The document discusses the methodology of conducting a literature review. It introduces the concept of the comprehensive literature review (CLR) as both a data collection tool and a mixed methods research study. As a data collection tool, the CLR involves identifying, recording, understanding, and transmitting information from various sources. As a research study, the CLR uses both quantitative and qualitative techniques to analyze information from multiple sections of sources. This renders the CLR a mixed methods approach. The document proposes a seven-step model for conducting the CLR as a rigorous mixed methods research process.
This document provides guidance on how to conduct systematic literature reviews. It discusses the typology of literature reviews, describing reviews that aim to describe, test, extend, or critique existing literature. Different review types include narrative reviews, textual narrative syntheses, metasummaries, and scoping reviews for descriptive reviews. The document outlines the methodology used in this study, including searching literature databases, screening for inclusion, assessing quality, extracting and analyzing data. It provides examples of literature reviews in planning that exemplify different review types. The goal is to help improve the rigor of literature reviews in the planning field.
This document provides guidance on conducting a literature review. It begins with definitions of a literature review, including that it surveys and discusses relevant academic works to reflect the current state of knowledge on a topic.
It then discusses various aspects of conducting a literature review, including choosing a topic, collecting relevant sources, reading materials, grouping sources by theme, and identifying areas of agreement, disagreement, and gaps. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in a literature review and telling a story or making a point with the review.
This document provides information about conducting a literature review, including:
1. Definitions of what a literature review is and its purpose.
2. Guidelines for finding relevant sources, including books, articles, databases, and citation tools.
3. Tips for reading the sources, grouping them into themes, and identifying areas of agreement, disagreement, and gaps.
The document discusses the different types and standards of literature reviews to ensure scientific rigor. It emphasizes formulating clear questions and defining key constructs when planning a literature review.
This document provides guidance on conducting literature reviews. It begins with definitions of a literature review, including that it surveys and discusses relevant academic works to reflect current knowledge in a field.
It then discusses various types of literature reviews that can differ in their focus, goals, perspective, coverage, organization, and methods of synthesis. Quantitative reviews that perform statistical analysis of study results are considered most rigorous.
Scientific standards for literature reviews are also outlined, including carefully formulating the research problem, obtaining an unbiased sample of literature, applying inclusion criteria, and interpreting and presenting findings transparently and with a clear narrative. The document emphasizes evaluating sources critically rather than just listing studies.
This document outlines different types of literature reviews, including narrative reviews, critical reviews, scoping reviews, conceptual reviews, state-of-the-art reviews, argumentative reviews, integrative reviews, historical reviews, methodological reviews, theoretical reviews, quantitative and qualitative meta-analysis reviews, and systematic reviews. It provides brief descriptions of each type of literature review and what they aim to accomplish, such as summarizing previous research, identifying gaps, or comparing and evaluating perspectives.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirectJournal of BusineMerrileeDelvalle969
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Journal of Business Research
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres
Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines
Hannah Snyder
BI-Norwegian School of Business, Nydalsveien 37, 0484 Oslo, Norway
A R T I C L E I N F O
Keywords:
Literature review
Synthesis
Research methodology
Systematic review
Integrative review
A B S T R A C T
Knowledge production within the field of business research is accelerating at a tremendous speed while at the
same time remaining fragmented and interdisciplinary. This makes it hard to keep up with state-of-the-art and to
be at the forefront of research, as well as to assess the collective evidence in a particular area of business
research. This is why the literature review as a research method is more relevant than ever. Traditional literature
reviews often lack thoroughness and rigor and are conducted ad hoc, rather than following a specific metho-
dology. Therefore, questions can be raised about the quality and trustworthiness of these types of reviews. This
paper discusses literature review as a methodology for conducting research and offers an overview of different
types of reviews, as well as some guidelines to how to both conduct and evaluate a literature review paper. It also
discusses common pitfalls and how to get literature reviews published.
1. Introduction
Building your research on and relating it to existing knowledge is
the building block of all academic research activities, regardless of
discipline. Therefore, to do so accurately should be a priority for all
academics. However, this task has become increasingly complex.
Knowledge production within the field of business research is accel-
erating at a tremendous speed while at the same time remaining frag-
mented and interdisciplinary. This makes it hard to keep up with state-
of-the-art research and to be at the forefront, as well as to assess the
collective evidence in a particular research area. This is why the lit-
erature review as a research method is more relevant than ever. A lit-
erature review can broadly be described as a more or less systematic
way of collecting and synthesizing previous research (Baumeister &
Leary, 1997; Tranfield, Denyer, & Smart, 2003). An effective and well-
conducted review as a research method creates a firm foundation for
advancing knowledge and facilitating theory development (Webster &
Watson, 2002). By integrating findings and perspectives from many
empirical findings, a literature review can address research questions
with a power that no single study has.
