Literature review what why when and HOW?

1. LITERATURE REVIEW: WHAT, WHY
WHEN AND HOW
M.Ali
University of the Punjab
Lahore

2. • Is
an extensive, detailed survey of relevant
research and/or theory related to a specific topic
•Should be analytical and evaluative, not
descriptive
•Demonstrates understanding of current
thinking/research and recent developments in
the field
•Identifies key authors and important theoretical,
technical and/or methodological issues

3. • Identifies key authors and important
theoretical, technical and/or methodological
issues
•Shows any relationship between previous studies
and/or theories
• Identifies gaps or limitations in previous
research
• Shows how previous research is related to your
topic

4. 4
• At the beginning of the research project
▫ Proposal
▫ Chapter 2, 1 & 3
• Constantly update during the research
• When writing the discussion and conclusion
chapters

5. •How is your research topic placed within existing
debate on the topic?
• What definitions do you need to provide?
• What have other researchers done before?
• What are their findings and/or conclusions?
•What questions remain unanswered?
•How can previous findings, theories or views be
logically extended?

6. 1. Establishing a territory (claiming centrality/topic generalizations
and reviewing items of previous research
2. Establishing a niche
i.
Counter-claiming
ii.
Indicating a gap
iii.
raising a question
iv.
Continuing a tradition
3. Occupying the niche
i.
Outlining purpose and announcing present research

7. Due to the profound political and economical changes in the
world, the commercial relations of different nations have
noticeably increased and English is now considered by many
nations as an international language. According to Strevens
(1987) English is used by more people than any other language
on the earth
To be involved in the world business, there is always a need for
an internationally accepted language. English is used in global
business for transactions in goods and services throughout the
world (Arvani, 2006)

8. In spite of wide spread developments in communication
technology, business letters are still widely used in the world as
a main channel of business correspondence. However, to
achieve desirable results in communicating through business
letters , the communicators should deal with two major
functions of language termed by Brown and Yule (1983) as
“interactional and transactional functions”. It means that a
business letter, in addition to being scrutinized from
…………………………………………………………………………………….

9. Counter-claiming
This article argues that learner autonomy should not be seen as
a goal only for highly committed students completing optional
courses, or for students operating within selected educational
or cultural contexts. Rather, it should be seen as an essential
goal of all learning.
Indicating a gap
However, much of the past research on cross cultural strategy
choices is descriptive in nature and have a very limited
explanatory role in comparative research.

10. Raising a question
How could C-R theory be sensibly integrated to meet learner
needs in this researcher’s teaching situation? Who were the
learners? How could C-R be designed according to the
………………………………….
Continuing the tradition or extending the knowledge
This article is an expansion of recent research concerning the
design of an ESP program for multi-disciplinary technical
learners.

11. Outlining purpose and announcing present
research
The purpose of the present investigation was to study
………………………………….
This paper describes the …………………………………
This research contributes the field of GVC
framework…………………..

12. • When writing the literature review, organize
materials into key concepts/themes
• Use headings to group similar studies
• Describe the most important studies in detail
• Mention less important studies like “the results
are confirmed in similar studies………. See xyz,
2013, abc, 2010
• Use example or evidence to support points made

13. • Think about the wider significance of the
material
• Discuss implications of previous research
• Relate this research to important theoretical
concepts and own insights
• Point out gaps in current knowledge on the topic
• Indicate directions for further study

14. 14
Narrative review
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
Selective review of the literature that broadly covers
a specific topic.
Does not follow strict systematic methods to locate
and synthesize articles.
Utilizes exacting search strategies to make certain
that the maximum extent of relevant research has
been considered.
Original articles are methodologically appraised and
synthesized.
Quantitatively combines the results of studies that are
the result of a systematic literature review.
Capable of performing a statistical analysis of the
pooled results of relevant studies.

15. Chronologi
cal/sequent
ial
Against/
for
Organization
Similarities
/difference
s patterns
Problem,
contextual
solution

16. 16
•
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•
•
•
•
Books
Journals
Conference papers
Theses and
dissertations
Bibliographies
Maps
Internet
Indexes/Abstracts
•
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Audio-visual material
CDs/DVDs
Electronic databases
Government reports
Magazines
Newspapers
Interviews and other
unpublished research

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