Literature Review

What is Research?
A form of disciplined inquiry that
involves studying something in a
planned manner and reporting it so
that other inquirers can potentially
replicate the process if they choose
(Frey et al 2000, 435).

Features of a Research Paper
• Abstract
• Introduction: Research
question or Hypothesis, Aims
• Literature Review
• Presentation of Findings
• Analysis and Interpretation
• Limitations
• Recommendation
• Conclusion
• References

A Literature Review is NOT!
• An annotated bibliography
• A list of unrelated sources
• An argument about the
importance of your research

Literature Review Defined
• Ferfolja and Burnett of the University of
New South Wales, Australia defined a
literature review as an examination of
the research that has been conducted
in a particular field of study (p. 1).
• Hart (2003) agrees with this notion but
expanded its definition to “the
selection of available documents…and
the effective evaluation of these
documents in relation to the research
being proposed” (p. 13).

Purpose of a Literature Review
• Attain a good knowledge of the field
of inquiry – facts, scholars, etc.
• Methodologies common to the field
• Proposed research is really needed
• Helps to narrow a problem
• Generation of hypotheses, RQs or
questions for further studies
• Commence a long-term study of
interest.

The Literature Review Process
1. Select a
topic
2. Search &
4. Write the
Choose the
review
literature
3. Analyse
and
Interpret the
literature

Step 1: Select a Topic
• Choose a research interest :
Mass Communication - Media
• Select a research interest from the everyday interest:
Film Industry - the recent rise of Superhero films
• Use the research interest to choose the research topic.
The effects of Superhero films on
the perception of masculinity among
Trinidadian adolescent males.

Step 2:
Search & Choose the Literature
• Find materials relevant to the research subject.
eg. effects of films (superhero), factors that
influence adolescent behaviour etc.
Where can the appropriate literature be found?
Mostly from primary sources of literature such
as: academic journals, conference proceedings,
government pamphlets, theses and
dissertations.

Step 2:
Search & Choose the Literature
In scanning literature manage your data properly
by documenting the author, book title etc, and
the key idea(s) expressed.
e.g. Author: Cowan, Angela
Title: Boys, Masculinity and Television Violence:
What is the difference between superheroes and
football heroes?
Key Ideas: Cowan’s research concluded that the
way male superhero characters are televised
teaches young boys that masculinity is associated
with aggression.

Step 2:
Search & Choose the Literature
Map your materials – decide what data would
be relevant to your research...
This stage gives you the researcher a chance to
refine and/or expand your research topic.

Step 3:
Analyse & Interpret the Literature
• Developing our argument and critiquing the literature
to ensure that it supports our thesis.
e.g. In 1995 both Boyatzis and Levin published papers in
which they described that boys engaged in play that
was a type of heroic-warrior behaviour, more
frequently than girls. This indicates that these children
have determined the ways that their genders should be
performed in recreation.
(As the boys displayed characteristics that they
deemed to be masculine, and the girls refused to
participate because they too saw it as masculine in
nature.)

Step 4: Write the Review
• Composing, molding and refining the literature.
• The written literature review becomes a work that
accurately conveys the research that can be
understood by the intended audience.
Beginning the Literature Review
• Introduce your LR by defining or explaining your
research problem.
e.g. Explain this concept of superhero culture and the
increase of produced films of this genre within the last
five years. Highlighting its popularity among young
adults.

Important TIPS:
• Write in the past tense, except when discussing
their significance - use the present tense.
e.g. Martin (2007) found that there was a possible
direct relationship between how children saw
and felt about themselves and how they felt
about the superheroes; which in the case of
males the frequent aggressive behaviour
appealed to them. This shows that it is probable
that superheroes may be able to influence an
adolescents’ perception of masculinity.

Important TIPS:
• An organisational scheme should be used to arrange
the literature.
• Organisational Schemes:
1. Topical order
2. Chronological order
3. Problem-cause-solution order
4. General-to-specific order
5. Known-to-unknown order
6. Comparison-and-contrast order
7. Specific-to-general order

Eg. Topical Organisational Scheme:
• The nature of Superhero films:
What exactly it is.
Different themes expressed by these films:–
Superheroes and Violence
Superheroes and Heroism
Superheroes and Machismo
• Effects of films
• Influencers of Adolescent behaviour – concept of
maleness.

RECAP:
Let’s Play…

???Q&A???
1. What is a literature review?
2. What is the first stage in developing a lit
review?
3. List two places where one can find data for
their lit review.
4. T/F – Lit reviews MUST always be written in
present tense.
5. Name four (4) organisational schemes.
6. Explain any one of the organisational
schemes.

Works Cited
 Boyatzis, C., Matillo, G. & Nesbitt, K. (1995). Effects of the mighty
morphin power rangers on children’s aggression with peers. Child
Study Journal, 25(1), 44-55.
 Cowan, A. (2001). Proceedings from TASA 2001 Conference: Boys,
Masculinity and Television violence: What is the difference between
superheroes and football heroes? Sydney, Aus.
 Ferfolja, T. & Burnett, L. (2002). Getting Started on your literature
review: A General Guide for Postgraduate Research Students. The
Learning Centre, UNSW, Retrieved from
http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/pdf/Litrev
 Frey, L. et al. (2000). Investigating communication: An introduction
to research methods. USA: Allyn and Bacon.
 Hart, C. (2003). Doing a literature review: Releasing the Social
Sciences Research Imagination. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
 Martin, J. F. (2007). Children’s attitudes toward superheroes as a
potential indicator of their moral understanding. Journal of Moral
Education, 36( 2), 239-250.