It can also help to provide an overview of areas in which the re-
search is disparate and interdisciplinary. In addition, a literature review
is an excellent way of synthesizing research findings to show evidence
on a meta-level and to uncover areas in which more research is needed,
which is a critical component of creating theoretical frameworks and
building conceptual mod ...
Systematic review article and meta analysis .main steps for successful writin...Pubrica
This document provides guidance on writing systematic review and meta-analysis articles. It outlines 7 main steps: 1) defining clear objectives, 2) developing focused research questions, 3) obtaining relevant data sources through literature searches, 4) establishing selection criteria, 5) collecting data, 6) interpreting and reporting results, and 7) drawing conclusions. It also describes how meta-analyses aggregate effect sizes from multiple studies to assess the overall magnitude of an effect. Follow a systematic process and clearly explain any deviations from normal methods.
This document provides an overview of how to conduct a literature review. It discusses that a literature review summarizes previous research on a topic to identify what is already known and additional areas that need to be studied. The document outlines the various types of literature reviews and provides guidance on finding sources, writing an introduction, body, and conclusion for the review. It also notes important points to consider like being selective, focusing on current topics, and ensuring evidence is properly cited. Overall, the document serves as a guide for researchers on how to effectively conduct a high-quality literature review.
This document provides guidance on how to conduct systematic literature reviews. It discusses the typology of literature reviews, describing reviews that aim to describe, test, extend, or critique existing literature. Different review types include narrative reviews, textual narrative syntheses, metasummaries, and scoping reviews for descriptive reviews. The document outlines the methodology used in this study, including searching literature databases, screening for inclusion, assessing quality, extracting and analyzing data. It provides examples of literature reviews in planning that exemplify different review types. The goal is to help improve the rigor of literature reviews in the planning field.
This document provides guidance on conducting a literature review. It begins with definitions of a literature review, including that it surveys and discusses relevant academic works to reflect the current state of knowledge on a topic.
It then discusses various aspects of conducting a literature review, including choosing a topic, collecting relevant sources, reading materials, grouping sources by theme, and identifying areas of agreement, disagreement, and gaps. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in a literature review and telling a story or making a point with the review.
This document provides information about conducting a literature review, including:
1. Definitions of what a literature review is and its purpose.
2. Guidelines for finding relevant sources, including books, articles, databases, and citation tools.
3. Tips for reading the sources, grouping them into themes, and identifying areas of agreement, disagreement, and gaps.
The document discusses the different types and standards of literature reviews to ensure scientific rigor. It emphasizes formulating clear questions and defining key constructs when planning a literature review.
This document provides guidance on conducting literature reviews. It begins with definitions of a literature review, including that it surveys and discusses relevant academic works to reflect current knowledge in a field.
It then discusses various types of literature reviews that can differ in their focus, goals, perspective, coverage, organization, and methods of synthesis. Quantitative reviews that perform statistical analysis of study results are considered most rigorous.
Scientific standards for literature reviews are also outlined, including carefully formulating the research problem, obtaining an unbiased sample of literature, applying inclusion criteria, and interpreting and presenting findings transparently and with a clear narrative. The document emphasizes evaluating sources critically rather than just listing studies.
This document outlines different types of literature reviews, including narrative reviews, critical reviews, scoping reviews, conceptual reviews, state-of-the-art reviews, argumentative reviews, integrative reviews, historical reviews, methodological reviews, theoretical reviews, quantitative and qualitative meta-analysis reviews, and systematic reviews. It provides brief descriptions of each type of literature review and what they aim to accomplish, such as summarizing previous research, identifying gaps, or comparing and evaluating perspectives.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirectJournal of BusineMerrileeDelvalle969
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Journal of Business Research
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres
Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines
Hannah Snyder
BI-Norwegian School of Business, Nydalsveien 37, 0484 Oslo, Norway
A R T I C L E I N F O
Keywords:
Literature review
Synthesis
Research methodology
Systematic review
Integrative review
A B S T R A C T
Knowledge production within the field of business research is accelerating at a tremendous speed while at the
same time remaining fragmented and interdisciplinary. This makes it hard to keep up with state-of-the-art and to
be at the forefront of research, as well as to assess the collective evidence in a particular area of business
research. This is why the literature review as a research method is more relevant than ever. Traditional literature
reviews often lack thoroughness and rigor and are conducted ad hoc, rather than following a specific metho-
dology. Therefore, questions can be raised about the quality and trustworthiness of these types of reviews. This
paper discusses literature review as a methodology for conducting research and offers an overview of different
types of reviews, as well as some guidelines to how to both conduct and evaluate a literature review paper. It also
discusses common pitfalls and how to get literature reviews published.
