Literature Review

Relationships between aspects of

research Explanatory
conceptual
framework
Theory/theoretical
What study starting point
seeks to answer
Principles
Research question
Research
Structure methodology
Research design

Techniques
Research methods

(Sim & Wright 2000)

Why do I want to review the
literature?

Successful research based on

preceding knowledge, thinking, &
research
(large) contribution to background,
rationale for your research
Generate & develop theories
Provide logical development towards
your question & it’s justification
Be cautious with theories?
Can pull together what we know
Can suggest how we may discover
what is unknown
Can be
useful or destructive
guiding or misleading
revealing or blinding
A review of literature is …..
A summary, analysis, and
interpretation of the theoretical,
conceptual and research material
related to a topic (Anderson, 1990)
Continuous – continue to review
literature as your proposal
progresses
Ongoing – may even be lifelong if
you become really hooked
Purpose of a Literature Review
Convey the background to your proposed
study – set the scene
Provides a valid base for your study
Indicates the quality of your work
Indicates the level of your scholarship
Establish credibility of you and your work
Ensures that proposed work is ‘new’
Indicates relation to the overall field or
topic area
Ok, where do I start?
Two types of literature
Conceptual literature (‘where you
are coming from’ – link to
methodological issues)

Research literature (relating to

your topic area)
Ok, focus on the topic, what next?
Search the literature
Databases (e.g. CINAHL, Medline,
BIDS)
Library
Secondary search
Hand search
National Research Register (NRR)
‘Grey Literature’
Experts
Quality Control
Look at the Introduction / Literature
Review for the articles you have with you
Identify & discuss the areas that
the author has addressed – themes?
How has the author developed the
background to their research?
Is there an explicit ‘audit’ trail?
Do you think it is credible?
Critical Appraisal
For your own Literature Review you
need to critically appraise your key
literature

Design your own checklist (group)

Try it out on at least one of your
articles (indiv / group)
Discuss what you find easy, & what
is more challenging (group)
Your Introduction and Literature
Review
Think about the nature and purpose of an
Introduction, and Lit Review as part of
this:

What content should be included? (detail

here please)
Think about the structure, how could the
parts fit together?
Plan your own Introduction and Literature
Review?
Discuss in your group
 Do’s and
Use key landmark studies
Up-to-date material
Be reflexive
Critically evaluate your
material & show your
analyses
Use extracts, illustrations
to justify your analyse and
argument
Have a system for records
management
Be clear, systematic and
coherent
Check all details!
Don’ts
Discuss core ideas without
proper reference
Use concepts to impress or
without definition
Produce a list of items
even with annotations –
not a review
Only produce a description
of what you have read
Drown in information by
not keeping control and an
accurate record of
materials
Make silly mistakes!