Purposes of Literature Review

- Why there is a need to review literature related to one’s particular study?

1. It delimits the research problem
2. It selects new lines of investigation
3. It avoids fruitless approaches
4. It gains methodological insights
5. Offers the researcher a range of theoretical and conceptual frameworks, debates, and issues about the research topic.
6. It provides the researcher knowledge and background on the subject under study
7. It provides the researcher information on the weaknesses and problems of previous studies and some ideas on how to handle or
avoid them in his own study.
8. It provides the researcher bases in determining what variables are related with each other, the types of their relationship and
how to analyze and measure these relationships.
9. Provides findings and conclusions of past studies which the researcher may relate to his own findings and conclusions.
10. Provides the researcher motivation and impetus that will ensure a good progress toward the goal of completing his study.
11. A summary of the writings of recognized authorities and of previous researches provides evidence that the researcher is familiar
with what is already known and what is still untested.

Sources of Literature
1. Libraries
2. Internet-capable computer

a. The following are sources of literature:

a. Libraries and internet capable computer c. Literature Books
b. Previously conducted researches d. Authors of Books/Researchers

Library

Internet-capable computer

The materials that must be cited should be which means :

a.
Characteristics of the Materials Cited
1. Materials must be as recent as possible
2. Materials must be objective and unbiased as possible
3. Materials must be relevant to the study
4. Materials must not be too few but not too many

How to Review the Related Literature (Guide Questions)

1. What is the research study all about? What is its specific topic?
2. What was the study’s research design?
3. Who were its respondents? How many? How were they selected?
4. What are the independent and dependent variables if any? Are they adequately described or defined?
5. What kinds of data collection methods were used? Were they appropriate, reliable, and valid?
6. What kind of data analysis was employed? Was it sound and logical?
7. What are the study’s major findings and conclusions?
8. How do the study’s findings and conclusions relate with other research reports and information? Do they help improve
knowledge and understanding of the study’s topic?

Guidelines on Effective Writing of the Literature and Review

1. Research papers must be written in a formal style, which is in the third person, not the first person.
2. Avoid highly descriptive writing style, not appropriate for a scholarly research.
3. Use the active voice for direct impact and easy understanding.
4. Avoid the use of jargon; use familiar terms in place of terminologies.
5. Language should be neutral gender, no sexist language like his or her.
6. Make the conclusions and contradictions found in the literature clear in the report.
7. Use short sentences; avoid elongated and run-on expressions.
8. Use proper grammar and proofread the work.
9. Never plagiarize; give credit to the original author of ideas.
10. Pay attention to the structure and form of published articles, which are good examples of how literature reviews can be written.
11. Discuss similarities and dissimilarities in the works of various authors.
12. Point out how the reviewed material is related to and different from the topic of the present research and hot it has helped in the
formulation of the research problem.
13. Avoid duplication by putting together references saying the same thing.
14. Unless the materials are classics, avoid including very old sources.
15. Avoid an over-bulky literature review that can turn off the reader by including only very relevant sources.

Four Types of Entry Reference Notes

1. Quotation – the exact words of an author are reproduced and enclosed in quotation marks.

2. Paraphrase – the researcher restates the author’s thoughts in his or her own words.
3. Summary – the researcher states in condensed form the contents of the article.

4. Evaluation – the researcher records his or her reaction indicating agreement or disagreement or interpreting the point of view of
the writer.

Jose (2007) claims that job-related stress can enhance productivity up to a certain point. There is, however, a threshold
point beyond which stress becomes a harmful factor in one’s productivity. On the other hand, Luisito (2008) averred that, in his
experience as a clinical psychologist, stresses always produce a negative effect on one’s productivity.

Ways of Citing Related Literature

1. Chronological approach – literature is presented according to the time they were written, that is, following the time-sequence
pattern.
2. Type of literature approach – conceptual literatures are presented first than the research literature.
3. Findings, theme or topic approach – brings together and classifies reviewed literature according to similarity of findings, theme
or topic.
4. Country approach – classifies literature by country or into “local” and “foreign” studies categories

Other Tips

The use of the following phrases and expressions that may help express related literature and studies are:

In 2006 Cruz made a survey of the…

Santos (2008) made…
From the book of Zulueta entitled “Foundations and Dynamics of Political Science” published by Academic Publishing
Corporation, Inc., in 2001, he expounded that…
Sevilla (2006) suggested that…
Perez and Cruz postulated that these…
Adelante directed that…
Guinbatan’s system made detailed and interesting…
Geronimo (2008) used…
Aguilar’s suggestions focused…
The related literature included in this study has direct and significant relationship under the study in the sense that…
The thesis of… is relevant to this study because the place and time are similar to…
The different concepts on … as reflected in several investigations revealed the different insights as they are relevant to the
present study of the researcher.
The related literature and studies provided the…considering that…
The related literature and studies have direct bearing on…
The present study is similar to that…in the following aspects.
The related literature included in this study has significant relationship with the future study in the sense that…
The related studies presented here were selected on the basis of their significance in promoting directions for this present
study…
The study of…provided a framework for the…
The dissertation of … especially relevant to this study because the venue is similar to…
This present study is similar to that of … in terms of…
The different concept on … as reflected in several studies revealed the following insights as they are related to the present
researcher’s study.
Like the previous studies presented, this study on…will serve…
This study is related to other studies conducted because…
The related literature and studies included in this study have a bearing on…
The concept of … forwarded by … has ramifications on …
All the concepts revealed in the study of … will influence the … of this study.
The related literature and studies provided the … considering that…
The study conducted by … provided a framework for…
The study of … is especially relevant to…
The present study will be similar to that of … in the following aspects.