Methods of Research

Lesson 3: Reviewing the Literature

Dr. Racidon P. Bernarte
 Literature Review
Literature Review is an account of the materials,
published or unpublished, on a specific topic by
scholars and researchers.

It is guided by the research problem and objectives

The Literature Review is…

• A discussion of your knowledge about

the topic under study
• A discussion of your knowledge that is
supported by the research literature
• A foundation for the study
 The Literature Review is not…

• A study-by-study, or article-by-
article, description of studies
previously done
• A re-statement of the studies
previously done
• A brief overview of articles
 Literature Review
Related Literature (published literature - ex. Journal, books)
 is composed of discussion of facts and principles to which the
present study is related. (usually found on books, encyclopedias,
professional journals, magazines, newspapers, and other publications)

Related Studies (not yet published – ex: research thesis)

are inquiries or investigations already conducted to which the present
proposed study is related or has some bearing or similarity. (e.g.
usually unpublished materials such as manuscripts, theses and dissertations)
The materials are classified as:
 Local Literature and Studies
 Foreign Literature and Studies
Importance, Purposes and Functions of Related
Literature and Studies
 Review of Literature
• Helps or guide the researcher in searching for or selecting a
better research problem or topic.
• Helps the investigator understand his topic for research better.
• Ensures that there will be no duplication of other studies.
• Helps and guide the researcher in locating more sources of
related information.
Review of Literature
• Helps and guide researcher in making research design especially in:
√ the formulation of specific questions to be researched on
√ the formulation of assumptions and hypotheses if there should be any
√ the formulation of conceptual framework (<- ds s challenging part)
√ the selection and application of sampling techniques
√ the selection and application of research methods
Review of Literature
• Cont.….
• the selection and/or preparation and validation of research instruments for
gathering data
• the selection and application of statistical procedures
• the analysis, organization, presentation, and interpretation of data
• the making of the summary of implications for the whole study
• the formulation of the summary of findings, conclusions, and
recommendations
The Review of Literature in the Research Process
Characteristics of Related Literature and Studies

1. The surveyed materials must be as recent as possible.

2. Materials reviewed must be objective and unbiased.
3. Materials must be relevant to the study .
4. Surveyed materials must have been based upon genuinely
original and true facts or data to make them valid and reliable.
5. Reviewed materials must not be too few nor too many.
 Organizing the Literature Search:
the Tree Diagram

subtopic subtopic

subtopic

subtopic

subtopic

subtopic
subtopic

Topic
 Tree Diagram Example

Home-school Parent
communication involvement
barriers

Homework
assistance Involvement in
decision making
Academic volunteerism
achievement

Teachers’ beliefs
Home visits
Tree Diagram Example
Tree Diagram Example
Tree Diagram Example
 Structure of literature review
• Introduction
• Gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature review, such as the central
theme or organizational pattern.
• Body
• Contains your discussion of sources.
• Conclusions | Recommendations
• Discuss what you have drawn from reviewing literature so far. Where might
the discussion proceed?

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 Organization of literature review

• A general organization looks like a funnel

• Broader topics
• Subtopics
• Studies like yours

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Organization of literature review

20
 How to Organize Literature
• Chronological
• By publication date
• By trend
• Thematic (advised to used)
• A structure which considers different themes
• Methodological
• Focuses on the methods of the researcher, e.g., qualitative
versus quantitative approaches
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 Making links between literature
Agreements
• Similarly, author B points to…
• Likewise, author C makes the case that…
• Author D also makes this point…
• Again, it is possible to see how author E agrees with author D…
Disagreements
• However, author B points to…
• On the other hand, author C makes the case that…
• Conversely, Author D argues…
• Nevertheless, what author E suggests…
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 Writing the Literature Review
• Always begin with an
introduction to the review & end
with a summary
• Make the connection for the
reader between the subtopics &
the topic
• Use direct quotations infrequently
• Always cite your sources
• Present your knowledge on the
topics & subtopics
• Summarize each subtopic
• Include a transition paragraph
from one subtopic to the next
 The Writing Process

• Rough Draft
• Final Draft
• Edit
• Edit Again
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 Show others
Have someone else look at your literature
review for
• Clarity
• Can they understand what you’re trying say?
• Flow
• Does the organization make sense?
• Completeness
• Are there areas left out?
• Questions left unanswered?
• Statements without citations? 25
 Common errors in reviewing literature
 Hurrying through review to get started could mean that you will miss something
that will improve your research.
 Relying too heavily upon secondary sources.
 Concentrating on findings rather than methods.
 Overlooking sources other than academic journals. Don’t forget newspaper
articles, magazines, blogs, etc.
 Searching too broad or too narrow of a topic.
 Inaccuracy in the compiling of bibliographic information.
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 Writing the Literature Review

