Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
Writing a Review Paper

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Research may be done alone –
but it is never done in isolation.
The production of new
knowledge is fundamentally
dependent on past knowledge.
‘I not only use all the brains that I have,
but all that I can borrow.’
- Woodrow Wilson

• Research paper in peer-reviewed
journals (preferably with high impact
factor)
• Short communication
• Review articles (usually highly cited)
3
Abd
Karim
Alias@2009
Which type of publication?

• Conference proceedings (often not
refereed, fewer citations)
• Popular articles (to promote your
activity)
• Letter to editor
4
Abd
Karim
Alias@2009
Which type of publication?

5
Abd
Karim
Alias@2013
Impact Factors for different types of article

What is a review paper?
Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
A review paper is…
‘a succint review of a specific topic that
provide sufficient and in-depth
interpretation and synthesis of
published work’

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Meta-Analysis
…is a method of combining results of
several studies into a summary
conclusion, using quantitative strategies…
intended to answer a focused question.
‘A research study about research studies…

• It provides extensive review of
previously published literature and to
put them into perspective
• It offers critical evaluation of the
published literature
Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Why is review paper very popular?

• It creates an understanding
of the topic
• Identify gap in knowledge
• It provides a new approach/
perspective that would stimulate
further research
Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Why is review paper very popular?

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Generate your
OWN IDEA!

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Review paper is more than annotated
bibliographies! You are not trying to list
all the material published, but to
synthesize and evaluate it so as to provide
a new approach or stimulate further
research

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
‘…a collection of all the
scholarly writings on a topic.’
What is literature?

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Study
1
Study
2
Study
10
Study
X
ORIGINA
L WORK
ORIGIN
AL
WORK
Your own idea will connect to the
developing knowledge network in the
field
What is literature review?

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
‘…a systematic…method for
identifying, evaluating and interpreting
the…work produced by researchers,
scholars and practitioners.’
What is literature review?

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
What is literature review?
Literature is about telling a
story…kind of a chain story
where each writer starts with a
partial story created previously
by others and expand on it…the
existing literature is the story so
far…

Abd
Karim
Alias@2013
[akarim@usm.my]
Before deciding to write a review
paper, ask the following questions:
Do I know my stuff
sufficiently?

Abd
Karim
Alias@2013
[akarim@usm.my]
Before deciding to write a review
paper, ask the following questions:
Which journal to
publish by review?

Abd
Karim
Alias@2013
[akarim@usm.my]
Before deciding to write a review
paper, ask the following questions:
Would it be
considered at all?

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
• Do a thorough literature search
• Consult the Journal Editor

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Write a convincing
cover letter & explain…

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Consulting with the Journal Editor
• Rationale why you want to write about the
topic;
• Explain how you would handle the subject
matter;
• Explain why you are qualified to write on the
proposed topic;
• Estimated length (incl. no of figures & tables);
• Estimated date of completion.

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Approach to doing
a literature review

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
READ PUBLISHED WORK SYNTHESIS
Study a wide range of
print- and web-based
materials.
Creation of an
“integrated whole”
– Coherent
argument of the
topic that you are
reviewing.
INTERPRETATION
Explain the
significance & interpret
the evidence
presented in each
piece of literature – not
simply listing what
others have written.
How to review the literature?

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
The key is…be selective in
what you read – or else
you’ll get drown in too
much information!
It is impossible to read all the research ever
published in your area…
Approach to doing a literature review

26
Filtering & sorting the essentials
from the irrelevant…
Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
See the wood for the trees…
Image
source:
hAp://
sciencebhakta.wordpress.com

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
The range of literature to explore
• Background material which is of broadly
relevance to your topic
• Literature and research studies which
address issues that are closely related
to your topic
• Literature which is directly related to
your topic

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Searching & reading strategy (example)
Industrial
application of
gelatin
Halal gelatin
alternatives in
industry
Halal gelatin in
food industry

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Searching & reading strategy
Field specific papers
Quantity of relevant publications
Less
specific, less
recent
More
specific,
more recent

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Components of lit. review…
§ Background information
• Introduce topic
• Describe scope &
organization
• Review past & present
literature
• Clarify purpose

Hmm…where do I look for
resources for my
literature review?
Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Academic libraries
Public libraries
National libraries
Museums
Archives
Special collections
Commercial organizations
Commercial databases
(SCOPUS, Web of
knowledge, Springerlink)
Literature sources
Sources & organizations
providing publications

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Library catalogues
Subject indexes
Subject abstracts
Bibliographies
Encyclopedia
Internet directories
Internet search engines
Tools for searching
published works & data
Literature sources

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Sources where research &
information is published
Textbooks
Articles
Theses
Government publications
Legal & professional
publications
Trade literature
Conference papers
Monographs
Statistics
Literature sources

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Organizing information
Summarize, tabulate
Use bibliographic
software (Endnote)
Managing the literature

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Analyzing information
Note taking
Summarizing the key
findings
Extracting critical facts/
arguments
Examine evidence
Understand interpretation
Analyzing & “digesting’ the literature

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Reading critically & analytically
Definitions
Problem
Theory
Hypothesis
Techniques
Interpretations
Concepts
Arguments
Standpoint
Evidence
Perspective
Styles
Justification
Ways of
thinking
Events
Motives
Politics
Conclusions
Things to extract from each piece of reading material

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Skills for “digesting” the literature
Select, differentiate,
break up
Integrate, combine,
formulate, reorganize
Understand,
distinguish, explain
Define, classify, describe
Dissecting data into their
constituent part.
Rearranging the elements
derived from analysis to
identify relationship.
Interpreting & distinguishing
between different types of
data , theory & argument to
describe the substance of an
idea
Describing the principles, uses,
& function of rules, method,
etc.
ANALYSIS
SYNTHESIS
COMPREHENSION
KNOWLEDGE
Adapted from Hart, 1998

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Components of lit. review…
§ Theory
• All research has a precedent
• Integrate key points & make
appropriate inferences
• Be aware of relationship to
your topic

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Components of lit. review…
§ Critical appraisal/synthesis
• Not jus a list of the work of
others
• Identify issues highlighted
• Highlight differences &
similarities
• Identify consensus

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
§ A citing of all key studies in the
subject area
§ A selection & synthesis of
existing arguments to form a new
perspective
Any critical review should incorporate…

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Any critical review should incorporate…
§ An assessment of the strengths
& weaknesses of some of the
theories
§ A clear understanding of the
topic

Abd
Karim
Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Length of review
§ Comprehensive review (up to
12,000 words)
§ Concise review (approx. 5,000
words)