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APA Headings and Subheadings Headings and subheadings provide structure to a document. I do
not think I’ve read through something like this before. Define your Research question Analyze the
material you’ve found Manage the results of your research Write your Review Getting Started
Consider the following questions as you develop your research topic, conduct your research, and
begin evaluating the resources discovered in the research process: What is known about the subject.
You create a thesis, support it using valid sources, and formulate systematic ideas surrounding it.
Rule 6: Be Critical and Consistent Reviewing the literature is not stamp collecting. You can copy
and paste the logo you need from the final slide of this presentation. My early notes wander around
as they attempt to summarize each article’s every little takeaway. If you are writing a review on, for
example, how epidemiological approaches are used in modelling the spread of ideas, you may be
inclined to include material from both parent fields, epidemiology and the study of cultural diffusion.
That structure will likely provide an okay summary of the literature you’ve found, but it would give
you almost no synthesis of the literature. Consequently, this book veers in many different
trajectories. The introduction to your paper does not begin with a heading of any kind. This is the
case not just at the writing stage, but also for readers if the diagram is included in the review as a
figure. Analyzing Your Research Results You have completed your research and discovered many,
many academic articles on your topic. Another approach is to start with the most distantly related
facts and literature and then report on those most closely related to your specific research question.
As each source has its own frame of reference for the MOP, it is crucial to structure the review in the
most logically consistent way possible. Are there any gaps in the knowledge of the subject. Not
quickly. Not easily. At least, that’s what you answered if your notes are anything like mine.
Literature Review Format: APA, MLA, and Chicago The essay format you use should adhere to the
citation style preferred by your instructor. Reason 3: A template doesn’t hold you back Okay, maybe
you’re warming up to the idea of skimming articles and using note-taking templates. This helps
ringfence your review and achieve a clear focus. Across disciplines, you can usually find the same
information from the same places in the same IMRaD sections. I cannot use them to quickly answer
the five literature review objectives. Today’s cutting edge is tomorrow’s foundational knowledge—or
maybe its embarrassing blunder. I am doing a research on nanofluids how can l structure it. Start by
merging part of each article’s notes into a single document. However, MSc students present their
limitations when begin conducting their own dissertation, mandatory to certificate. Let’s build some
solidarity and whine about what makes the literature so painful to begin with. How does this article
compare or connect with other articles on the topic. The easiest way to do this: take one of those
weaknesses and make it your research gap. Therefore, to initially guide students in this process is
considered fundamental when performing both, work assignments and the final dissertation for
obtaining MCs certification.
Signposting- words that identify the organization and structure of a literature review Image
attributions Startup notebooks by startupstockphotos cc-0, board front problem by geralt cc-0, person
holding white paper and typewriter by dreamstime cc-0, signs direction bergen by mariamichelle cc-
0, mistakes by annekarakash cc-0. I call these the five literature review objectives. Thematic: If you
have found some recurring central themes that you will continue working with throughout your
piece, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the
topic. The most basic form of signposting is using a topic sentence at the beginning of each
paragraph. Step 2: Determine Your Purpose Think about how you will evaluate the academic articles
you find and how you will determine whether to include them in your research project. Are you
focusing on methodological approaches; on theoretical issues; on qualitative or quantitative research.
Types of reviews 1. Define your research question 2. It’s one of the great ironies of science:
researchers make exciting discoveries and then dull them with dense, boring writing. As a
publication, a lit review usually is meant to help make other scholars’ lives easier by collecting and
summarizing, synthesizing, and analyzing existing research on a topic. They’re similar to headings
but are formatted differently. Having a rough APA literature review outline (or other style outlines)
will not only help you follow the right format and structure but will also make the writing process
simpler and help ensure that you include all of the important information without missing anything.
They will help you understand what the final product of a literature review should ideally look like.
