RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

PROJECT REPORT
ON

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
ITS TYPES AND SIGNIFICANCE
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..................................................................................................................................2
TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................4
SIGNIFICANCE OF LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................5
REVIEW OF LITERATURE PROCEDURES................................................................................................7
TYPES OF REVIEW..........................................................................................................................................9
SOURCES OF LITERATURE REVIEW...................................................................................................... 13
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................................15
BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................................................. 16
 INTRODUCTION
A literature review is a description, summary, and critical evaluation of scholarly works on a certain
topic. A literature review combines both summary (a recap of important information) and synthesis (a
reorganization of that information which reflects your approach to a research problem). You may be
asked to write a literature review on a certain topic for a class, or you may need to include a literature
review as one part of a research paper, thesis, or dissertation.

The aim of the literature review is to highlight what has been done so far in the field of interest and how
your findings relate to earlier research. The review of the literature also indicates the following:
(a) Approaches;
(b) Methods;
(c) Variables used; and
(d) Statistical procedure.

A review of literature in research methodology is a critical component that involves analyzing,

synthesizing, and evaluating existing scholarly works relevant to the topic of study. Researchers embark
on this process to gain a comprehensive understanding of the research problem or question they are
investigating. Initially, they identify relevant literature through thorough searches in academic
databases, libraries, and other sources. Once identified, researchers critically analyze each source,
considering factors such as methodology, rigor, validity of findings, and theoretical frameworks.
Through this critical analysis, researchers aim to assess the quality and credibility of the literature.
Subsequently, they synthesize the findings from the literature to identify common themes, patterns,
controversies, and gaps in existing research. This synthesis informs the development of research
hypotheses or questions grounded in existing literature, providing a theoretical framework for the study.
Proper documentation and citation of sources are crucial in a review of literature, ensuring transparency,
integrity, and proper credit to the original authors. Overall, a well-conducted review of literature serves
as a foundation for research, providing context, identifying gaps in knowledge, and contributing to the
advancement of scholarly understanding in the field.

A review of the literature also reveals techniques and statistical procedures that have not been attempted
by others. To accomplish a review of literature, you need to locate, read and evaluate research
documents, reports as well as thesis and other sources of academic materials. Review done for one
particular research process must be extensive because you are aiming to obtain a detailed account of the
topic being studied.
 SIGNIFICANCE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
Reviewing literature can be time-consuming and daunting. However, it is always rewarding. A review
of literature has several important functions in research methodology, as illustrated in the figure below:
Following points highlight the main importance of the literature review:
1. Improve your Research Methodology
The literature review helps you to acquire methodologies used by other researchers to find and
solve research questions similar to the ones you are investigating. It will explain the procedures
other researchers used and methods similar to the ones you are proposing. It will give you an idea
of whether the methods other researchers used worked for them and what problems they faced. By
doing a review of the literature, you will become aware of pitfalls and problems and could
strategise well to select a methodology that you feel will suit your research work better.

2. Focus on Research Problem

A review of literature could help you shape your research problem because the process of
reviewing the literature helps you to understand the subject area better and thus helps you to
conceptualise your research problem clearly and precisely. In addition, it also helps to understand
the relationship between your research problem and the body of knowledge in your research area.

3. Cater to Knowledge Base for Research Area

One of the most important objectives of the literature review is to ensure that you read widely about
the subject area in which you intend to conduct a research study. It is fundamental that you know
what others are doing in your field of interest or the similar topic you have been working on as well
as understanding theories that have been put forward and gaps that exist in the particular field.
M.Sc and PhD candidates are expected to be experts in their area of study, therefore a thorough
review of literature helps to fulfil this expectation.

4. Contextualising Research Findings

Obtaining answers for your research questions is easy. The difficulties lies in how you examine
your research findings in the existing body of knowledge. How do you answer your research
questions compared to what other researchers concluded? What is the new knowledge contribution
from your research work? How are your findings distinguished from those of other researchers? To
answer these questions, you need to go back to the review of literature. It is important to put your
findings in the context of what is already known and understood in your field of research.