1. Introduction
Building your research on and relating it to existing knowledge is
the building block of all academic research activities, regardless of
discipline. Therefore, to do so accurately should be a priority for all
academics. However, this task has become increasingly complex.
Knowledge production within the field of business research is accel-
erating at a tremendous speed while at the same time remaining frag-
mented and interdisciplinary. This makes it hard to keep up with state-
of-the-art research and to be at the forefront, as well as to assess the
collective evidence in a particular research area. This is why the lit-
erature review as a research method is more relevant than ever. A lit-
erature review can broadly be described as a more or less systematic
way of collecting and synthesizing previous research (Baumeister &
Leary, 1997; Tranfield, Denyer, & Smart, 2003). An effective and well-
conducted review as a research method creates a firm foundation for
advancing knowledge and facilitating theory development (Webster &
Watson, 2002). By integrating findings and perspectives from many
empirical findings, a literature review can address research questions
with a power that no single study has.
It can also help to provide an overview of areas in which the re-
search is disparate and interdisciplinary. In addition, a literature review
is an excellent way of synthesizing research findings to show evidence
on a meta-level and to uncover areas in which more research is needed,
which is a critical component of creating theoretical frameworks and
building conceptual mod ...
Systematic review article and meta analysis .main steps for successful writin...Pubrica
This document provides guidance on writing systematic review and meta-analysis articles. It outlines 7 main steps: 1) defining clear objectives, 2) developing focused research questions, 3) obtaining relevant data sources through literature searches, 4) establishing selection criteria, 5) collecting data, 6) interpreting and reporting results, and 7) drawing conclusions. It also describes how meta-analyses aggregate effect sizes from multiple studies to assess the overall magnitude of an effect. Follow a systematic process and clearly explain any deviations from normal methods.
This document provides an overview of how to conduct a literature review. It discusses that a literature review summarizes previous research on a topic to identify what is already known and additional areas that need to be studied. The document outlines the various types of literature reviews and provides guidance on finding sources, writing an introduction, body, and conclusion for the review. It also notes important points to consider like being selective, focusing on current topics, and ensuring evidence is properly cited. Overall, the document serves as a guide for researchers on how to effectively conduct a high-quality literature review.
This document provides an overview of key aspects of selecting a research approach, including the three main approaches (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods), their components (worldviews, designs, methods), and criteria for selection. It discusses the philosophical worldviews that guide research approaches, examples of quantitative and qualitative research designs, and factors to consider when choosing an approach, such as the research problem, questions, personal experiences, audience, and resources.
This document provides an overview of reviewing literature for nursing research. It discusses that a review of literature is a key step that involves systematically examining relevant publications. The purposes of a literature review are to determine what is already known about the topic, help build on previous knowledge, identify gaps, and help plan the methodology. Literature can be categorized as primary sources from original research or secondary sources reporting on original research. A thorough review requires searching various sources like books, journals, reports, and databases. The stages of a literature review involve tracking materials, reading critically and taking notes, planning and drafting, and editing. Finally, the review should be organized, written in an objective style, and of appropriate length to summarize current knowledge on the topic.
1. A review article summarizes and synthesizes evidence from multiple primary research studies on a topic.
2. The authors of a review article analyze and interpret research conducted by other researchers.
3. An evidence summary builds upon review articles by critically appraising the available evidence to provide clinicians with recommendations for practice.
The Importance of Literature Review in Scientific Research Writing.pptxPubrica
Literature reviews are an important part of the scientific research process and communication. While systematic reviews have become the global standard for evidence synthesis, many literature reviews fall short of these expectations and may present biased or incorrect conclusions. In this post, we discussed common issues with Literature search services methods, provided examples for each, and offered practical solutions for mitigating them.
Visit Here - https://pubrica.com/academy/research/the-importance-of-literature-review-in-scientific-research-writing/
The Importance of Literature Review in Scientific Research Writing.pdfPubrica
Literature reviews are an important part of the scientific research process and communication. While systematic reviews have become the global standard for evidence synthesis, many literature reviews fall short of these expectations and may present biased or incorrect conclusions. In this post, we discussed common issues with Literature search services methods, provided examples for each, and offered practical solutions for mitigating them.
Visit Here - https://pubrica.com/academy/research/the-importance-of-literature-review-in-scientific-research-writing/
This document provides a step-by-step guide for undertaking a literature review. It begins by defining different types of literature reviews, including traditional/narrative reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses. It then outlines the typical steps in a literature review process, including selecting a topic, searching the literature, gathering/analyzing sources, and writing the review. Key steps include refining the topic, using appropriate search methods and databases, analyzing sources, and systematically reviewing the literature. The goal is to help students and novice researchers better understand the literature review process.
