Chapter 5

Preparing the Review of

Literature
5.1 Basic Guidelines
After choosing a particular research topic, the next task of
the researcher is to search and review literature which have
bearings or relevance on his problem being investigated. As
a beginning researcher, you may have problems with the
review of related literature.
5.1 Basic Guidelines
As far as the review of literature is concerned, we may
classify research students into two groups, namely: those
who gather together voluminous materials and do not know
what to do with them later, and those who do not know
where to find the necessary materials. In both cases, the task
of reviewing literature becomes unwieldy. To avoid this
pitfall, you must do certain things to facilitate your task.
5.1 Basic Guidelines
It is not necessary to review all the literature in the field
particularly if you are dealing with a specific research topic.
What you need are materials that have direct relevance to
the study you are going to conduct. This is the reason why
the chapter on literature review is titled “Review of Related
Literature.”
5.1 Basic Guidelines
The review of related literature is an extremely important
and the most publishable part of a thesis. In fact, in many
cases, it is probably the most publishable part of your thesis.
5.2 Definition of Terms
Related – is an adjective which implies that the literature reviewed have some
connections, bearings or relations to the problem or concern under investigation.
In effect, it narrows down the materials to be reviewed.
Literature – refers to all the writings having excellence of form or expression
and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest produced in a particular
language, country, or age. In other words, it refers to any written material, may it
be poetry, novel, book, article or research report, published or unpublished,
which meets the required form and expression and expresses permanent or
universal interest.
5.2 Definition of Terms
Literature review – is defined as a critical survey of studies, articles, books, and
other materials related to the problem being considered with emphasis on recent
publications. It is also an investigation of associated research work, such as
theses, either published or unpublished.
5.3 Basic Premises
 A number of important points need to be clarified regarding the literature
review. There are at least four basic points to consider.
1. The literature review must provide a historical background of the subject to
be studied. This includes any material relevant to the content of the study. It
should present a clear background of the study.
2. The literature review must adequately present any and all relevant materials
that are available, showing the difficulty of the problem, the research design,
procedures, instruments and analyses employed by the studies being
reviewed. The review should also present an appropriate integration or
synthesis of the materials.
5.3 Basic Premises
3. The literature review should help in the development of the
theoretical framework. This may be done with a clear statement of
assumptions.
4. The review of literature must present a summary in relation to the
model or framework being considered for the study. In other
words, what is distinct about the literature?
5.4 Purpose of the Review of Literature
Frequently, research students fail to see the significance of the review
of related literature. There is more than just meets the eye in the
literature review. In fact, the review of related literature is normally
about 25 percent of the entire thesis. The five basic purposes of the
literature review are as follows:
1. The literature review expands the introductory chapter of a thesis.
A very fundamental consideration is the question: What is at
issue?
5.4 Purpose of the Review of Literature
2. The literature helps to further define the research problem.
Frequently, you may realize that the literature review has partially
answered your research problem.
3. The literature review provides the theoretical basis for the
research question.
4. The literature review helps the researcher in the interpretation of
results or findings.
5. The literature review helps the researcher outline the implications
of the study.
5.5 Literature Search Strategies
1. Break out the pool of literature in the field. You can find highly
relevant materials in other fields. For example, if you are studying
color preference, you will find highly relevant materials in
psychology and fine arts. This is how you can expand your
literature.
2. To better understand the relationship between available literatures,
put together all the materials that deal with the similar topics. This
way, you can easily relate the studies with one another. You can
also interpret a combination of data and sets of information.
5.5 Literature Search Strategies
3. Normally, books in the library are arranged systematically. To
use the library effectively and efficiently, you need not master the
philosophy and system of cataloging. From the card catalog, you
will be able to identify a book that is closely related to your study.
Go to the shelf and pick out the book you have identified. The
materials in this book will have supporting materials in other
books on the same shelf. Look at other books located above,
below, to the right, and to the left of the book you have picked
out. They will contain relevant materials.