5. Ensure Novelty in your Work

By doing a review of literature, you do not run the risk of reinventing the wheel, meaning that
wasting efforts on trying to rediscover something that is already known or published in the research
arena. Therefore, through literature review, you could ensure novelty and new contribution in your
research work.
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE: PROCEDURE

I. Step 1: Search the Existing Literature in your Research Area of Interest

Once you choose your topic of interest, make sure it is a well-researched area and well studied
which could give you more lines of research to choose from. Narrow your topics so that you can
cover in depth. Comprehensive and narrowness of topic go hand in hand. Now, you can proceed to
search the existing literature. To effectively search literature, have in mind some idea of the broad
subject area and the problem you wish to investigate. The first task would be compiling a
bibliography in your research area. Books and journals are always the best sources for literature in
particular research area. Information technology and communication (ICT) research findings can be
sourced out in several prominent sources and these can save you enormous time. The sources
include:
(a) Indices of Journals ( e.g. ACM, IEEE Transcations and Elsevier )
(b) Abstracts of articles (e.g. Dissertaions Abstracts International, Emerald and IT
Knowledge Base)
(c) Citation indices (e.g. ProQuest and Scopus)

In most libraries, information on books, journals, dissertations and so on are stored in computers
and CD-ROMs. OUMÊs Tan Sri Dr Abdullah Sanusi Digital Library has a vast collection of
e-journals and digital books for ICT. This Digital Library can also help you prepare a bibliography
and review the literature for your research topic.
 II. Step 2: Review the Literature Obtained

Once you have identified several journals and books, the next thing to do is to start reading them
critically to pull together themes and issues that are associated with your research topic. Read and
read! That is the bottom line of doing a review. If you do not have a framework or theme to begin
your research with, use a separate paper to jot down the main points you extract from journal
articles and books. Once you create a rough framework, you may slot in the extracted information
accordingly. As you read further, do some critical review with particular references to the following
aspects:
(a) Note the theories put forward, critics, methods used (sample size, data used,
measurement procedure)
(b) Note whether the knowledge relevant to your designed framework has been confirmed
beyond doubt
(c) Find differences of opinions among researchers and jot down your opinions about their
validity
(d) Examine the gaps that exist in the body of knowledge

III. Step 3: Develop a Theoretical Framework

Reviewing the literature can be a never-ending task. You must know that with the limited time you
have to complete your research, it is important for you to set the boundary and parameters by
looking into literature relevant to your research topic. Every information you obtain from literature
sources must be sorted out accordingly with the themes and issues you put in your framework.
Unless you review the literature with regard to the framework you developed, you will not be able
to develop a focus in your literature search. This means your theoretical framework will provide
you a base and guide to read further. The best practice would be to develop a framework first and
then dive into literature search or vice versa. Of course, as you read more about your research area,
you are likely to change the framework. Do not worry much about this because it is part of a
research process.

IV. Step 4: Writing up the Literature Review

Now, the final task would be compiling and writing all the literature you read and reviewed. Begin
your review with some theme or points that you want to emphasise. Organise and list all the themes
you would like to discuss and relate. Organisation is of utmost importance and make the structure
known to your reader. While writing, identify and describe various theories relevant to your field
and specify gaps in body of the knowledge in that area. Proceed to explain recent advances in the
 area of study as well as current trends. Note that in the field of ICT research, current trends are
always given great importance. We describe, compare and evaluate findings based on:
(a) Assumptions of research
(b) Theories related to the area of study
(c) Hypotheses
(d) Research designs applied
(e) Variables selected
(f) Potential future work speculated by researchers

Most importantly, avoid plagiarism when writing. Give due recognition to the works of other
researchers. Quote from other researchers work to show how your findings contradict, confirm or add to
them. This function is undertaken when writing about your findings, that is after finalising your data
analysis during the research process. It does not cost anything to acknowledge sources. In fact, it shows
the breadth and depth of your review and shows that your work is precise.

TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEW

1. Systemic Literature Review
It is also known as Comprehensive Literature Review. A comprehensive literature review involves
systematically collecting, evaluating, and synthesizing all relevant published and unpublished
sources on a particular topic to provide a thorough understanding of the research area. It is when the
review is about all possible available, published, unpublished, existing set of literature

Example: A comprehensive literature review on the impact of microfinance interventions on

women's empowerment in rural India would entail searching academic databases, grey literature,
and organizational reports. It would aim to analyze various dimensions of empowerment, such as
economic, social, and political, to provide a comprehensive overview of the effectiveness of
microfinance programs in empowering rural women in India.

2. Thematic Review
A thematic review of literature involves identifying and analyzing recurring themes, concepts, or
patterns across various sources related to a research topic, providing deeper insights into specific
aspects of the subject matter.

Example: In a thematic review exploring the impact of social media on mental health, researchers
categorize the literature into themes such as "Social Comparison and Self-Esteem," "Cyberbullying
and Psychological Well-being," and "Online Social Support Networks." Within each theme, they
 analyze studies to understand how social media usage affects individuals' self-perception, mental
health outcomes, and social interactions. By synthesizing findings across these themes, the review
offers nuanced insights into the complex relationship between social media and mental well-being,
highlighting areas for further research and intervention strategies.

3. Narrative Literature Review

This type of review provides a comprehensive summary of the literature on a particular topic
without a specific methodology for searching, selecting, or evaluating the literature. It typically
involves summarizing and synthesizing existing research findings.

Example:A narrative literature review on the history of Indian classical dance would compile and
analyze various sources such as books, articles, and archival materials to trace the evolution of
different classical dance forms over time, exploring their cultural significance and artistic
developments.

4. Systematic Literature Review (SLR)

SLRs follow a structured approach to identify, select, critically appraise, and synthesize relevant
literature on a specific research question or topic. They involve a systematic search strategy,
predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and rigorous quality assessment of included studies. An
example could be a systematic literature review on the effectiveness of yoga interventions for stress
management among Indian adults, where researchers meticulously search, screen, and analyze
studies meeting predefined criteria.

Example: A systematic literature review on the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions for

reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression among adolescents in India would involve a rigorous
search of databases, systematic screening of studies, and quantitative synthesis of data to determine
the overall effectiveness of such interventions.

5. Meta-Analysis
Meta-analysis goes a step beyond systematic reviews by quantitatively synthesizing data from
multiple studies to provide more precise estimates of the effect size. It involves statistical
techniques to combine results from individual studies. For instance, a meta-analysis could be
conducted on studies examining the association between traditional Indian diets and cardiovascular
health outcomes, pooling data from various research papers to derive overall conclusions.

Example: A meta-analysis of studies investigating the association between maternal education and
child health outcomes in India would aggregate data from various research papers to quantify the
overall effect of mate
6. Scoping Review
Scoping reviews aim to map the existing literature on a broad topic, identifying key concepts,
sources of evidence, and research gaps. They are particularly useful for exploring emerging or
heterogeneous topics where a broad overview is needed. An example might be a scoping review on
the use of Ayurveda in the management of chronic diseases, where researchers aim to map out the
breadth of literature on this topic in India.

Example: A scoping review on the impact of social media on mental health among adolescents in
India would systematically explore literature from academic databases, social media platforms, and
grey literature sources to map out the range of studies, methodologies used, and emerging trends in
research on this topic.

7. Theoretical Review
A theoretical review examines existing literature to develop or refine theoretical frameworks,
models, or concepts related to a particular topic.

Example: A theoretical review on the concept of "cultural competence" in healthcare delivery in

India would analyze literature from medical anthropology, cross-cultural psychology, and
healthcare policy to synthesize existing theoretical frameworks and propose a culturally responsive
model for healthcare practitioners working with diverse patient populations in India.