A literature review summarizes and synthesizes previous research on a topic. It helps identify what is already known about a research problem, build on existing knowledge, and avoid duplicating previous studies. A good literature review is comprehensive, up-to-date, systematic, reproducible, unbiased, and clearly organized. It primarily relies on primary sources like research articles and unpublished theses directly from original researchers. The review is written by analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting findings from multiple studies to identify common themes and elements.
Review of literature is one of the most important steps in the research process.
Literature review helps the researcher to get used to the related material on the study
Gives an overview of the field of inquiry on what has been already said about the topic.
Literature reviews also provide a solid background for a research paper’s investigation.
It also provide the knowledge about the problems faced by the previous researchers’ while studying same topic
This document provides guidance on how to write an effective critical literature review. It discusses the key aspects of undertaking a literature review, including defining what a literature review is, the purposes of doing one, and when they are required. It outlines the process from conducting searches to analyzing and sorting the literature found. Some key tips include developing an analytical framework to compare sources, focusing the review around key themes or issues, and presenting the review in a structured narrative format with an introduction, body, and conclusion. The goal is to produce an original, analytical review that critically analyzes and synthesizes the existing literature rather than just describing or listing previous works.
concepts and basics of research methodolgylakhveer singh
This document outlines a seminar presentation on research methodology in geography given by Lakhveer Singh. It discusses key concepts like deductive and inductive reasoning, hypotheses, theory, and empiricism. It also covers the different types of research designs, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, time series, and panel designs. Finally, it outlines the typical steps in the research process, including problem definition, literature review, data collection and analysis, and drawing conclusions. The overall purpose is to introduce students to fundamental aspects of developing and conducting geographic research.
The necessity of related literature search and review exercises in dissertati...inventionjournals
The systematic and scientific study of the related literature is the life cycle of every dissertation/thesis research proposal and research writing process. It is a form of secondary data collection, data analysis, and data presentation. The content we are dealing with here is textual, and the form of secondary data analysis is a form of phenomenologically qualitatively data analysis.
IntroductionThe methodology of a study refers to the procedure.docxDioneWang844
Introduction
The methodology of a study refers to the procedures that are followed in order to collect and analyze data. Qualitative and quantitative are two broad categories of research methods (Erford, 2015, p. 17). Distinguishing between them is a theme that runs throughout this course. This unit discusses several of the methodological issues, or steps, to be addressed when planning a study. Some of these issues include:
What kind of data to collect (such as participants' perceptions).
How to best collect the data (for example, in-depth semi-structured interviews).
How to select participants.
What kinds of treatments or conditions they will experience.
How to analyze the data.
These decisions determine the research design. "Research designs are types of inquiry within qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches that provide specific direction for procedures in a research design" (Creswell, 2014, p. 12).
Validity, Credibility, and Reliability
Scholar-practitioners are concerned with the overall validity and trustworthiness of the research they read. In quantitative studies, internal validity refers to the degree to which one can infer cause and effect relationships between the independent and dependent variables, while external validity relates to the generalizability of findings. Both are important issues. In qualitative studies, the term validity is less frequently used when discussing the quality or trustworthiness of the research. Rather, the critical consumer of qualitative research is concerned with credibility, dependability, confirmability, verification, and transferability. This unit provides an introduction to methodological issues in counseling research. These issues will be revisited when you study specific research designs. As you develop your pre-proposal assignment, you will consider methodological issues as they apply to the research design you have chosen.
Reviewing the Literature
In this unit, you will continue locating current empirical articles, which will be used to write the literature review section of your pre-proposal assignment. An annotated bibliography is a tool for organizing the main ideas of the sources you have read. A detailed annotated bibliography can contribute greatly to the ease of writing a literature review. A well-written literature review is a coherent narrative that provides readers with the status of the knowledge base as it relates to your topic. This works best when literature reviews are organized by main ideas. The writer should not present a laundry list of article summaries with no connections being made among them. Instead, think of the literature review as telling the story of your topic, using the studies as support. There will probably be subheadings in the literature review section to indicate the main ideas for the reader. When you write your literature review, think of the main ideas that you want to get across and organize your writing around them.
References
Creswell, .
Explain the methods of Literature Review doc 15.docxintel-writers.com
A literature review is a process of systematically gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing existing literature on a specific research topic. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge, identify gaps, and inform further research. Several methods are commonly used to conduct a literature review:
Systematic Literature Review: This method follows a structured and rigorous approach. It involves defining specific research questions, developing inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducting comprehensive searches across multiple databases, and critically appraising and synthesizing the selected studies. Systematic reviews aim to minimize bias and provide an objective and replicable summary of the existing evidence.
