CHAPTER 2:

REVIEWING THE LITERATURE

Dr. Le Nguyen Hoang
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explain the functions of the literature
review in research;
Identify the process of conducting a
literature search;
Develop theoretical and conceptual
frameworks;
Select an appropriate presentation of a
literature review;
Create in-text citations and reference lists.
 PLACE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
IN RESEARCH

Structure of a research
Abstract;
Introduction;
Literature Review;
Methodology;
Results;
Discussion and Conclusions;
Reference.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Definition

The review of literature is a summary of all the

reviews from previous research literatures related to
the current study carried out by a researcher.
It helps to discover what is already known about the
research problem and what more has to be done;
Indicate the contributions of the proposed research to
existing knowledge (e.g. research gaps not previously
studied) by integrating proposed research results with
existing knowledge.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Functions of a literature review

For a particular study, a literature review will help:

1) Clarify your research problem (S1);
2) Improve your research methodology (S2-4);
3) Broaden your knowledge base in your research
area (S8);
4) Enable you to contextualise your findings (S8).
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Functions of a literature review

1) Clarify your research problem:

 Because it helps to better understand the topic 
formulating the research problem;
 Identifying research gaps from previous related
research.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Functions of a literature review

2) Improve your research methodology:

 Synthesise and evaluate processes and methods
similar to your proposed methodology;
 Decide the best methodology to solve your
research problem.
EX: Assign meanings to travelling photos via canonical
correlation analysis.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Functions of a literature review

3) Broaden your knowledge base in your research area:

 Help readers get an overview of previous
research related to your topic;
 Discover what is already known about your
research problem (to avoid duplication);
 Identify relevant theories and research gaps
related to your topic.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Functions of a literature review

4) Enable you to contextualise your findings:

 Are your research results consistent with existing
theories?
 How are your research results different from
previous research?
 What are your theoretical contributions to
existing knowledge?
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

Steps in a literature review process

S4:
Developing a
S3: conceptual
Developing a framework
theoretical
S2: Reviewing framework
the selected
literature

S1:
Searching
for the
existing
literature
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S1: Searching for the existing literature

You must have at least some idea of the broad subject
area and of the problem you wish to investigate, to set
parameters for your search. Next, you compile a
bibliography for this broad area. There are three sources
that you can use to prepare a bibliography:
• Books
• Journals
• Internet
What are the pros and cons of the above sources?
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S1: Searching for the existing literature

• Books:
 Search for books by using the subject catelogue or
keywords;
 See the popularity of books through the number of
citations;
 Examine the contents of each book to double-check their
relevance;
 Use Endnote or Pro-cite to create a bibliography for your
research.
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S1: Searching for the existing literature

 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S1: Searching for the existing literature

• Journals:
 Locate the journals that are appropriate;
 Look at citation indices or abstract indices to identify
and/or read the abstracts;
 Search electronic databases:
• Citation indices. EX: Arts & Humanities Index
(A&HCI); Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S1: Searching for the existing literature

 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S1: Searching for the existing literature

• Internet:
 Use an academic search engine like Google Scholar
instead of Google;
 Use keywords with Boolean terms (like AND, OR, NOT,
or " ") to narrow down the search.
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S1: Searching for the existing literature

 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S2: Reviewing the selected literature

Read the selected literature critically to pull together themes
and issues:
 Note the theories put forward, the criticisms of these and their basis,
the methodologies adopted (i.e. study design, sample size and its
characteristics, measurement procedures, etc.) and the criticisms of
them;
 Examine to what extent the findings can be generalised to other
situations;
 Notice where there are significant differences of opinion among
researchers and give your opinion about the validity of these
differences;
 Ascertain the areas in which little or nothing is known – the gaps that
exist in the body of knowledge.
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S3: Developing a theoretical framework

Universal Theory
• EX: Common traits for an effective leader
include: confidence, dependability, sense
of humour, emotional stability, and
enthusiasm...