8. Critical Literature Review

Critical reviews involve a thorough evaluation and critique of existing literature, focusing on
methodological flaws, theoretical inconsistencies, and gaps in knowledge. They aim to provide a
nuanced understanding of the strengths and limitations of previous research. For instance, a critical
literature review on the portrayal of gender roles in Indian literature could analyze various texts,
questioning underlying assumptions and biases.

Example: A critical literature review on the effectiveness of environmental education programs in

promoting sustainable behaviors among rural communities in India would analyze various studies
to assess the rigor of research methods, theoretical frameworks employed, and the extent to which
interventions address socio-cultural contexts and local knowledge systems.

9. Cross-disciplinary View
A cross-disciplinary literature review involves synthesizing literature from multiple disciplines to
provide a holistic understanding of a research topic or problem.
 Example: A cross-disciplinary literature review on the impact of climate change on food security in
India would integrate findings from fields such as environmental science, agronomy, economics,
sociology, and public health to examine the complex interactions between climate variability,
agricultural practices, socio-economic factors, and nutritional outcomes in India's diverse
agroecological regions.

10. Integrative Review

Integrative reviews synthesize empirical and theoretical literature from diverse sources to generate
a comprehensive understanding of a research topic, often incorporating both quantitative and
qualitative evidence

Example: An integrative review on the role of technology in enhancing educational outcomes in

India would integrate findings from empirical studies, theoretical frameworks, and policy
documents to provide a holistic perspective on the use of technology in education across different
contexts.

11. Rapid Review

Rapid reviews streamline the literature review process to provide timely evidence synthesis for
policy-makers or stakeholders, often prioritizing key questions and employing accelerated search
and screening strategies.

Example: A rapid review on the effectiveness of telemedicine in rural healthcare delivery in India
would aim to quickly summarize existing evidence to inform decision-making by healthcare
policymakers and practitioners in resource-constrained settings.

12. Historical Literature Review

A historical literature review examines the evolution and development of research, theories, and
concepts within a specific field over time. It traces the progression of ideas, methodologies, and key
contributions to understanding the historical context of the topic.

Example: In a historical literature review of feminist theory in sociology, researchers analyze

seminal works from the 19th century to the present day, tracing the evolution of feminist thought
and its impact on sociological discourse. They explore key debates, such as first-wave feminism's
focus on suffrage, second-wave feminism's emphasis on gender equality in the workplace, and
third-wave feminism's intersectional approach. By contextualizing each wave within its historical
and social backdrop, the review provides insights into the development and transformation of
feminist theory over time, informing current discussions and future directions in the field.
 SOURCES OF LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Books: e-Book, Audio Books, Text Books, Special Books and Reference Books
University library bookshelves are lined with printed books, and it is a practice to acces many of
chem online as e-books. Many books, such as the Kindle. the computer created by the multinational
online recailer.
Amazon, can be read on a portable eBook reader. Audio books have also revolutionised the
literature world. Textbooks include the underlying principles, concepts and hypotheses of a field
that provide material that is widely recognised as commonly accepted knowledge in that field of
science." Specialised books are for a specific theoretical area of a field of research.They can include
a series of chapters written by various writers with an overall editor or editorial board on a specific
specialist subject that compiled and checked the contributions to the book together. Reference
books are used to locate basic details or meanings, such as dictionaries, encyclopaedias, and
databases. These are likely to be available in electronic and/or printed format. Both online and on
CD ROM, electronic versions are also available

2. Articles in professional journals

Journal papers comprise of a series of peer-reviewed scholarly articles written in a specific field by
various scholars or practitioners.* Each journal has a particular set of purposes and an audience that
is intended, both of which are typically expressed in each published issue. The process of peer
review implies that other academics or experts in the field have reviewed and made
recommendations on each published paper, thus ensuring its accuracy. The ideas in circulation in a
discipline are included in journals and the rest are available online.

