2. Figure 3.1 in: B. J. Oates, Researching Information Systems and Computing. London: Sage Publications, 2006.
The research process
3. What is a literature review?
• Definition: A literature review is an assessment of a
body of research that addresses a research question.
(ref: Harvard graduate school).
• Two ways to generate knowledge through research:
– Create your own new knowledge through Primary Studies.
– Synthesize and analyse existing knowledge in a new conceptual
framework through Secondary Studies.
• A literature review can constitute:
– A part of a primary study.
– A secondary study.
4. Objectives of a literature review
• Show that the researcher is aware of existing work in the chosen topic area.
• Place the researcher’s work in the context of what has already been published.
• Point to strengths, weaknesses, omissions or bias in the previous work.
• Identify key issues or questions that are troubling the research community.
• Point to gaps that have not previously been identified or addressed by
researchers.
• Identify theories that the researcher will test by gathering data from the field.
• Suggest theories that might explain data the researcher has gathered from the
field.
• Identify theories, genres, methods or algorithms that will be incorporated in the
development of a computer application.
• Identify research methods or strategies that the researcher will use in the
research.
• Enable subsequent researchers to understand the field and the researcher’s
work within that field.
5. Sources of literature
• Main source: Refereed research papers:
– From journals (if peer-reviewed)
– From conferences and workshops (if peer-reviewed)
• Books: Are good for understanding the problem and
building a conceptual framework and theories.
• Manuals: Are good for understanding e.g. a system,
but not as a source of a review.
• Reports: Sometimes good research quality but not
peer-reviewed.
• Newspapers, magazines, radio, television: Can be
good quality "expert opinion" but not peer-reviewed.
6. Writing a literature review
• Two approaches:
– Ad hoc (State-of-the-art): Searching (e.g. Google scholar) and
reading some papers on the topic. Can result in "cherry picking".
– Systematic: Following a systematic process that is aimed at
producing a scientifically high-quality literature review text. Will
reduce bias.
• Which one to choose?
– Discuss it with your supervisor.
– Systematic approach can take time.
– In most cases: Find a balance.
– Remember: Good literature reviews are by themselves highly
valuable and sorely needed research results in ICT!
7. Writing the state-of-the-art
• Clearly define the practical problem and the research
question.
– Iterative process, you read some and you write some.
• Should be more than a summary of the articles you
have read.
– Google can do better!
– You need an analysis and synthesis of what you read. Here comes
the conceptual framework.
9. Figure 3.1 in: B. J. Oates, Researching Information Systems and Computing. London: Sage Publications, 2006.
Literature review
10. Figure 3.1 in: B. J. Oates, Researching Information Systems and Computing. London: Sage Publications, 2006.
Systematic literature surveys
11. Phases of a systematic review
• Searching: The right keywords and search engines.
• Obtaining: PDFs or paper copies.
• Assessing: Is this peer-reviewed research?
• Reading: What is it about? Coding…
• Critically evaluating
• Recording: EndNote, Mendeley, Zotero….
• Writing a critical review: Finally, use your brain!
• Avoiding Plagiarism
13. ICT
Screening of papers
Inclusion criteria
Research is published in English.
The paper documents research of form primary or secondary
studies.
Research is addressing different aspects of movement impairment
among senior citizens.
Research is addressing requirements, design or implementation,
or evaluation of some form of ICT that aims to serve assistive or
health-promoting purposes.
Exclusion criteria
Research is addressing movement impairment in general and
without the application of modern technologies.
Not a research paper (e.g. commentary, editorial, workshop
summary, expert opinion).