Narrative Literature Review: This method involves a more flexible and narrative approach. Researchers conduct a comprehensive search of relevant literature and select studies based on their judgment and expertise. They then summarize and synthesize the findings, identify key themes and trends, and provide a descriptive analysis of the literature. Narrative reviews are often used to explore conceptual frameworks, theoretical perspectives, or emerging trends.
Meta-analysis: This method involves the quantitative synthesis of data from multiple studies. Researchers identify and select relevant studies, extract data, and perform statistical analyses to estimate the overall effect size. Meta-analysis provides a more precise estimation of the effects and can identify patterns or relationships that may not be apparent in individual studies. It requires careful consideration of study design, data compatibility, and potential sources of bias.
Scoping Review: This method aims to map the existing literature on a particular topic. It involves conducting a broad search across various sources, including academic databases, grey literature, and conference proceedings. Researchers then select and summarize studies to provide an overview of the key concepts, themes, and research gaps. Scoping reviews help identify the breadth and depth of available literature and inform the direction of future research.
Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to controlling sources of bias and error.
Lit rev importance in research methodologyafrahnoor2
The document defines a literature review as a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic that surveys scholarly sources. It discusses the objectives, types, purpose, importance, sources, steps, and recommendations for conducting a literature review. The main types are argumentative, integrative, historical, methodological, systematic, and theoretical. The purpose is to convey prior knowledge on a topic, identify gaps, prevent duplication, and locate current research in the existing context. Conducting a literature review is important for enhancing knowledge, developing hypotheses, and improving methodology. Key steps include problem formulation, searching literature, evaluating sources, and analyzing findings.
The document discusses literature reviews, including what they are, why they are conducted, and how to write one. A literature review provides an overview of what has been written about a specific topic by synthesizing various sources. Literature reviews are conducted to ensure the proposed research is novel and to demonstrate knowledge of prior studies. A good literature review has a clear structure with an introduction that establishes context, a body that logically groups and discusses prior studies, and a conclusion that connects back to the introduction.
This document provides information on conducting a literature review for research. It begins with definitions of key terms like literature review and databases. It then discusses the purpose and types of literature reviews. The document outlines the major electronic databases and other sources to search for literature. It provides the steps for conducting a literature review, which include understanding the research problem, identifying relevant sources, searching the literature, analyzing and synthesizing the findings, and writing the review. Key points are that a literature review lays the foundation for a study, helps avoid duplication, and allows findings to be discussed in context of prior work.
The document provides an outline for writing a research proposal or thesis. It discusses selecting a topic and research approach, conducting a literature review, using theory, and writing strategies. For the research approach, it explains quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. It emphasizes developing a literature review matrix and critically evaluating sources. For theory, it discusses using theory deductively in quantitative research and inductively in qualitative research. Finally, it provides examples of proposal formats and sections for quantitative and qualitative research, such as the introduction, methods, significance and ethical issues.
Visual Medium Advertisement Analysis Es. Online assignment writing service.Sheila Sinclair
The document provides instructions for requesting and completing an assignment writing request through the website HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with the option of a full refund for plagiarized work.
Personal Essay Template. The Per. Online assignment writing service.Sheila Sinclair
The document discusses both the positive and negative impacts of globalization. It notes that globalization can both promote progress through greater interconnectivity between people worldwide, but can also lead to cultural homogenization and the alteration of local cultural values and traditions. Specifically, the document states that while globalization expands exposure to foreign cultures, it can also influence people, especially younger generations, to take on global cultural trends at the expense of their traditional local identities. Both benefits like the spread of ideas and challenges like changes in traditional customs are discussed as complex effects of the growing interconnectedness between societies worldwide under globalization.
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This document provides an overview of key aspects of selecting a research approach, including the three main approaches (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods), their components (worldviews, designs, methods), and criteria for selection. It discusses the philosophical worldviews that guide research approaches, examples of quantitative and qualitative research designs, and factors to consider when choosing an approach, such as the research problem, questions, personal experiences, audience, and resources.
This document provides an overview of reviewing literature for nursing research. It discusses that a review of literature is a key step that involves systematically examining relevant publications. The purposes of a literature review are to determine what is already known about the topic, help build on previous knowledge, identify gaps, and help plan the methodology. Literature can be categorized as primary sources from original research or secondary sources reporting on original research. A thorough review requires searching various sources like books, journals, reports, and databases. The stages of a literature review involve tracking materials, reading critically and taking notes, planning and drafting, and editing. Finally, the review should be organized, written in an objective style, and of appropriate length to summarize current knowledge on the topic.