Context-specific theory
• EX: Western leaders often empower their
followers while Eastern leaders often take
power.
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW
EX: The theoretical framework of a study entitled “Effective leadership models
between the West and the East”
- For Stakeholders (i.e. business owners, leaders): Why is it important to practise a
context-appropriate leadership model? What is its purpose?
- Historical and Philosophical Perspectives : Beginning the review with the
definitions of the concept, a historical overview of emerging leadership models,
cultural perspectives underpinning the concept.
- Implementation Strategies: What strategies have been used to help leaders develop
their leadership effectiveness in each context?
- Differences of opinion among researchers: What personality traits will determine
the effectiveness of Eastern versus Western leaders? How are these personality traits
different?
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

S4: Developing a conceptual framework

The conceptual framework is the basis of your research
problem. Whereas the theoretical framework consists of the
theories or issues in which your study is embedded, the
conceptual framework describes the aspects you selected
from the theoretical framework to become the basis of your
enquiry.
 EX: Subjective measurement of an effective leader can be
based on the assessment of the members involved. Objective
measures can be profits, margins, sales growth or market
share (Mills, 2009).
 PROCESS OF CONDUCTING A
LITERATURE REVIEW

Writing the literature review

Read Write
• Keywords • The contents
• Website • Read quickly • The level of • Critical
• Read importance thinking
carefully • Synthesising
Search Categorise
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Purposes of creating citations

Provide
Avoid
citation
plagiarism
sources

Verify citations
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Definition of citation

Citation is a brief
description of the
source of
information used
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Citation styles
APA (American
Psychological Association)
MLA (Modern Language
Association)
The Harvard system
Chicago manual of style
ISO 690
….
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Citation styles
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Citation styles
In-text APA MLA Harvard Chicago
citation
1 author Graber (2002) Doris Graber "media are most Doris Graber
(direct suggests that suggests that “media influential in suggests that
quotation) “media are most are most influential areas in which “media are most
influential in in areas in which the the audience influential in
areas in which the audience knows knows areas in which
audience least” (210). least”(Graber the audience
knows least” (p. 2002) knows least.”1
210).
More than Graber et al. Doris Graber et al "..." (Graber et Doris Graber et
2 authors (2020) suggest (2020) suggest that al 2002) al suggest that
(direct that "..." (p.300) "..." (300) "..." 1
quotation)
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Citation styles

End-text APA MLA Harvard Chicago

citation
References Klaphake, E. Klaphake, Pollan, M Pollan, M, The
(End-text (1999). My life as Elizabeth. My Life 2006, The Omnivore’s
citations) an English as an English Omnivore’s Dilemma: A
professor. Professor. Dilemma: A Natural
Bellevue, Bellevue, Natural History of
Nebraska: Nebraska: History of Four Meals
Bellevue Bellevue Four Meals, (New York:
University Press. University Press. New York: Penguin,
1999. Penguin,99- 2006), 99–
100. 100.
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Steps for creating citations

1. Note all the details of the documents, including the

number of pages from which the information was
retrieved;
2. Place in-text citations at appropriate places in the
manuscript;
3. Provide a list of references at the end of the
manuscript.
Note: There must be a coherence between in-text citations and
end-text citations (or references) (on the 1-1 basis)
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

In-text citations in APA style

 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

End-text references in APA style

 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

End-text references in APA style

 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

End-text references in APA style

 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

End-text references in APA style

 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

End-text references in APA style

 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Rules when creating end-text references

References: a list of all documents cited in the

article;
Bibliography: a list of all references (i.e.
background readings);
Normally, a research paper only needs a list of
documents cited in the text (or References).
 IN-TEXT AND END-TEXT
CITATIONS

Rules when creating end-text references

 HOMEWORK

Exercise 2
Please identify relevant keywords for a topic of your interest and
then use Google Scholar to search for:
1/ 2 books;
2/ 2 journals;
3/ Create a list of end-text references for these documents in the
APA style (please arrange in the alphabetical order from A→Z).