Writing the Second Chapter:

Review of Related Literature

Prepared by:

Dr. Seyed Ali Fallahchay

 Review Related Literature

• The review of related literature is a retrospective

presentation of previously researched materials. These
include research studies, experiments, observations,
ideas, and comments that have existing relevance and
relationships to the research study under consideration.
Sources of these related writings may be both local and
foreign. Thus, the Review of Related Literature consists
of Foreign Literature, Local Literature, Foreign Studies
and Local Studies.

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 Most popular sources of Review Related
of Literature
• Books
• Magazines
• Journals
• Experts
• Institutions
• Agencies
• Other published or unpublished researches written in the
same or similar fields of concentration
• Internet

Note: all of these sources have to be accurately cited.

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• The last paragraph of your review of related literature
should be clearly state in what particular respect will
your research study differ the literature and studies
you have earlier mentioned in your Review of Related
Literature. This last paragraph is your Synthesis.
• Synthesis is important to avoid more duplication of
researches written before. At the least, your research
should be different from those you have quoted.

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American Psychology Association (APA)
• APA is an author-date format of documentation written in varied
fields of specialization. It has been gaining wide patronage among
researchers with respect to practicality and convenience. The
following guidelines are being given in citing the works of other
individual:
1. To Summarize: to summarize a source, indicate the author’s last
name and the publication date in parenthesis.
• If the source was used before it was borrowed enclose only the
publication date in parenthesis at the beginning of the statement.
This is referred to as signal phrase.
Ex. Rodriguez (2013) reported that the use of music in instruction is
effective to classroom learning.
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• If the source was used after it was borrowed enclose both author
and publication date in parenthesis at the end of the statement. This
is referred to as a parenthetical citation.
Ex.
It was reported that the use of music in instruction is effective to
classroom learning (Rodriguez, 2013).
2. To Quote: To quote directly or to refer to a specific page reference;
include in the parenthetical citation the page number in
parenthesis.
Ex. It was reported that the use of music in instruction is effective to
classroom learning, (Rodriguez, 2013,p.13)

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3. To Cite Authors:
• One Author: this can be cited in any of the following ways:

Example:
Rodriguez (2013) reported that the use of music in instruction is
effective to classroom learning.
It was reported that the use of music in instruction is effective to
classroom learning (Rodriguez, 2013).
• Two Authors: Cite the two authors by joining their respective last
names with an ampersand (&).
Example:
It was reported that the use of music in instruction is effective to
classroom learning (Rodriguez & Carlos, 2013, p.323)

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• Three to Five Authors: For three to five authors, one can cite in
either of the following ways:
– Cite all the last names of these authors if referred to the first
time.
Example:
It was reported that the use of music in instruction is effective to
classroom learning (Rodriguez, Carlos and Martin 2013,p.323)
– Cite the last name of the first author, followed by et al. which
means “and other” in later citations.
• Six or More Authors: For six or more authors, cite the last name of
the name of the first author followed by “et al” whether in signal
phrases or parenthetical citations.

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• Corporate Authors: For corporate authors, spell out the
complete corporate name. include the abbreviation if there is
one.
Example:
For the first citation:
(Word Trade Organization [WTO], 2013)

For SUBSEQUENT CITATIONS: [WTO, 2013]

• For an Unknown Author: for an unknown author, use the
complete title.
Example:
It was reported that the use of music in instruction is effective to
classroom learning (“Music in the 21st Century, “2013, p.323)
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• Authors with the Same Last Name: For authors with the
same last name, include their respective initials.
Example:
(F.C Young, 2013)
(H.C. Young, 2013)
4. To Cite Personal Communication: To cite any letter or
mail, write the author’s initial and last name, followed by
the personal communication statement and the date in
parenthesis.
Example:
Rodriguez (personal communication, March 23, 2013)
commented that the use of music in instruction is effective to
classroom learning.

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 Evaluation Checklist
1. Have you gathered adequate
• Related literature?
• Related studies?

2. Are these related literature and studies from

• Foreign sources
• Local sources

3. Are you correctly and competently paraphrasing your

related studies?

4. Are you citing your sources correctly?

5. If your answers are all “yes”, then continue.
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