1. A review article summarizes and synthesizes evidence from multiple primary research studies on a topic.
2. The authors of a review article analyze and interpret research conducted by other researchers.
3. An evidence summary builds upon review articles by critically appraising the available evidence to provide clinicians with recommendations for practice.
The Importance of Literature Review in Scientific Research Writing.pptxPubrica
Literature reviews are an important part of the scientific research process and communication. While systematic reviews have become the global standard for evidence synthesis, many literature reviews fall short of these expectations and may present biased or incorrect conclusions. In this post, we discussed common issues with Literature search services methods, provided examples for each, and offered practical solutions for mitigating them.
Visit Here - https://pubrica.com/academy/research/the-importance-of-literature-review-in-scientific-research-writing/
The Importance of Literature Review in Scientific Research Writing.pdfPubrica
Literature reviews are an important part of the scientific research process and communication. While systematic reviews have become the global standard for evidence synthesis, many literature reviews fall short of these expectations and may present biased or incorrect conclusions. In this post, we discussed common issues with Literature search services methods, provided examples for each, and offered practical solutions for mitigating them.
Visit Here - https://pubrica.com/academy/research/the-importance-of-literature-review-in-scientific-research-writing/
This document provides a step-by-step guide for undertaking a literature review. It begins by defining different types of literature reviews, including traditional/narrative reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses. It then outlines the typical steps in a literature review process, including selecting a topic, searching the literature, gathering/analyzing sources, and writing the review. Key steps include refining the topic, using appropriate search methods and databases, analyzing sources, and systematically reviewing the literature. The goal is to help students and novice researchers better understand the literature review process.
A literature review summarizes and synthesizes previous research on a topic. It helps identify what is already known about a research problem, build on existing knowledge, and avoid duplicating previous studies. A good literature review is comprehensive, up-to-date, systematic, reproducible, unbiased, and clearly organized. It primarily relies on primary sources like research articles and unpublished theses directly from original researchers. The review is written by analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting findings from multiple studies to identify common themes and elements.
Review of literature is one of the most important steps in the research process.
Literature review helps the researcher to get used to the related material on the study
Gives an overview of the field of inquiry on what has been already said about the topic.
Literature reviews also provide a solid background for a research paper’s investigation.
It also provide the knowledge about the problems faced by the previous researchers’ while studying same topic
This document provides guidance on how to write an effective critical literature review. It discusses the key aspects of undertaking a literature review, including defining what a literature review is, the purposes of doing one, and when they are required. It outlines the process from conducting searches to analyzing and sorting the literature found. Some key tips include developing an analytical framework to compare sources, focusing the review around key themes or issues, and presenting the review in a structured narrative format with an introduction, body, and conclusion. The goal is to produce an original, analytical review that critically analyzes and synthesizes the existing literature rather than just describing or listing previous works.
concepts and basics of research methodolgylakhveer singh
This document outlines a seminar presentation on research methodology in geography given by Lakhveer Singh. It discusses key concepts like deductive and inductive reasoning, hypotheses, theory, and empiricism. It also covers the different types of research designs, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, time series, and panel designs. Finally, it outlines the typical steps in the research process, including problem definition, literature review, data collection and analysis, and drawing conclusions. The overall purpose is to introduce students to fundamental aspects of developing and conducting geographic research.
The necessity of related literature search and review exercises in dissertati...inventionjournals
The systematic and scientific study of the related literature is the life cycle of every dissertation/thesis research proposal and research writing process. It is a form of secondary data collection, data analysis, and data presentation. The content we are dealing with here is textual, and the form of secondary data analysis is a form of phenomenologically qualitatively data analysis.
IntroductionThe methodology of a study refers to the procedure.docxDioneWang844
Introduction
The methodology of a study refers to the procedures that are followed in order to collect and analyze data. Qualitative and quantitative are two broad categories of research methods (Erford, 2015, p. 17). Distinguishing between them is a theme that runs throughout this course. This unit discusses several of the methodological issues, or steps, to be addressed when planning a study. Some of these issues include:
What kind of data to collect (such as participants' perceptions).
How to best collect the data (for example, in-depth semi-structured interviews).
How to select participants.
What kinds of treatments or conditions they will experience.
How to analyze the data.
These decisions determine the research design. "Research designs are types of inquiry within qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches that provide specific direction for procedures in a research design" (Creswell, 2014, p. 12).
