ESEN 0113 – LM 04 – CP 03 - Strategies for Writing a Review of Related Studies and Literature

Developing a Coherent Review of Related Literature and Studies

Effects of Virtual Teams on Students’ Online Learning Behavior
Tips on developing a
coherent literature and EXAMPLE EXPLANATION
study review (adapted
from Galvan, 2006: 91-96
1. Provide an overview. As virtual team becomes increasingly popular, This sentence suggests that the
instructors and administrators are working hard review will focus on virtual team
Use the keyword/s of
and online learning behavior of
your topic. to improve students’ online learning
students.
experience.
Although the dynamics of online learning
experiences in an educational setting have It highlights that the study is about
2. Specify your point of
the effects of virtual team on
view. This serves as been well studied, the use of virtual teams
learners’ behavior, which can be
the thesis statement of presents new insights concerning how negative or positive as your review
the review. physical, temporal and social separation of will show in the next sentences.
learners affect learners’ learning behavior.

Loh and Smith (2018) defined a virtual team as

3. Aim for a clear and a group of individuals who used information sets a clear definition of the
cohesive essay that technologies to work across time, space, and keyword of your study, virtual
team.
integrates the key organizational boundaries to achieve
details of the literature organization goals. The basic concept behind your explanation on how the
and communicates virtual team applies to a group of students definition relates to your study.
your point of view. working together online for a task. Proponents
Use transitions to help of group work contend that students can learn
trace your argument valuable lessons such as communication and a literature that presents one of
problem-solving skills which are transferable to the positive effects of group work.
the real work environment (Becker & Dwyer,
2018; Black, 2017; Haythornthwaite, 2016).
Working in groups is thought to better enhance
students’ learning perceptions, problem-solving another literature that cites the
skills, and overall learning abilities than learning benefits of group work.
alone (Hiltz, Coppola, Rotter, & Turoff, 2019).
Therefore, developing learners’ ability to work
effectively in a virtual team setting may be your way of putting together the
considered to be an important pedagogical goal implication of the literature on your
study.
for many higher education institutions. This
assumption is based on the theory of social
providing support to your idea by
facilitation. Social facilitation is the tendency
citing a reference.
that people often perform better in the presence
of others than alone (Cook, 2018). Although
many distance education programs incorporate
various versions of a cooperative and your observation after reading the
collaborative task as part of a virtual team literature and studies related to
your research.
formal online group activities among virtual
teams have not been extensively researched.
Suleiman and Watson (2018) found that social
loafing can be induced when there is “distance”
a study that shows the other side
between group members. They said distance
of group work and implies the
creates a feeling of isolation among group effect of distance
members and this inevitably led members to
contribute significantly less effort in teams than
when working alone. Chidambaram and Lai
(2015) found that in addition to distance, the another study on the negative effect
size of the group was also an important of group work and implies group
indicator of whether or not group members “pull size as the cause of the problem
their weight”. Freeriding is another problem that
might affect virtual teams. Freeriding occurs
when an individual shoulder less than their fair a literature that clarifies the
share of the work and yet shares in the benefits term ‘free riding’
of the group (Albanese & Van Fleet, 2015;
Jones, 2014).
 4. Provide closure so that Many of the challenges associated with group
the path of the work such as increased time, social loafing and a study that recommends what
argument ends with a free riding are not limited to face-to-face groups can still be done in this area of
conclusion of some but may be exacerbated among virtual group research
kind. How you end the members (Roberts & McInnerney, 2017).
review, however, will
Indeed, although the literature and studies summarizing what the literature
depend on your reason
presented both touched on the positive and and the previous studies say –
for writing it.
negative effects of group work, very few of them how similar and different were
paid particular attention to virtual teams. they from your research
Thus, the aim of the present study is to identify
ending with the goal of your
more potential effects of virtual teams on the
research paper
students’ learning behavior.
5. Provide the (see below)
alphabetical list of Note the suggested citation style under the
references. “Readings” of this course packet.

References:

Albanese, R., & Van Fleet, D.D. (2015). Rational behavior in groups. Academic Publishing

Becker, D., & Dwyer, M. (2018). Asynchronous Learning Networks. Torch Publishing House

Black, G. (2017). Assessment of virtual teams. Canada: H&H Publishing

Chidambaram, L., & Lai, L.T. (2015). Is out of sight, out of mind: An empirical study of social loafing in technology-
supported groups. Information Systems Research, 16, 149-169.

Cook, R. (2018). Social psychology. Pengrave Publishing

Hiltz, S.R., Coppola, N., Rotter, N., & Turoff, M. (2019). Collaborative learning. Peter Jones Publishing

Jones, G.R. (2014). Task visibility, free riding, and shirking. Academic Publishing

Haythornthwaite, C. (2016). Facilitating online learning. H&H Publishing

Roberts, T. S., & McInnerney, J. M. (2017). Problems of online group learning. Educational Technology & Society,
10, 257-268.

Suleiman, J., & Watson, R.T. (2018). Social loafing in technology-supported teams. Computer Supported
Cooperative Work, 17, 291-309.

Loh, T. & Smith, J. (2018). Virtual teams. St. Andrews University Press