3. Peer reviewed journal articles (papers)

A peer reviewed journal article is a paper that has been submitted to a scholarly journal, accepted,
and published. Peer review journal papers go through a rigorous, blind review process of peer
review. What this means is that two to three experts in the area of research featured in the paper
have reviewed and accepted the paper for publication. The names of the author(s) who are seeking
to publish the research have been removed (blind review), so as to minimize any bias towards the
authors of the research (albeit, sometimes a savvy reviewer can discern who has done the research
based upon previous publications, etc.). This blind review process can be long (often 12 to 18
months) and may involve many back and forth edits on the behalf of the researchers, as they work
to address the edits and concerns of the peers who reviewed their paper. Often, reviewers will reject
the paper for a variety of reasons, such as unclear or questionable methods, lack of contribution to
 the field, etc. Because peer reviewed journal articles have gone through a rigorous process of
review, they are considered to be the premier source for research. Peer reviewed journal articles
should serve as the foundation for your literature review.

4. Statistical data from governmental websites

Governmental websites can be excellent sources for statistical data, e.g, Statistics Canada collects
and publishes data related to the economy, society, and the environment. Eg Key Employment
Unemployment Indicators for 2023, Factsheet of Household Consumption Expenditure Survey

5. Website material from professional associations

Material from other websites can also serve as a source for statistics that you may need for your
literature review. Since you want to justify the value of the research that interests you, you might
make use of a professional association’s website to learn how many members they have, for
example. You might want to demonstrate, as part of the introduction to your literature review, why
more research on the topic of PTSD in police officers is important. You could use peer reviewed
journal articles to determine the prevalence of PTSD in police officers in Canada in the last ten
years, and then use the Ontario Police Officers´ Association website to determine the approximate
number of police officers employed in the Province of Ontario over the last ten years. This might
help you estimate how many police officers could be suffering with PTSD in Ontario. That number
could potentially help to justify a research grant down the road. But again, this type of website-
based material should be used with caution and sparingly.
 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, literature reviews are essential components of research methodology, providing a
comprehensive understanding of existing knowledge, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks in a
particular field. They serve multiple functions, including improving research methodology, focusing on
research problems, catering to the knowledge base of a research area, contextualizing research findings,
and ensuring novelty in research work.

By conducting a literature review, researchers acquire insights into methodologies used by others, shape
their research problems, understand the relationship between their research and existing knowledge, and
ensure that their findings contribute to the advancement of knowledge. Furthermore, literature reviews help
researchers to develop theoretical frameworks, identify gaps in existing literature, and situate their findings
within the broader scholarly discourse.

The review of literature procedures involves searching existing literature, reviewing obtained literature
critically, developing a theoretical framework, and writing up the literature review. Researchers must
conduct a systematic search of literature sources, critically evaluate existing literature, develop a
theoretical framework to guide their review, and write a comprehensive review that organizes themes and
issues identified in the literature.

Different types of literature reviews, such as systemic literature reviews, narrative literature reviews,
systematic literature reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, theoretical reviews, critical literature
reviews, and cross-disciplinary reviews, offer distinct approaches to synthesizing and analyzing existing
literature. Each type of literature review serves specific purposes and involves different methodologies for
gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing literature.

Overall, literature reviews are indispensable tools in research methodology, providing researchers with
the insights and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of their research fields. By conducting
rigorous and comprehensive literature reviews, researchers can contribute to the advancement of
knowledge in their fields, drive innovation, and shape the future of research and scholarship.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Research Papers
● The University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center. (2001). Writer's Handbook: Academic
Writing: Reviews of Literature
● Macauley P. (2007) The Literature Review
● Research Methodology And Literature Review By Associate Professor Dr. Rayner Alfred

Books
● Legal Research Methodology by Prof. (Dr.) Rattan Singh
● Research Methodology: Step Guide for Beginners by Ranjit Kumar
● Cooper, H. M. (1989). Integrating research: A guide for literature reviews (2nd ed.). Newbury Park,
Calif: Sage Publications,.

Websites
● https://www.crowdwriter.com/blog/types-of-literature-review
● https://guides.library.ucla.edu/c.php?g=224129&p=1485355
● https://pressbooks.online.ucf.edu/sandboxstrategies3/chapter/types-of-literature-reviews/