Validity, Credibility, and Reliability
Scholar-practitioners are concerned with the overall validity and trustworthiness of the research they read. In quantitative studies, internal validity refers to the degree to which one can infer cause and effect relationships between the independent and dependent variables, while external validity relates to the generalizability of findings. Both are important issues. In qualitative studies, the term validity is less frequently used when discussing the quality or trustworthiness of the research. Rather, the critical consumer of qualitative research is concerned with credibility, dependability, confirmability, verification, and transferability. This unit provides an introduction to methodological issues in counseling research. These issues will be revisited when you study specific research designs. As you develop your pre-proposal assignment, you will consider methodological issues as they apply to the research design you have chosen.
Reviewing the Literature
In this unit, you will continue locating current empirical articles, which will be used to write the literature review section of your pre-proposal assignment. An annotated bibliography is a tool for organizing the main ideas of the sources you have read. A detailed annotated bibliography can contribute greatly to the ease of writing a literature review. A well-written literature review is a coherent narrative that provides readers with the status of the knowledge base as it relates to your topic. This works best when literature reviews are organized by main ideas. The writer should not present a laundry list of article summaries with no connections being made among them. Instead, think of the literature review as telling the story of your topic, using the studies as support. There will probably be subheadings in the literature review section to indicate the main ideas for the reader. When you write your literature review, think of the main ideas that you want to get across and organize your writing around them.
References
Creswell, .
Explain the methods of Literature Review doc 15.docxintel-writers.com
A literature review is a process of systematically gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing existing literature on a specific research topic. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge, identify gaps, and inform further research. Several methods are commonly used to conduct a literature review:
Systematic Literature Review: This method follows a structured and rigorous approach. It involves defining specific research questions, developing inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducting comprehensive searches across multiple databases, and critically appraising and synthesizing the selected studies. Systematic reviews aim to minimize bias and provide an objective and replicable summary of the existing evidence.
Narrative Literature Review: This method involves a more flexible and narrative approach. Researchers conduct a comprehensive search of relevant literature and select studies based on their judgment and expertise. They then summarize and synthesize the findings, identify key themes and trends, and provide a descriptive analysis of the literature. Narrative reviews are often used to explore conceptual frameworks, theoretical perspectives, or emerging trends.
Meta-analysis: This method involves the quantitative synthesis of data from multiple studies. Researchers identify and select relevant studies, extract data, and perform statistical analyses to estimate the overall effect size. Meta-analysis provides a more precise estimation of the effects and can identify patterns or relationships that may not be apparent in individual studies. It requires careful consideration of study design, data compatibility, and potential sources of bias.
Scoping Review: This method aims to map the existing literature on a particular topic. It involves conducting a broad search across various sources, including academic databases, grey literature, and conference proceedings. Researchers then select and summarize studies to provide an overview of the key concepts, themes, and research gaps. Scoping reviews help identify the breadth and depth of available literature and inform the direction of future research.
Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to controlling sources of bias and error.
Lit rev importance in research methodologyafrahnoor2
The document defines a literature review as a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic that surveys scholarly sources. It discusses the objectives, types, purpose, importance, sources, steps, and recommendations for conducting a literature review. The main types are argumentative, integrative, historical, methodological, systematic, and theoretical. The purpose is to convey prior knowledge on a topic, identify gaps, prevent duplication, and locate current research in the existing context. Conducting a literature review is important for enhancing knowledge, developing hypotheses, and improving methodology. Key steps include problem formulation, searching literature, evaluating sources, and analyzing findings.
The document discusses literature reviews, including what they are, why they are conducted, and how to write one. A literature review provides an overview of what has been written about a specific topic by synthesizing various sources. Literature reviews are conducted to ensure the proposed research is novel and to demonstrate knowledge of prior studies. A good literature review has a clear structure with an introduction that establishes context, a body that logically groups and discusses prior studies, and a conclusion that connects back to the introduction.
This document provides information on conducting a literature review for research. It begins with definitions of key terms like literature review and databases. It then discusses the purpose and types of literature reviews. The document outlines the major electronic databases and other sources to search for literature. It provides the steps for conducting a literature review, which include understanding the research problem, identifying relevant sources, searching the literature, analyzing and synthesizing the findings, and writing the review. Key points are that a literature review lays the foundation for a study, helps avoid duplication, and allows findings to be discussed in context of prior work.
The document provides an outline for writing a research proposal or thesis. It discusses selecting a topic and research approach, conducting a literature review, using theory, and writing strategies. For the research approach, it explains quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. It emphasizes developing a literature review matrix and critically evaluating sources. For theory, it discusses using theory deductively in quantitative research and inductively in qualitative research. Finally, it provides examples of proposal formats and sections for quantitative and qualitative research, such as the introduction, methods, significance and ethical issues.