Some scientists may be overly enthusiastic about what they have published, and thus risk giving too
much importance to their own findings in the review. It is however advisable to reread the draft one
more time before submission, as a last-minute correction of typos, leaps, and muddled sentences may
enable the reviewers to focus on providing advice on the content rather than the form. Let’s be a bit
more specific with this goal by looking forward, to your project’s end—to your published journal
article. A library database searches for keywords throughout the entire resource record including the
full-text of the resource, subject headings, tags, bibliographic information, etc. A literature review
presents current knowledge on a topic and may point out various academic arguments within the
discipline. SLR has long been the “gold standard” process for evidence-based research, especially in
the academic and professional arenas. Literature Review Examples You can find two well-written
literature reviews by the EssayPro writing team below. If we exclude it from our notes, how will we
ever find it again. But they also suffer weaknesses, embrace underdeveloped ideas, and pursue
unproven directions. When writing up your Literature Review check to see if it has the following
elements. Run a free check. Instead of formatting every heading individually, you can use the
“Styles” feature in Word or Google Docs. However, a general introduction of the context and,
toward the end, a recapitulation of the main points covered and take-home messages make sense
also in the case of reviews. Note that there cannot be single level 3, 4, or 5 headings. Place page
numbers in the upper right corner of each page, including the cover page. An experienced writer will
usually present their sources by order of strength. For example, if you don’t have a solid definition of
your key concepts or a sense of how the literature has developed over time, it will be difficult to
make coherent scholarly claims about your topic. After having read a review of the literature, a
reader should have a rough idea of: the major achievements in the reviewed field, the main areas of
debate, and the outstanding research questions. It is not easy to guess which subject headings are
used in a given database.
Assessing the contribution of papers that have just appeared is particularly challenging, because there
is little perspective with which to gauge their significance and impact on further research and society.
Synthesize the information you've gathered and comment on it. The stronger a piece of literature
showcases the central point, the better the quality of the entire review. 2. Synthesize The Literature
Make sure to structure the review in the most effective way possible, whether it be chronologically,
thematically, or methodologically. Unfortunately, there is no formula that will work for everyone, but
there are some general pointers on structuring your literature review. Therefore, to initially guide
students in this process is considered fundamental when performing both, work assignments and the
final dissertation for obtaining MCs certification. I do not think I’ve read through something like this
before. An experienced writer will usually present their sources by order of strength. So you needn’t
worry about understanding every sentence, paragraph, and figure—just the ones that meet your
objectives. It’s not a good idea to organize your literature review by source—that is, one paragraph
for source A, one paragraph for source B, etc. At the same time, it also pulls your reader into the
literature review. When you have multiple sources cited in a paragraph, you are more likely to be
synthesizing them (not always, but often Read more about synthesis here. And settle into a rhythm
that you can sustain for several weeks. You must eventually stop reviewing the literature and move
on to other phases of your project. For the rest of your literature review, there is no set formula for
how it should be organized. Use accurate and complete referencing to ground the research
undertaking. Conclusion: This should summarise the current state of the research in your field as
analysed in the main body. Rule 4: Choose the Type of Review You Wish to Write After having
taken notes while reading the literature, you will have a rough idea of the amount of material
available for the review. However, bias could also occur in the other direction: some scientists may
be unduly dismissive of their own achievements, so that they will tend to downplay their contribution
(if any) to a field when reviewing it. And finally, gaps most often refer to a lack of research on
certain aspects of a topic. Want to get more advice on how to handle this body of work. Do not
approach this like a reflective journal entry. Federal government websites often end in.gov or.mil.
Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. In other words,
you are summarizing research available on a certain topic and then drawing conclusions about
researchers' findings. Now that we know to use signposts, the natural question is “What goes on the
signposts?” First, it is extremely important to start with an outline of the main points that you want
to make, organized in the order that you want to make them. The most basic form of signposting is
using a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph. What is the difference between popular
and scholarly literature. Make sure you choose a clear and easily-readable font. As the author, make
sure to present the contrasts in approaches clearly and don't include general statements that offer no
value. Remember, an SLR is far more than an internet search. Hopefully, this sample outline will help
you to structure your own paper.
The right structural approach depends on what you’re trying to achieve with your research.
