, the researchers could determine if the pattern or trend has been sustained. It would also
crystalize the finding as there is a supporting literature to back it up.

For the benefit of the reader, the topics covered in this chapter should be listed in the
introductory part and each topic should have a label. Each topic can also be explained or complemented
by several authors – international or local.
It should be noted by writers/researchers that this chapter is a not a “cut and paste” way of
gathering the literature/articles. If possible, rephrase the words written by the author but make sure
that the main thought is still the same.

Some schools/mentors would allow the discussion of the major tool applied in the study. The
discussion (literature about it) should not be a duplication of what is being discussed in the statistical
treatment (how it is used to measure the data).
Moreover, some schools would require a synthesis at the end of this chapter. The synthesis is
the means to capture the ideas of the different authors/writers in a more holistic and understandable
fashion and connect the dots in the RRL. It should be brief but interesting enough. Analyzing any trends
or relationships among the various literatures and studies compiled is the main purpose of coming up
with a synthesis.
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How should the literature supporting the study be cited or paraphrased in the study?

As stated in the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
(APA, 2010), researchers have to acknowledge the words and ideas of another writer either by citing it
directly using quotation marks (where the exact words are stated) or by paraphrasing it (summarize it,
rearrange the order, and change some words). However, the writer should take note that the
words/thoughts should not distort the original meaning of the sentence.

How the writer and the article publication date should be cited

Citing it based on the author/s (author-prominent):

1. If one author, cite the last name of the writer and the year the article was written. This is especially
done when the citation is part of the sentence: Te (2007) stated that……; or at the end of the
statement, insert the author, year in a parenthesis: …. as stated in the study of Positioning the HEIs
(Te, 2012).
2. If there are five authors, cite all the names if cited for the first time. Then in succeeding citations, just
write the name of the first author and attach the Latin words et al. (meaning: and others) after it: for
example: Te et al. (2012).
3. If there are six authors or more, cite the name of the first author, and attach et al. after it, even for
the first citation.
4. If there are two or more authors with the same family name, include their first name initial. For
example: Cruz, F. and Cruz, M. (2018)….
5. Join the authors with an ampersand (&). For example: Lee, Te, Tan, & Yap (2018) in the reference list,
but not when part of the sentence.
6. If the date is not known, then indicate it with a notation: n.d., meaning no date. For example: Te
(n.d.) or (Te, n.d.)
7. If the article is not sourced directly from the main author but from the citation of another author ,
state it as follows: Lim (2015), as cited by Te (2018), posited the idea of…
8. If the article cited is a personal communication of someone with authority, state it as follows: In the e-
mail of Mr. X, the author of the book (cite the book), to this researcher last November 16, 2017, Mr. X
states…

Citing it based on the organization/ institution or information (organization/information-prominent):

1. If the author is not known, then cite the organization or institution publishing it. For example: The
Expert Organization (2018) states….
2. Do not use the organization/company acronym if mentioned for the first time. Use the full
organization/company name and attach the acronym after it. For succeeding citation, the acronym can
be applied. For example: The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in its Davao Regional
Development Plan 2017-2022 shows…. NEDA further shows…
3. Do not use Wikipedia as the main source (as it is editable). Check out the source of Wikipedia and
refer to it. Just mention that it is cited by Wikipedia (if this where you found the information). For
example: Author (year), research title, as cited by Wikipedia (year), states….

Learning Activity 3.1

1. What is the importance of the Related Studies and Literature for your research?
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2. How should the literature supporting the study be cited or paraphrased in the study?

Learning Activity 3.2

1. Write a sample of citing the source of the study in a particular paragraph.

2. How to cite the names of two or three authors in a given study?

Learning Activity 3.3

1. How to write the names of the Authors in the citation if there are five of them?

2. Explain the importance of literature review in supporting the variables of the study?

Reference:
Business Research with Statistical Applications
Danilo M. Te, DBA, *Divina V. Sabanal, DBM, *Jovelyn A. Castro, LPT, DM * Christhoffer P.
Lelis, LPT, PhD