Review of Literature and

Related Studies
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND RELATED
STUDIES

▶ literature, readings and studies that have direct bearing or relation to the present study
or to the problem under investigation.
▶ It includes the purpose, procedures, major findings and recommendations for further
study of various researches conducted in the past.
▶ It discusses relevant information, reviews most recent findings, and identifies gaps in
existing knowledge about the problem or area being studied.
▶ Through an extensive review of research you can learn which procedures and
techniques have proved useful and those that seem less promising.
▶ A thorough search of related studies also avoids unintentional replication of studies
that have already been conducted in the past.
 TYPES OF LITERATURE

▶ 1. Research Literature – written reports on the result of

researches or studies which were done previously, either
published or unpublished.
▶ 2. Conceptual Literature – consists of articles or books
written by authorities giving their opinions, experiences, theories
or ideas of what is good and bad, desirable and undesirable within
the problem area.
 PARTS OF REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND RELATED
STUDIES
▶ 1. Related Readings – laws and department directives such as circulars, orders, memoranda and
others which are related to the present study and serve as legal bases for the paradigm of the study.
▶ Examples: Presidential Decree No. 146 known as National College Entrance
Examination issued on March 9, 1973
DECS Order No. 17, s.1998 dated February 12, 1988
▶ 2. Related Literature – are taken from any written materials such as books, journals,
magazines, novels, poetry, yearbook, encyclopedia and many others.
▶ Examples: Methods of Research and Thesis Writing
Modern Chemistry
▶ 3. Related Studies – published and unpublished research studies which have direct bearing to
the present study segregated into foreign and local studies.
▶ Examples: Taxonomy and Biostatistical Analysis of the Ecological Parameters
Influencing the Useful Macrobenthic Marine Algae in Northern Iloilo
Biodegradation of Diesel Oil Using Bacillus Isolates
 SOURCES OF RELATED LITERATURE AND RELATED
STUDIES
1. Library
Card catalogue and bibliographic indices
Computerized cataloguing:
OPAC ( On-line Public Access Catalog )
LORENZO (Library On-line Readers Network Zone)
2. Internet or World Wide-Web
3. Government and Non-government agencies
4. Private individuals with mini library
 PRIMARY SOURCES
▶ Original and unedited information
▶ Journals
Present up-to-date and detailed information on work in
specialized areas of interest
Whether conventional or electronic form, recognized as
reliable sources of recent information
▶ Other sources
Interview, e-mail contact, discussion, debate, community
meeting, survey,
observation of object ( animate and inanimate )
 SECONDARY SOURCES
▶ Edited primary sources, second-hand versions
Reference materials
Books
CD ROM
Encyclopedia
Magazine
Newspapers
Video tape
Audio tape
TV
 SOME HELPFUL TIPS IN WRITING THE REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE

▶ 1. It must document accepted facts, concepts and processes

upon which the research is based.
▶ 2. Reference information should be correctly recorded so that
proper documentation of sources can be made and appropriate
credit be given the author.
▶ 3. Describe similarities and differences among research
studies as background information for your current study.
▶ 4. Include the following as a general background information
of your paper:
 A. Living Things / Organisms ( Microorganisms, Plants, Animals )

1.) Give the common name, scientific name, and classification of the organism.
2.) Briefly describe the organism’s
a.) Habitat
b.) Anatomy
c.) Physiology (how it obtains needed materials, moves, eliminates
wastes, responds to stimuli, etc.)
d.) Life cycle and
e.) Behaviors or responses to the environment
3.) Provide detailed information in areas that are directly applicable to the study. 4.) If you are
using more than one organism, provide information on each, but describe similarities and
differences.
5.) Based on the given information, predict how you think the organism/animal will act in your
experiment.
B. Behavior
1.) Briefly describe the:
a.) Type of behavior;
b.) Primary factors influencing the behavior;
c.) Value of the behavior; and
d.) Methods of describing the behavior
2.) Identify critical factors to consider in selecting the sample for the
study and for designing the procedure.
3.) If you have more than one type of behavior, describe similarities
and differences.
4.) Based on the given information, predict how you think the
organism/animal will act in your experiment.
 C. Process / Procedure

