The importance of studying & comprehending the literature on a subject that is being taken up for research at every stage ranging from the topic selection, methodology or discussion of results is sought to be explained in this PPT. Intended target audience would be PG students onwards with some useful inputs for UG as well.

1. Role of Literature survey at every
step of the research process
-Dr.Mrinalini Menon

2. What is a literature review? What is its purpose?
Definition
• A classification and evaluation of what accredited researchers and scholars have
published on a particular topic (Taylor,2008).
• “Objective, thorough summary & critical analysis of the relevant available research
and non-research literature on the topic being studied” (Cronin et al , 2008)
Purpose/
Need
• Demonstrates a researcher’s knowledge about a particular problem/topic of study
–variables & phenomena, methods & historical context (Randolf, 2009).
• Places the current research in a historical context, thereby indicating the
researcher’s familiarity with state-of-the art developments in the field (Hart,
1998)
References cited :-
-Taylor,D.B (2008)- Writing in the Health Sciences: a comprehensive guide, 1 (1)
-Cronin, P., Ryan,F.,Coughlan,M (2008)- British Journal of Nursing, 17 (1) : 38-43.
-Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13
-Hart, C. (1998). Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science research imagination.
London: Sage

3. Enables a
researcher to
•Define/delimit the research problem in its relevant context.
•AVOID FRUITLESS APPROACHES
•Identify the methods/research techniques used.
•Support or otherwise for newer theories/hypotheses (Gall et al, 1996)
Also enables the
researcher to
• Identify what is done already in a particular area vis-à-vis what NEEDS to be done further
• Identify new variables/parameters influencing the outcome of the study that need to be
incorporated into the methods
• Understanding the structure of the subject
• Enhancing & acquiring newer subject vocabulary
• Relating ideas to newer applications (Hart,1998)
References cited :-
- Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996).-Education research: An introduction (6th ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.
-.
Literature review : how does it help the researcher , practically speaking?

4. When do I conduct a literature review?
Problem
formulation
Data
collection
Data
evaluation
Analysis &
Interpretation
Public
presentation
Necessary at every stage of the research process !!!!!!!
Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13

5. CONSIDERING LITERATURE
REVIEW AT INDIVIDUAL
STAGES OF THE
RESEARCH………….

6. PROBLEM
FORMULATION
What are the questions
sought to be answered
Identify articles that
would have addressed
similar questions
Include such articles
(criterion for
inclusion/exclusion)
Statistically
validated
results
Variables
similar to
present
Methodology
comparable
to present
Empirical research
question formulated
Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13

7. Formulating and justifying empirical research
questions through a study of available literature :
looking at the process a little closer…
Points sought to be addressed by the present study vis-à-vis literature reviewed
by the researcher :-
• how does the present study contribute to testing, elaborating, or enriching
theories already established?
• Practical concerns : why are they important & does the present study
address the same (e.g need for newer antibiotic molecules to combat multi-
drug resistance in pathogens)
• If a new theory is propounded by the current study :-
– how does this relate to existing theories and evidence previously available in literature
– why is the new theory needed?
– Intended scope of its application
(e.g. If drug ‘A’ is used as a remedy for arthritis & new evidence suggests its anticancer
potential, what types of cancers respond to this drug?)
Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13

8. Formulating and justifying empirical research through
a study of available literature (contd).
• IMPORTANT : Lack of information or absence of solutions to a problem /
issue → reflects gap in available literature.
• Based upon the same :-
– Formulation of present problem should make clear what is the information
needing to be gathered
– importance of such information
– how this present investigation will address the need for obtaining the
information (e.g. identification of targets for hitherto incurable disorders,
isolation of novel metabolites with therapeutic value )
Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13

9. DATA COLLECTION
Database searching for
literature →
procedures for data
collection (e.g
experimental methods,
sampling methods in a
survey)
Identification of
procedures to be used
for addressing the
empirical research
question identified by
us
Research findings from
such different sources
vis-à-vis our study
Documentation of
the results &
comparisons
Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13