5.6 Sources of Related Literature
1. Journal articles. These are good especially for up-to-date information. Bear
in mind, though, that in can take up to two years to publish articles. They are
frequently used in literature reviews because they offer a relatively concise
and up-to-date format for research, and because all reputable journals are
refereed. That is, editors publish only the most relevant and reliable research.
2. Books. These tend to be less up-to-date as it takes longer for a book to be
published than for a journal article. Books can be useful sources for they do
offer a good starting point from which to find more detailed sources.
5.6 Sources of Related Literature
3. Theses and dissertations. These can be useful sources of information.
However there are disadvantages: 1) they are only available from the library
shelf or through interlibrary loan; 2) the student who carried out the
research may not be an experienced researcher and therefore you might have
to treat their findings with more caution than published research.
4. Internet. This is the fastest-growing source of information. It is impossible
to characterize the information available on the Internet but here are some
hints about using electronic sources: 1) bear in mind that anyone can post
information on the Internet so the quality may not be reliable, 2) the
information you find may be intended for a general audience and so not be
suitable for inclusion in your literature review (information for a general
audience is usually less detailed).
5.7 Use of Index Cards
There are two types of index cards that you will use, namely: the
bibliographic card and the subject matter card.
The bibliographic card is a 3x5 index card on which you write the correct
and complete bibliographic citation of all the materials you have reviewed.
On this card, you should also note down the library call number of the
book so that if you have to go back to the material again, you will easily
find it without going through the card catalog once more. In writing your
bibliographic citation, follow consistently the recommended by your
school or by your teacher.
5.7 Use of Index Cards
Here are sample entries on the 3x5 index cards:

Habito-Cadiz, Ma. Celeste. 1991. Flinn, Alice J. and Juan F. Jamias.

Educational Communication for 1984. Socio-cultural factors
Development, College, Laguna: influencing professional
UPLBCA Publications Board. communication between UPLB
and IRRI researches. Devcom
Quarterly (Jan-Mar 1984), 11 (1):
1-10
5.7 Use of Index Cards
The subject matter card is a 5x8 index card which you use in taking down notes,
quotations or paraphrasing materials. If you are noting down the summary of the
reviewed material, make sure that you have the following items:
• research design
• experimental treatments
• materials used in the study
• methods of data collection
• methods of data analysis
5.7 Use of Index Cards
When taking down quotes or paraphrasing materials, be sure
to include only one idea for each card. When quoting, copy
the material verbatim and indicate the page number where
you got the quotes. As much as possible, each card must
have the complete citation of the material. this procedure
will help you greatly in organizing your chapter.
 5.7 Use of Index Cards
Here are examples of entries in the 5x8 cards:
Direct quotes
Habito-Cadiz, 1991. p.39
Often ignored, the object media have
potentials in development
communication because they can
be used to present ideas and
procedures concretely.
Synthesis/paraphrased entry
Flinn & Jamias, 1982.
In a study examining the socio-cultural factors influencing
professional communication between researchers of UPLB
and IRRI, Flinn (1984) found that “nationality appeared to
be the most important socio-cultural determinant of
differences in communication.” In the UPLB-IRRI
communication setting, there are many nationalities which
imply many cultural differences.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
A. Definition
Researchers need to prepare their working bibliography
after selecting the broad subject of their paper. A
bibliography is a list of books, journals, periodicals, theses,
dissertations, electronic publications and other documents
used in the preparation of a research paper.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
B. Reasons for Preparing a Bibliography
Researchers should prepare a working bibliography for the
following reasons:
1. The bibliography provides the researcher a list of materials
to survey.
2. It enables the researcher to learn and develop
comprehensively various aspects of a chosen topic.
3. It helps the researcher limit the research topic.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
C. Usefulness to the Readers
A bibliography is also useful to the readers in the following ways:
1. It enables the readers to verify the documentation provided in the research
paper.
2. It provides them with a list of further readings on the subject.
3. It enables them to estimate the probable value of the paper on the bases of
the range, up-to-dateness and reliability of the sources used.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
D. Points to Note in Writing Bibliographical Items
The style and format to be used in writing the bibliography depends
on the format required by the institution or the teacher to whom the
research paper would be submitted. The two most common manuals
for format and style are the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (APA Manual) and the Manual for
Language Association (MLA).