Plagiarism includes (Galvan, pg. 89):

1. Using another writer’s words without proper citation
2. Using another writer’s ideas without proper citation
3. Citing a source but reproducing the exact word without quotation marks
4. Borrowing the structure of another author’s phrases/sentences without
giving the source
5. Borrowing all or part of another student’s paper
6. Using paper-writing service or having a friend write the paper
 Writing the Literature Review

Use APA style & format (download)

Have your work proofread before submitting
Follow all format guidelines
Must be a thorough review, reflected by the depth of the discussion
Should begin prior to the implementation of the study
 A Good Literature Review is:
• Focused - The topic should be narrow. You should only present ideas and only report
on studies that are closely related to topic.
• Concise - Ideas should be presented economically. Don’t take any more space than
you need to present your ideas.
• Logical - The flow within and among paragraphs should be a smooth, logical
progression from one idea to the next
• Developed - Don’t leave the story half told.
• Integrative - Your paper should stress how the ideas in the studies are related. Focus
on the big picture. What commonality do all the studies share? How are some studies
different than others? Your paper should stress how all the studies reviewed contribute
to your topic.
• Current - Your review should focus on work being done on the cutting edge of your
topic. 29
 Summary table for Literature Review

• It is useful to prepare.
• Such a table provides a quick overview that allows the reviewer to make
sense of a large mass of information.
• The tables could include columns with headings such as
• Author
• type of study
• Sample
• Design
• data collection approach
• key findings
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 Atmospherics in service environments
Summary table of literature
Citation Sample Environment Method Conclusions
Colour
Bellizzi, Crowley and 125 Adults Furniture store Laboratory Warm and cool colours created different emotional responses.
Hasty (1983) experiment Customers view red retail environments as more negative and
Photographic unpleasant than blue.
slide simulations
Bellizzi, & Hite (1992) 70 Adult women Televisions shown Laboratory Study based on PAD affect measures and approach-avoidance
107 Students with different experiments behaviours.
colour Photographic More positive retail outcomes occurred in blue environments than
backgrounds slide simulations red.
Furniture stores

Music
Smith and Curnow (1966) 1100 Supermarket Retail store Field experiment Time in store reduced with loud music but level of sales did not.
shoppers
Milliman (1982) 216 Shoppers Supermarket Field experiment The tempo of background music influenced the pace at which
customers shopped. Slow tempo music slowed customers down
but resulted in increased volume of sales.
Hui, Dubé and Chebat 116 Students Bank branch Laboratory The positive impact of music on approach behaviours is mediated
(1997) - waiting for experiment by an emotional evaluation of the environment and the emotional
service. Video simulation response to waiting. Pleasurable music produced longer perceived
waiting times.

Lighting
Areni and Kim (1994) 171 Shoppers Wine store Field experiment The investigation found that brighter in-store lighting influenced
shoppers to examine and handle more of the merchandise in the
store
Summers and Hebert 2367 Customers Hardware store Field experiment Confirmed Areni and Kims (1994) results. Increased levels of
(2001) Apparel store lighting will produce arousal and pleasure and increase the
approach behaviours of customers.

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 End!
Thank you
Lesson 3: Reviewing the Literature
Dr. Racidon P. Bernarte
Assignment
Lesson 3: Reviewing the Literature
Dr. Racidon P. Bernarte
Based on your identify possible research topics,
collect at least 10 related literature/studies to
be used as foundation of your research. Make a
summary table of the collected literatures. Make
a 10 page write up of the review of literature.
 Sample
Guidance and Counselling
Author/Citation Type of Study Sample Design/Method Findings
Theme (Curricular and Instructional Program/System
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Literacy Education/Program)
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Links between or among Curricular, Instructional and Literacy Program
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Enhancement of Literacy Program od School A)
1.        
2.        
3.        
 Sample
Educational Management
Author/Citation Type of Study Sample Design/Method Findings
Theme (Students Stressor)
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Psychological Preparedness)
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Links between Stress and Psychosocial Preparedness)
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Social and Psychological Intervention)
1.        
2.        
3.        
 Author/Citation Type of Study Sample Design/Method Findings

Sample
Information Technology
Theme (Disaster Warning)
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Post Disaster Communication)
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Links between Disaster Warning and Post Disaster Communication)
1.        
2.        
3.        
Theme (Disaster Communication in the Disaster Prone Areas)
1.        
2.        
3.        
Useful Links
• http://education.ufl.edu/counselor-
education/dissertations-list/

http://eric.ed.gov/

http://www.proquest.com/

http://www.sciencedirect.com/