10. DATA EVALUATION
Extraction &
evaluation of
information
Is there a difference
between findings of
these researches
Separate the ‘valid’
from the ‘invalid’
based on criteria
Write-up on
discussion of results
formulated
Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13

11. ANALYSIS &
INTERPRETATION
Selection of suitable
statistical method
based on type used in
relevant studies
Synthesizing valid
inference from
retrieved data
Comparison of varying
inferences if they arise
Integration of the
inferences;
incorporation into
the results &
discussion
Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13

12. PUBLIC PRESENTATION
Criteria for
inclusion/exclusion of
information in the final
report
Inputs from guide &
peer-reviewed by
scholars in the field
Final report preparation
Randolf,J.J (2009)- Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14 1-13

13. Summary of points made till now
What is the function of a good literature review ?
• Identify his/her topic for research from gaps in existing literature.
• Originality & relevance of problem on hand & rationale for selection of same.
• Evolve & investigate a hypothesis
• Methodology : justification with modifications wherever needed.
• Discuss results obtained in the present work with those involving similar variables
• Since literature review has something to offer for all stages in a report, it is truly
indispensable & needs to be carried out in the stepwise fashion indicated in the
preceding slides.

14. Mistakes Commonly Made in Reviewing
Research Literature (Gall et al, 1996)
- Lack of clarity in relating the findings of the literature
review to the researcher’s own study;
- Has failed to identify the best sources of literature
related to one’s topic for incorporation into the review.
- Heavily relies on secondary sources rather than on
primary sources in reviewing the literature;
- Accepts another researcher’s findings and
interpretations as valid, without critically examining all
aspects of the research design and analysis;
Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996).-Education research: An introduction (6th ed.). White Plains,
NY: Longman

15. - Inadequate information of search procedures
used by other researchers whose work has
been cited
- Reports isolated statistical results rather than
synthesizing them by chi-square or meta-
analytic methods; and
- Fails to consider contrary findings and
alternative interpretations in synthesizing
quantitative literature.
Mistakes Commonly Made in Reviewing
Research Literature (Gall et al, 1996) –contd.
Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996).-Education research: An
introduction (6th ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman

16. Last but not the least !
• Mind your Ps & Qs !!!!!!!
– P : Printed matter; Q: Quoted material
– Good note-taking procedure needed
– Digest the written material !!!
– That is, understand how literature sources should be handled
– Avoid unintentional plagiarism- if you must quote directly, use quotation marks
in your text !!
Matthews, J.R & Matthews, R.W (2008)- Successful scientific writing (3rd Edition) –Cambridge
University Press (UK)

17. For books, record:
Author’s or editor’s name (or names)
Year the book was published
Title of the book
If it is an edition other than the first , the city the book was published in
The name of the publisher
For journal articles record:
The author’s name or names
The year in which the journal was published
The title of the article
The title of the journal
The page number/s of the article in the journal
As much other information as you can find about the journal, for example the volume
and issue numbers
For electronic resources :-
The date you accessed the source
The electronic address or email
The type of electronic resource (email, discussion forum, WWW page, etc)
HARVARD SYSTEM OF REFERENCING
https://education.exeter.ac.uk/dll/studyskills/harvard_referencing.htm

18. APA format structure:
Author, A.A.. (Publication Year). Article title. Periodical Title, Volume(Issue), pp.-pp.
APA format example:
Nevin, A. (1990). The changing of teacher education special education. Teacher Education
and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for
Exceptional Children, 13(3-4), 147-148.
Citing a journal article found online
APA format structure:
Author, A.A.. (Publication Year). Article title. Periodical Title, Volume(Issue), pp.-pp.
doi:XX.XXXXX or Retrieved from journal URL
APA format example:
Jameson, J. (2013). E-Leadership in higher education: The fifth “age” of educational
technology research. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(6), 889-915. doi:
10.1111/bjet.12103
Citing a book in print
APA format structure:
Author, A.A.. (Year of Publication). Title of work. Publisher City , State: Publisher.
APA format example:
Finney, J. (1970). Time and again. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
http://www.bibme.org/citation-guide/apa/book/

19. THANK
YOU