Module 5

Locating and Reviewing

the Literature
Learning Outcomes
 Describe briefly why a literature review is important;

 Differentiate the types of information

 Identify the steps in conducting a review of the Literature;

 Conduct both manual and computer search of the literature on a topic of interest

 Write sample of Literature review

A Literature Review
It is a written summary of journal articles, books, and other
documents that describes the past and current state of
information on the topic of your research study (Creswell,
2012).
It is an account or synthesis of what has been published on a
topic by accredited scholars and researchers, Librero (2008)
 The Importance of a Literature
Review
 One of the most important early steps in a research projects the
conduct of the literature review. It is one of the most humbling experiences
that a researcher will like to have because, it is a realization that at the
start of any worthwhile project, an idea has already been thought of before,
at least to some degree (Wolfe, 1996).
 A comprehensive review of the literature would greatly help the thesis
student in determining the research gaps in the area of his/her study, as
well as in providing a synthesis of the latest developments in the
discipline. (Librero, 2008)
 The Importance of a Literature
Review
 Refines the research problem, establishes the conceptual or theoretical
framework, helps develop significance of the study, research questions and
hypotheses, assists in identifying the strengths and limitations of the research
methodology, and enables researchers identify contradictory findings.(McMillan,
2016)
 Design to provide an overview of sources you have explored while researching a
particular topic and to demonstrate to your readers how your research fits within
a larger field of study (http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/literaturereview).
 
 Types of Sources
1. General References.
These are sources a researcher consults to locate other sources. It includes indexes, which list the author, title,
and place of publication of articles and other materials, or abstracts, which give a brief summary of various
publications, as well as their author, title, and lace of publication. An index frequently used is Current Index to
Journals in Education. A commonly used abstract is Psychological Abstracts.
2. Primary Source
These are publications in which the researchers report the results of their investigations. Most primary source
material is located in journal articles, such as the Journal of Educational Research. This journal is usually published
monthly or quarterly, and the articles on them typically report on a particular research study. Search terms. Or
descriptors, are key words researchers use to help locate relevant primary sources. 
3. Secondary Sources
These refer to publications in which authors describe the work of others. He most common secondary sources
are textbooks.
Steps in Searching for a Literature
The following are the steps involved in a literature search:
 Define the research problem as precisely as possible.
 Look at relevant secondary sources.
 Select and scan one or two appropriate general references works.
 Formulate search terms (key words or phrases) pertinent to the problem
or question of interest.
 Search the general references for relevant primary sources.
 Obtain and read relevant primary sources, and note and summarize key
points in the sources
Ways to do a Literature Search

The two ways of doing a literature search are manually -using the traditional paper approach, and
electronically - by means of computer. The most common and frequently used method is to search
online, via computer.
 
A computer search of the literature has the following advantages: they are fast; fairly inexpensive;
provide printouts/ and enable researchers to search using more than one descriptor (term) at a time.
 
Weather manually or electronically, the essential points that researchers should record when taking
notes on a study are problem, hypotheses, procedures, findings, and conclusions.
In searching for relevant information’s, the researcher is encouraged to research for related literature
and related studies.
 
Related Literature
Related literature is also called conceptual literature. The gathering of
literature related to the research clarifies the different variables being
studied. The related literature removes any vagueness in the concepts
central to the study. The indicators per variable are clearly based one on
read articles from different published reference books, textbooks,
manuals, and other materials (Cristobal & Cristobal, 2013).
As to the number of materials to be gathered for the literature review,
Almeida, et.al (2016) asserts that it depends upon the researcher's
professional judgement. According to them, the review of related literature
is considered sufficient if the researcher believes that important concepts
and variables have been adequately explained and established.
Related Studies

Determining whether the research is objective an empirically-based

includes surveying previous studies that involve similar variables
(Cristobal & Cristobal, 2013). It is important to note that even if a previous
research used the same variables as his or hers, the two studies may vary
in the limitation in terms of sub-variables investigated or in terms of focus
and purpose (Almeida,et.a1.2016).
 
An adequate review of related studies is needed. This serve as the basis
of the analysis of results because it allows the researcher to compare and
contrast his/her findings with those of previous studies. The results of a
study verified by similar findings ore negated by different findings of
previous researchers.
Writing the Literature Review Report
Literature reviews differ in format, but typically they consist of an
introduction, the body of the review, and a summary (synthesis).
In the introduction part, the researcher briefly describes the nature of the
research problem and states the research question. The body of the
review briefly reports what others have found or thought about the
research problem. Since there are various related studies that can be
cited, the researcher should provide a summary (synthesis) which briefly
connects the previous studies to the present study.
Documentation style and paraphrasing must be considered in writing the
literature review report.
Documentation Style
Throughout the research, the published researchers are cited to credit
those who prepared the foundation for your work (Almeida, et.al.2016).
Do not claim someone else's ideas or work as your own because you
might be adjudge plagiarism which is a serious breach of ethics.

The American Psychological Association (APA) is a popular style

commonly used by researchers in documentation or reference citation.
The APA format is also called the author-date method of parenthetical
documentation or in-text citation.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is using or putting in one's own words to restate
author's ideas, and acknowledging the source to give credit to
the original author (de Belen, 2015). It is used when we want to
express someone else's idea in our own words, hence,
consequently weakens the act of plagiarism. In paraphrasing,
replace a word with a synonym. Paraphrasing can be longer or
shorter than the original source. Changing the sentence
structure is also a technique in paraphrasing.
Written Works:
1. Write your reflection in a paragraph form.

I learned ____________________________________________________________
 
I know _____________________________________________________________
 
I apply _____________________________________________________________
 
 
2. Submit sample of the Literature and studies relevant to your present
research study. At Least three (3).