Chapter: 4

Organizing and Writing a Literature Review

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 The Literature Review:

 Lecture Contents
• Purpose of Literature reviews
• Literature and research Process
• Theoretical Frameworks
• Writing the Literature Review
• Critically Analyzing the Literature
• Conceptual frameworks
• Referencing
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 1. Purposes and functions a literature review:

 Specific purposes, functions and benefits of a literature

review include:
1. Bring clarity and focus of research,
2. Improve your methodology,
3. Broaden your knowledge base in your study area

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2. The Literature & Research
Process
 The Literature Review is:
A discussion of your knowledge about the topic under
study: both for and against opinions are considered
A discussion of your knowledge that is supported by the
research literature;
A foundation for the study;
Literature review is never ending task!!!

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Literature and the Research Process

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 3. Theoretical Frameworks
 A structure that can hold or support a theory of a research work.
 It presents the theory which explains why the problem under study
exists.
 The problem you wish to investigate has its root in a number of
theories: e.gs.
• Dependency theories,
• Modernization theories,
• Exogenous growth theories,
• Transactions costs theories,
• collective action theories,
• Motivation theories,
• Consumer behavior theories,
• Etc..
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 3. Theoretical Frameworks…
• You should sort your information according to their root
theories,
• Highlight the level of agreement and disagreements
among the authors and any remaining gaps.
 Well developed theoretical framework!
• Purpose:
 It helps the researcher see clearly the variables of the
study;
 It can provide the researcher with a general framework
for data analysis; 04/15/22 7
 3. Theoretical Frameworks…
How to formulate theoretical framework?
1. specifies the theory used as basis for the study;
2. mentions the proponents of the theory;
3. cite the main points emphasized in the theory;
4. Supports the exposition of the theory by ideas from other experts;
5. illustrates the theoretical framework by means of a diagram; and,
6. reiterates the theoretical proposition in the study.
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 Theoretical Frameworks…

• Dilemma: you can’t make good literature review without

having a theoretical framework and you can’t make theoretical
framework before making literature reviews!
• Decision: Skim some of your key literatures to make
theoretical framework for a later critical reading!

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 4. Reviewing the Literature
 Begin with a search of the available literature.
 Critically analyze each article you select.
 Organize the review with an outline (use computer in-built
program).
 Write the review.
 Summarize the review.
 Using the literature, present a rationale for your study.

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 5. Critically Analyzing the
Literature

 Abstract
√ the author’s description of the study
√ related to your area of interest?
√ conclusions relevant?
 Problem Statement
√ Related to the topic?
√ problem stated clearly?
√ purpose?
√ significance? 04/15/22 11
 5. Critically Analyzing the
Literature…
 Hypothesis or Research Question(s)
√ Clearly stated?
√ Relevant?
√ Related to your area of interest?
 Assumptions
 Explicit assumptions?
 Implicit assumptions
 Similar to yours?
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5. Critically Analyzing the Literature…
 Delimitations
• How was the study narrowed?
• Which considerations are relevant to your study?

 Definitions
• Key concepts and terms?

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 5. Critically Analyzing the Literature…

 Methodology
• research design?
• population and sample?
• measurement?
• procedures?
 Findings
• Is it logical? make sense?
• what do they say about your area of interest?
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 5. Critically Analyzing the
Literature…
 Discussion
• Presented clearly?
• Meaningful interpretations?
• Implications discussed?
• Suggestions or recommendations?
• Limits to practical application?
 Conclusion
• What did you learn?
• Re-state your new knowledge
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 6. Writing the Literature
Review
Always begin with an introduction to
the review and end with a summary
Make the connection for the reader
between the subtopics and the topic
Use direct quotations rarely: only for
“GOLDEN” Ideas!
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 6. Writing the Literature
Review….
Always cite your sources; don’t cite what you
have not read actually!
Present your knowledge on the topics and
subtopics
Summarize each subtopic
Include a transition paragraph from one
subtopic to the next
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 6. Writing the Literature Review….

Example
paragraph 1
The purpose of this
study is to Introduction
determine the effect
of poor coordination Example
on the effective
delivery of Reiterate the paragraph 2
consultancy research problem Effective organizational
services. structures
Introduce the sub-
topics Service coordination
practices
Consultants’
professional support
needs
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 Effective Organizational
Structures
In order for the coor-
dination of services to
be effective, a struc-ture
must exist within which
service units are
organized and can
operate. …
Long range strategic
planning characterizes
organizations with ef-
fective internal struc-
tures. Key to such an
effort is the identification
of…
First Subtopic
Discussion should include:
•How is the subtopic
connected to the problem?
•Your knowledge, based
on the literature you have Mission & Purpose
studied, Goals & objectives
(planning)
• Specify subtopics (if Task units
any),
• Summary & transition,
Thus, given all that,
……………….., it is
important to note
the role of…
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7. Conceptual Framework
 After formulating the theoretical framework, develop the
conceptual framework of the study.
 A concept is an image or symbolic representation of an
abstract idea.
 While the theoretical framework is the theory on which the
study is based, the conceptual framework is the
operationalization of the theory.
 Conceptual framework helps in:
1. showing the direction of the study, and
2. Showing the relationships of the different constructs that is
being investigated.
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 7. Conceptual Framework…
How should the conceptual framework formulated?
1. cite your conceptual framework or paradigm;
2. Identify your variables;
3. Point out the dependent, independent and
intervening variables;
4. Show the direction of the study.
There are different forms of conceptual framework:
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 9. Forms of Conceptual framework
Process frameworks
– Set out the stages through which an action moves
from initiation to conclusion.
– These relate to the ‘how?’ question.
Content frameworks
– Set out the variables, and possibly the relationship
(with relative strengths) between them, that together
answer the ‘why?’ question.
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 10. Referencing
 References vs bibliography
• References are the items you have read and specifically referred
to (or cited) in your paper.
• A bibliography is a list of everything you read in preparation for
writing your paper.
• We reference other literature to:
√ Provide supporting (or contrary) evidence for the views we write about,
√ Assign credit for an idea, concept or result,
√ Add information and details on matters discussed, 04/15/22 23
 Referencing…

 Giving credit for thoughts, ideas, efforts and contributions

of others is an important ethical issue.
 Plagiarism is the failure to give credit for an idea or research
result to it’s originator.
• Presenting someone else’s words or ideas as your own is not
only wrong but can hurt your professional standing
• By properly referencing and giving credit for other’s work, you
show that you are aware of the state of knowledge in your
subject and are familiar with the work of leaders in the field.
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 Referencing…
• The style used in referencing may vary with the type of
publication, as well as your personal preference.
• Footnotes (notes at the bottom of the page) or Endnotes
(similar notes placed at the end of the paper) can be used, if
allowed.
• Most commonly used is parenthetical referencing, which
provides the author’s last name, year of publication, and
sometimes the page number. eg. (Robsan, 2004, p.122;
Gemechu, 2011, pp.232-234)
• The cited references then all appear in the Reference section
at the end of the paper.
Use specific referencing style, do not mix it!!
Follow all format guidelines 04/15/22 25
THE END OF
CHAPTER 4
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