Analyzing Your Research Results You have completed your research and discovered many, many
academic articles on your topic. Dissertations and major projects LibGuide Expert guidance on
planning, researching and writing dissertations and major projects. The Literature Review: Step by
Step Follow this step-by-step process by using the related tabs in this Guide. Let’s be a bit more
specific with this goal by looking forward, to your project’s end—to your published journal article.
Provide background information for your reader, such as including references to the pioneers in the
field in the beginning and offering closure in the end by discussing the implications of future
research to the field. Purpose: It serves to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of
knowledge within a particular field. Another approach is to start with the most distantly related facts
and literature and then report on those most closely related to your specific research question. SLR
has long been the “gold standard” process for evidence-based research, especially in the academic
and professional arenas. And you learned to use those notes to help you find a research gap.
Identifying the relationships will help you organize the existing knowledge, build a solid literature
outline, and (if necessary) indicate your own research contribution to a specific field. Editors select
articles based on specific criteria including the research methods used, whether the research
contributes new findings to the field of study, and how the research fits within the scope of the
academic journal. Does the research design fit the research question. Are there transitions between
and within paragraphs that link ideas together. Include only the aspects of the study that are relevant
to your literature review. What if your literature review collapses under scrutiny. Database Search
Tips Boolean Operators Keywords vs. The funders had no role in the preparation of the manuscript.
You can build a review by identifying areas of consensus and areas of disagreement. Once you have
found some sources, be sure to define whether or not they are actually relevant to your topic and
research question. Point out consistent findings and emphasize stronger studies over weaker ones.
You can open each article’s notes and quickly compare their findings, which are all located in the
same place of the notes’ common structure. When you have a list of keywords, use them to search
for valid and relevant sources. Quotations for definitions are okay, but reserve quotes for when
someone says something so well you couldn’t possible phrase it differently. It is challenging to
achieve a successful review on all these fronts. In reviews written by multiple authors, this may be
achieved by assigning the review of the results of a coauthor to different coauthors. As you are
editing, keep in mind these questions adapted from Green (2012): Content: Have I clearly stated the
main idea or purpose of the paper and address all the issues. And each set of notes is organized a bit
differently. Having a rough APA literature review outline (or other style outlines) will not only help
you follow the right format and structure but will also make the writing process simpler and help
ensure that you include all of the important information without missing anything. An argument in
writing means more than simply disagreeing with what someone else said.
Undertaking your literature review These can provide useful headings when you come to write up
your literature review. Many writers often start by simply trying to type out what they want to say,
regardless of how good it is. Identifying Gaps: Aims to pinpoint areas where there is a lack of
research or unresolved questions, highlighting opportunities for further investigation. A cover (title)
page should include your full name, class information, and the date. Heading (and sub-headings, if
necessary) that tell the story in a logical order. This may be necessary to some extent, but in this case
a focused review would only deal in detail with those studies at the interface between epidemiology
and the spread of ideas. If you have demonstrated both of these, you are on the right lines. So when
I joined my friend for an “easy” 10-mile tour on a borrowed road-bike, I thought I’d enjoy myself.
Or, it might describe one phenomenon, then describe another phenomenon that seems inconsistent
with the first one, then propose a theory that resolves the inconsistency, and finally present a
hypothesis to test that theory. I envisioned world-class scientists producing high-quality research.
This will give you a chance to take your mind off it and then get back to proofreading with a fresh
perspective. Begin to write your literature review Identify the purpose of a problem statement Apply
the components of a formal argument to your topic Use elements of formal writing style, including
signposting and transitions Congratulations. Why is your target population an important one to
study. These limitations are justified due to students are not completely conscientious of the
importance of this previous work along any research. Demonstrate how your work contributes to the
area of study and formulate questions for further research. Here’s what I recommend: Use the note-
taking template as you would for any other article. This feature can be used to broaden search
results, although some results may not be relevant. The conclusion should: summarise the important
aspects of the existing body of literature; evaluate the current state of the literature reviewed;
identify significant flaws or gaps in existing knowledge; outline areas for future study; link your
research to existing knowledge. Signposting refers to the words used to identify the organization and
structure of your literature review to your reader. Comparisons between and evaluation of the
methods and results of the literature cited. The conclusion should summarize your literature review,
discuss implications, and create a space for future or further research needed in this area. In fact,
rather than navigate these old notes, it’s often easier for me to simply read the original article.
