How to Review the Literature

Carlo Gabriel R. Abante

 ▪ A review of the literature is an “account of what
has been published on a topic by accredited
Intro and scholars and researchers
defining some ▪ The review of the related literature is a synthesis
stuff of the published materials about a particular
research topic
 ▪ A comprehensive review of the literature would
Intro and greatly help the thesis student in determining the
research gaps in the area of his/her study, as well
defining some as in providing a synthesis of the latest
stuff developments in the discipline.
 ▪ Basic Guidelines in Reviewing Literature
▪ Specific Purpose of the Review of Related
Literature
▪ Premises in reviewing the Related
Objectives for
Literature
Today
▪ Common Errors in Reviewing Literature
▪ Sample Literature Review
▪ Your Task
 Basic Guidelines in
Reviewing Literature
 ▪ As a beginning researcher, you may have
problems with the review of the scientific
Basic Guidelines literature related to your study. This is usually
called the “Review of the Related Literature”
in Reviewing because the literature that you will review and
Literature synthesize is normally that which is only related to
your specific study.
 ▪ Over the years, we have seen many thesis
Basic Guidelines students frequently having problems with
in Reviewing voluminous materials collected and notes from
Literature various readings and sources.
 ▪ It is not necessary to review all the literature in the
Basic Guidelines field especially if you are dealing with only a
specific research topic. What you need are
in Reviewing materials that have direct relevance to the study
Literature you are going to conduct.
Specific Purpose of the
Review of Related
Literature
 ▪ Frequently, thesis students fail to see the
Specific Purpose significance of the review of related literature.
Sometimes, they consider this as an unnecessary
of the Review of component of the thesis requirement, hence they
Related Literature do not take it seriously.
 #1

▪ The literature review expands the introductory

Specific Purpose chapter of your thesis, and normally helps in
of the Review of determining the research gaps in the particular
Related Literature area of interest that is addressed by the thesis.
 #2

Specific Purpose ▪ The literature helps to further define the research

of the Review of problem.
Related Literature
 #3

Specific Purpose ▪ The literature review provides the background

and a clear discussion of the theoretical basis for
of the Review of your research (thesis) problem.
Related Literature
 #4

Specific Purpose ▪ The literature review will help you interpret the
of the Review of results of your study.
Related Literature
 #5

Specific Purpose ▪ The literature review will help you outline the
of the Review of implications of your study.
Related Literature
Premises in Reviewing
the Related Literature
 ▪ The literature review must provide, though briefly,
a historical background of the subject you are
going to study.
Important ▪ This includes any material relevant to the content
points to of the study.

remember ▪ It should present a clear background of the topic

of study.
 ▪ The literature review must adequately present any
and all relevant materials that are available,
Important showing the difficulty or practicality of the
points to problem, the research design, procedures,
remember instruments, and analyses employed by the
studies being reviewed.
Important ▪ The literature review should help developing the
theoretical framework. This may be done with the
points to clear statement of assumptions.
remember
 ▪ The review of related literature must present a
Important summary in relation to the model or framework
points to being considered for the study. In other words,
remember what is distinct about the literature?
 Common Errors in
Reviewing the Related
Literature
And I shite you not, avoid these like you would
avoid COVID-19
 ▪ Thesis students rely solely on secondary materials
or sources, such as research abstracts, literature
reviews done by other researchers, and the like.

Common Errors ▪ Frequently, they sometimes simply copy someone

else’s review of the literature, which has become
very easy to do in the age of the “cut-and-paste”
technology
 ▪ Researchers concentrate on the findings in
research reports. This is a serious error because
if you look at the findings alone, you are likely to
be misled by impressive statistics. The important
Common Errors parts of the research reports that you must analyze
critically are the over-all methodology, sampling,
research design and methods of analyses.
 ▪ Researchers usually overlook sources particularly
those from countries other than the developed
countries. It may be that materials from less
Common Errors developed countries are more relevant to your
specific study than those from developed
countries.
 1. Organize
your thoughts

6. Write about
2. Search the
what you
material
understood

In summary
Sa hinaba haba ng sinabi ko, ito
lang naman ang gagawin nyo
5. Add your
3. Read and
own
Understand
comments

4. Note key
points
Your Task