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
In writing the final list of entries using the APA style, the following should be
noted:
1. The title for materials used and cited in the text should be References. If the
researcher used materials other than those cited in the text, the title of the list
of entries should be Bibliography.
2. All entries should be alphabetized according to the surname of the author.
The first line of the first entry should be flushed to left margin, while the
second and the succeeding lines are indented three spaces from the left
margin. Two spaces should separate every entry.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
3. Two or more works by the same author appear in
chronological order by date of publication, beginning
with the earliest. The name of the same author is repeated
for every entry.
4. Two or more works by the same author and with the same
publication date appear in alphabetical order by title. The
name of the same author is repeated for every entry.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
Based on the APA Manual, the following are the points to remember
in writing the most commonly used entries in term papers and
researches.
Sample Format for Books
1. Book with single author
Cockburn, A. L. (1991). An Introduction to Evolutionary
Ecology. Oxford: Blackwell Science.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
2. Book with two authors
Serrano, J. B., & Lapid, M. G. (1999). English Communication
Arts and Skills Through World Literature. Quezon City: Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc.
3. Book with three authors
Monserate, L. P., Abinguna, C. G., & Lapid, M. G. (1998).
Communication: A Tool for Research. Manila: Philippine
Christian University.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
4. Book with more than three authors
Sevilla, C. G. et al. (1992). Research Method. Manila: Rex
Book Store.
5. Book: edited
Reeves, M. C. (Ed.). (1992). Environmental Science. New
York: Willey-Liss.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
Sample Format for Articles
1. Article in a journal with author
Dodson, S. I. (1970). Complementary Feeding Niches Sustained
by Size-Selective Predation. Limnol and Oceanog: 15, 14-16
2. Article in a journal, no author
Saving the Environment. (1995, May 12). The Ecologist. 10, 229-
230.
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
3. Internet article with author
Degelman, D. (2009). APA style essentials. Retrieved on Jul. 2, 2012
from http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/in dex.aspx?
doc_id=796
4. Internet article, no author
APA style essential. (2009). Retrieved on Oct. 2, 2012 from
http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/in dex.aspx?
doc_id=796
5.8 Preparing a Working Bibliography
5. Internet article with no date
Degelman, D. (n.d.). APA style essentials. Retrieved on Sept. 6,
2012 from http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/in
dex.aspx?doc_id=796
6. Internet article with no author and no date
APA style essentials. (n.d.). Retrieved on Sept. 6, 2012 from
http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/in dex.aspx?
doc_id=796
Sample Format for Research Paper,
Thesis and Dissertation: Unpublished
Andrino, M. T. (2005). Optimization of Gelatinization Time, Whipping
Time and the Levels of Makapuno Liquid Endosperm as Stabilizer in Ice
Cream Processing. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Leyte State University,
Visca, Baybay, Leyte.
Belarmino, K. S. M., C. V. F. Capuno, & V. V. Cerna (2011). Efficacy of
Chitin-Containing Indigenous Materials to Induce Resistance in Abaca (Musa
textilis Nee) for the Control of Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia
Solanacearum Yabuuchi et al. Unpublished High School Research.
VSULHS, Visayas State University, Visca, Baybay City, Leyte.
Sample Format for Research Paper,
Thesis and Dissertation: Unpublished
Martinez, M. A. S. et al. (2011). Formulation and Quality
Evaluation of Makapuno Biscotti with the Utilization of Pressed
Coconut Meat (Sapal) as Flour Substitute. Unpublished High School
Research. VSULHS, Visayas State University, Visca,
Baybay City, Leyte.
References:
Fermin, V. E. et al. (1999). Developing Skills in Writing
Academic Research and Business Correspondence. Valenzuela
City: Mega-Jesta Prints, Inc.
Librero, F. (1996). How to Write a Thesis Proposal: Some
Practical Guidelines. Laguna: UP Los Baños, College of
Agriculture.
Portillo, R. R. et al. (2003). Research and Technical Writing.
Bulacan: Trinitas Publishing, Inc.