Literature reviews also define the primary concepts. Rule 10: Be Up-to-Date, but Do Not Forget
Older Studies Given the progressive acceleration in the publication of scientific papers, today's
reviews of the literature need awareness not just of the overall direction and achievements of a field
of inquiry, but also of the latest studies, so as not to become out-of-date before they have been
published. Contains 55 videos from the Harvard Faculty Seminar Series, on topics such as
leadership, sustaining competitive advantage, and globalization. Whether a doctor or nurse, patient,
researcher or student, Cochrane evidence provides a tool to enhance your healthcare knowledge and
decision making on topics ranging from allergies, blood disorders, and cancer, to mental health,
pregnancy, urology, and wounds. There is no need to hide behind “I believe” or “I think.” Put your
voice out in front, loud and proud. At this stage, all you need to do is follow the plan you've created
and keep in mind the overall structure and format defined in your professor's instructions. When you
have multiple sources cited in a paragraph, you are more likely to be synthesizing them (not always,
but often Read more about synthesis here. Implications and suggestions for further research (where
there are gaps in the current literature) should be specific.
Writing the review When writing up your Literature Review check to see if it has the following
elements An introduction explaining the purpose of the proposed research and how the review is
organised to demonstrate that the purpose is worthwhile. If applicable: define how your own study
will contribute to further disclosure of the topic. It is important to note that conclusions described in
the literature you gather may contradict each other completely or in part. If your notes have the same
shortcomings, then you’re doing it wrong. We yearn to read each article from start-to-finish. If all
goes well, you’ll contribute a new chapter that advances the cutting edge of your discipline in a
worthwhile direction. Use section labels for the following sections in an APA formatted paper:
Author note Paper title Reference page Prevent plagiarism. The most interesting literature reviews
are often written as arguments (again, as mentioned at the beginning of the page, this is discipline-
specific and doesn’t work for all situations). Consequently, this book veers in many different
trajectories. If you’re ready to get started, be sure to download our free literature review template to
fast-track your chapter outline. You can learn where they searched, what search terms they used, and
how they decided which articles were included. Let’s build some solidarity and whine about what
makes the literature so painful to begin with. State which studies seem to be the most influential.
Some reviews declare that they have scanned the literature up to a certain point in time, but given
that peer review can be a rather lengthy process, a full search for newly appeared literature at the
revision stage may be worthwhile. Health sciences, biology, science, and pharmaceutical information
from ProQuest. That said, this approach can be utilised by anyone that wants to explore change over
time. Level 4 Headings are Indented Left, Title Case and Bold With a Closing Period. Step 2:
Conducting Research When you have a clearly defined topic, it is time to start collecting literature
for your review. This means that you should select and filter through about 5-10 different options
while doing initial research. APA Headings and Subheadings Headings and subheadings provide
structure to a document. Maybe some older person in a tweed jacket encouraged you to read the
literature. This will give you a chance to take your mind off it and then get back to proofreading with
a fresh perspective. In the Impressions section, copy weaknesses, questions, and criticisms from the
end of each article’s notes. It is acceptable to argue that the balance of the research supports the
existence of a phenomenon or is consistent with a theory (and that is usually the best that researchers
in social work can hope for), but it is not acceptable to ignore contradictory evidence. Its journal
articles promise exciting new directions. All of your notes are concise, are well-organized, and
contain the same information in the same places. Therefore, it’s important to carefully think about
how you will organise your discussion to present it in a clear way. In fact, rather than navigate these
old notes, it’s often easier for me to simply read the original article. This means the writing should be
structured chronologically, thematically or methodologically. As you consider whether you are ready
or not, it may be useful to ask yourself these questions: How will my literature review be organized.

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