Professional Documents
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CH 4 - RRL
CH 4 - RRL
(ACFN 628)4
Chapter
Review of Related Literature
Contents
Meaning of LR
Purposes of LR
Characteristics of Valuable LR
Sources of LR
Introduction
Human beings are the only animals that can take
advantage of knowledge which has been preserved or
accumulated through the centuries or since the origin of
man.
Human knowledge has the three phases: preservation,
transmission and advancement.
This fact is of particular importance in research which
operates as a continuous function of ever-closer
approximation to the truth.
Humans build upon the accumulated and recorded
knowledge of the past. Their constant adding to the vast
store of knowledge makes possible progress in all areas
of human endeavor.
What is Literature Review?
The review of the literature is defined as
“a broad, comprehensive, in-depth, systematic, and critical
review of scholarly publications, unpublished scholarly print
materials, audiovisual materials, and personal communications.”
A presentation of the current state of knowledge on a
topic, which is designed to highlight past research
findings and to pave the way for your study/discussion.
Literature work is an evolving and ongoing task that is
updated and revised throughout the process of writing the
thesis/dissertation/article/paper.
The researcher is positioned as agent who uses and
evaluates the research of others in order to make a place for
his/her own work.
literature review 4
Intro… cont’d
The investigator can ensure that his problem vacuum
/gap/ and that considerable work has already been done
on topics which are directly related to his proposed
investigation.
For any specific research project to occupy this
place in the development of a discipline, the
researcher must be thoroughly familiar with both
previous theory and research.
To assure this familiarity, every research project in the
business, has as one of its early stage, a review of the
theoretical and research literature.
Why Literature Review?
Two reasons:
First: (the preliminary search)
helps you to generate and refine your
research ideas.
Second: (often called the critical
review)
usually require you to demonstrate
awareness of the current state of knowledge
in your subject, its limitations, and how your
research fits in this wider context
Why Literature … Cont’d
To determines what is known about a subject, concept
or problem
To know gaps, consistencies & inconsistencies about
a subject, concept or problem
To discover unanswered questions about a subject,
concept or problem
To explain strengths & weaknesses of designs,
methods of inquiry and instruments used in earlier
works
7
Functions of LR
Reviewing literature can be time-consuming, daunting
and frustrating, but is also rewarding.
Its functions are:
a) Bring clarity and focus to your research problem;
b) Improve your methodology;
c) Broaden your knowledge;
d) Contextualize your findings.
Characteristics of Valuable related Literature
Characteristics of High Quality Literature Reviews:
Use of the most credible sources such as professional
journals
A synthesis of relevant papers including Those that
may be contrary to one’s hypotheses
Intuitively organized overview of the literature and a
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Critical analysis of literature
Will provide the foundation on which your research is built.
help you to develop a good understanding and insight into relevant
previous research and the trends that have emerged.
You would not expect to start your research without first reading
what other researchers in your area have already found out.
The purpose is not to provide a summary of everything that has
been written on your research topic, but to review the most relevant
and significant research on your topic.
If your analysis is effective, new findings and theories will emerge
that neither you nor anyone else has thought about.
However, you will need to show how your findings and the theories
you have developed or are using relate to the research that has
gone before, thereby demonstrating that you are familiar with what is
already known about your research topic.
Critical Analysis of Literature
Descriptive writing Critical analytical writing
States what happened Identifies the significance
States what something is like Evaluates strengths & weaknesses
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Scholarly Journals…
Articles are written by a scholar in the field or by
someone who has done research in the field.
Often present empirical data to test hypotheses or
answer research questions.
26
LRP: Overreliance on Quotations…
You gain your reader’s trust by sparingly and strategically
using other people’s words.
27
LRP: Patching not Paraphrasing…
“Patching” occurs when you insert a series of borrowed ideas
and phrases; these strings often differ only slightly from the
original wording.
29
LRP: Cursory Overview or Biased Sample…
Failing to ensure that your literature review is
comprehensive because you were unaware of the
seminal studies on the topic
30
End of Chapter Four