Worksheet: Preparing for Chapter 2 – Literature Review
Objective: This worksheet will guide you through the process of preparing your Literature
Review (Chapter 2). It will help you identify relevant sources, organize key ideas, and
structure your writing effectively.
Part 1: Understanding the Literature Review
1. What is the purpose of a literature review? A literature review provides a
comprehensive summary and critical analysis of existing research related to a specific
topic. It helps to establish the foundation for a study by identifying key findings,
methodologies, and theoretical frameworks, as well as highlighting gaps in current
knowledge.
2. Why is it important to identify gaps in previous research?
It ensures that the research contributes new knowledge to the field rather than
replicating existing studies.
It helps in identifying areas where further investigation is needed, allowing
researchers to address unresolved questions or propose solutions to existing
problems.
3. List three key sources where you can find credible literature for your topic.
Google Scholar ([Link])
PubMed ([Link])
SpringerLink ([Link])
Part 2: Identifying Relevant Literature
4. Find and list at least five academic sources related to your research topic. For
each source, provide:
Relation to
Title Author(s) Year Key Findings/Arguments
Research
The Relationship
Provides empirical
Between Social Examines correlations
Hou, R., Liu, evidence relevant
Media Use and 2021 between social media
C., Gao, X. to university
Psychological Well- habits and mental health.
students.
being
Association of Boers, E., Highlights mental
Excessive screen time is
Screen Time and Afzali, M. H., health risks of
2019 linked to higher levels of
Depression in Newton, N., & social media
depression in adolescents.
Adolescence Conrod, P. usage.
Demonstrates the
Social Media and Frequent social media use
Keles, B., & psychological
Mental Health: A 2023 leads to increased anxiety
Baran, S. impact of social
Systematic Review and lower self-esteem.
networks.
Social media fosters Supports Social
The Influence of
negative self-comparisons, Comparison
Social Media on Perkovich, T. 2021
leading to lower self- Theory as a
Self-Esteem
esteem. framework.
The Effects of
Highlights both positive Provides a
Social Media on
Smith, A., & and negative aspects of balanced
Mental Health and 2021
Johnson, B. social media on mental perspective on the
Psychological Well-
health. issue.
being
Part 3: Organizing Your Literature Review
5. Which organizational approach will you use? (Check one and briefly explain why)
o ☐ Thematic (grouping studies by topic)
6. Identify at least three key themes or subtopics in your literature review.
7. The impact of screen time on mental health.
8. The role of social comparison in self-esteem.
9. Theoretical frameworks explaining social media influence on students.
Part 4: Writing the Literature Review
7. Write a draft paragraph summarizing a key theme from your literature review.
One of the critical issues in social media research is its impact on self-esteem.
Perkovich (2021) argues that social media fosters unrealistic comparisons, leading to
dissatisfaction and reduced self-worth. This is supported by the Social Comparison
Theory, which suggests that individuals evaluate themselves based on how they
compare to others (Festinger, 1954). Similarly, Keles and Baran (2023) found that
frequent exposure to idealized online personas contributes to lower self-esteem and
increased anxiety. These findings highlight the psychological risks of social media
and emphasize the need for further research on mitigation strategies for university
students.
8. What strategies will you use to avoid plagiarism when writing your literature
review? (List at least two)
Properly cite all sources using APA 7th edition style.
Paraphrase information while maintaining the original meaning.
Part 5: Reflection and Next Steps
9. What challenges do you anticipate when writing your literature review
Synthesizing a large volume of research into a cohesive narrative.
Identifying and integrating multiple theoretical perspectives.
10. What is your plan for completing Chapter 2? (Outline your next steps, including
searching for more sources, writing, and revising)
Conduct additional research for studies specifically focusing on university
students.
Organize literature thematically and outline the key arguments.
Write a first draft and revise based on feedback.
Ensure proper citations and adherence to APA formatting.