1.) Describe the purpose of the process, the major steps, where
it occurs, and how it relates to the experiment.
2.) If more than one process is involved, provide information
on each process. Then, describe the similarities and differences, or
advantages and disadvantages between these processes.
3.) Based on the given information, predict how you think the
organism / animal will act in your experiment.
 D. Matter
▶ 1.) Briefly describe the substance’s chemical
composition and / or common name, formula,
physical properties, chemical properties, method of
production and uses.
▶ 2.) Provide detailed information on
characteristics that are directly applicable to the
study.
 FORMAT OR STYLE OF CITING RELATED STUDIES
For published works, mention the relevant information, then enclose in parenthesis the
author and year of publication. Some examples and formats of citing published works are
given below.
a.) Single Author
The pyrolysis apparatus or pyrolyzer should be designed to maintain an oxygen-
deficient atmosphere and those material of construction should be corrosion-resistant
(Deneau, 1981)
or
Deneau (1981) recommends that the pyrolysis apparatus or pyrolyzer should be so
designed as to maintain an oxygen-deficient atmosphere and those materials of
construction should be corrosion resistant. 
Source: Pyrolysis of Plastic Wastes for the Production of a Fuel Substitute
(1998 TOYS National Finalist)
 b.) Two Authors
Asphalt or bituminous concrete has the important advantage that traffic may use it
immediately after construction (Oglesby and Gayhicks, 1992).
OR 
Oglesby and Gayhicks (1992) note that asphalt or bituminous concrete has the
important advantage that traffic may use it immediately after construction.

Source: The Utilization of Discarded Thermoplastics as Asphalt Additive in Bituminous

Road Construction ( 1998 TOYS National Finalist)
 C.) Multiple Authors
The most biologically effective alternatives to chemicals for weed control in cultivated
crops that have been extensively evaluated are plant pathogens, more specifically, plant-
pathogenic fungi (Boyette, et. al., 1991).
OR
Boyette, et. al.(1991) report that the most biologically effective alternatives to chemicals
for weed control in cultivated crops that have been extensively evaluated are plant
pathogens, more specifically, plant pathogenic fungi.

Source: Determining the Bioherbicidal Activity of Leaf Blight and Leaf Mold Pathogens on
the Rice Paddy Weed Sphonoclea zyylanica Gaertner (1998 TOYS National Winner)
 HOW TO ORGANIZE THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND
STUDIES
▶  An organized and systematic presentation of the literature is crucial in any
research. The researcher who fails to assemble related literature in a systematic manner
from the beginning may not stay focused on his chosen topic. To help with this aspect of
your research, the following are some suggestions for organizing your review of related
literature and studies.
a.) Create categories for your literature review, grouping together
similar studies or those that tackle similar aspects of your research.
b.) Begin with the most recent studies and then work backward.
c.) Whenever possible, include an extensive review of relevant local
research so that you will avoid unintentional duplication of already
conducted studies.
PRESENTATION OF REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND RELATED
STUDIES
1.) Chronological Approach – presented according to time-
sequence pattern. (past – recent or vice versa)
2.) Type of Literature Approach – classified into categories
--- conceptual literature and research literature – with the former
presented first.
3.) Findings, theme or topic approach – classified according
to the similarity of findings, theme or topic.
4.) Country Approach – classified by country or into “local”
of “foreign” studies.
 THE MECHANICS OF NOTE TAKING
NOTE TAKING – the process by which the researcher puts material in a form that can be
easily recalled and used in the future.
Best (1981) classifies reading-reference notes into 4 categories:
1.) QUOTATION – The exact words of an author are reproduced,
enclosed in quotation marks.
2.) PARAPHRASE – the reader restates the author’s thoughts in his or her
own words.
3.) SUMMARY – The reader states in condensed form the contents of the
article.
4.) EVALUATION – The reader records his / her own reaction, indicating
agreement or disagreement, or interpreting the point
of view of the writer.