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3 METHODOLOGY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW Chapter 3 Roadmap Background Concepts
1. 3
METHODOLOGY OF THE
LITERATURE REVIEW
Chapter 3 Roadmap
Background
Concepts
• The CLR: A data collection tool
• The CLR as a method
• Considerations of mixed research techniques
New
Concepts
• Using multiple sections of a report
• A pathway to knowledge: Methodology
• The CLR as a methodology
• The CLR meta-framework
• Introducing the Seven-Step Model
Applying
Concepts
• Using the Seven-Step Model to inform
primary research
• The Seven-Step Model as a cyclical process
2. 49
Methodology of the Literature Review
Background Concepts
The CLR: A Data Collection Tool
The word data refers to a body of information. This
bodyofinformationcanbeextractedfrommanysources
such as words, numbers, images, hyperlinks, audio, and
video. Therefore, the information that the literature
reviewercollectstoinformaliteraturereviewrepresents
data. Thus, it stands to reason that the literature review
process can be viewed as a data collection tool—that
is, as a means of collecting a body of information per-
tinent to a topic of interest. As a data collection tool,
the literature review involves activities such as identi-
fying, recording, understanding, meaning-making, and
transmitting information. Indeed, the literature review
process is actualized through data collection. In its opti-
mal form, the literature review represents a formal data
collection process wherein information is gathered in a
comprehensive way.
The CLR as a Method
In the field of research, the term method represents
the specific approaches and procedures that the
researcher systematically utilizes that are manifested
in the research design, sampling design, data collec-
tion, data analysis, data interpretation, and so forth.
The literature review represents a method because
the literature reviewer chooses from an array of
strategies and procedures for identifying, recording,
understanding, meaning-making, and transmitting
information pertinent to a topic of interest. Moreover,
as asserted by Onwuegbuzie, Leech, and Collins
(2011), conducting a literature review is equivalent
to conducting a research study, with the information
that the literature reviewer collects representing the
data. In fact, as is the case for all studies, the litera-
ture review involves the following four phases that
we discussed in Chapter 1, namely, conceptualiza-
tion, planning, implementation, and dissemination.
As such, when the literature review stands alone
(i.e., independent work), then the literature review
represents a single research study that ends when
the literature review process ends. In contrast, when
the goal of the literature review is to inform primary
research, then the literature review represents an
embedded study. Therefore, essentially, all studies
that contain a review of the literature, however large
or small, actually involve the conduct of two studies:
a study of the previous knowledge (i.e., review of the
literature) and the primary research study conducted
by the researcher(s)—with the literature review study
being embedded within the primary research study.
With this in mind, as we stated in Chapter 1, research-
ers should no longer view the literature review as
one step of the many steps that underlie a research
study; rather, the researcher should view the literature
review as representing an embedded study.
Considerations of Mixed
Research Techniques
As you will see in the subsequent chapters, in its opti-
mal form, the literature review not only represents a
study; it also represents a mixed research study. In
other words, the CLR is facilitated by using mixed
research techniques—that is, by collecting and ana-
lyzing both quantitative and qualitative information
within the same literature review. Traditionally, as
noted in Chapter 1, many textbook authors give the
impression that the literature review always varies
with the type of primary study (Myth 9) and that it
involves not only just summarizing the extant lit-
erature (Myth 6) but also merely summarizing the
findings of previous (related) studies. Such myths
falsely give the impression that only quantitative data
should be summarized in quantitative research-based
works and only qualitative data should be summa-
rized in qualitative research-based works. As such, a
literature reviewer who summarizes only quantitative
research findings only will use quantitative data to
informtheliteraturereview.AsdiscussedinChapter2,
a literature reviewer prescribing to this myth likely
might conduct what Gene Glass (1976) coined a
meta-analysis, wherein the literature reviewer com-
bines quantitative findings from as many available
individual quantitative research studies as possible
that address a set of related research hypotheses for
the purpose of integrating the results. Conversely,
a literature reviewer who summarizes only qualita-
tive research findings only will use qualitative data
to inform the literature review. For instance, a liter-
ature reviewer belonging to this camp might conduct
3. 50 Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
what Sandelowski and Barroso (2006) refer to as a
meta-synthesis, whereby the literature reviewer inte-
grates qualitative research findings from selected
qualitative research studies that represent interpretive
syntheses of data addressing a set of related research
questions for the purpose of integrating the results.
New Concepts
A literature review in its most comprehensive form includes a synthesis of quantitative findings stemming
from quantitative research studies and qualitative findings stemming from qualitative research studies.
Synthesizing both quantitative and qualitative findings within the same literature review automatically
renders the literature review process as a mixed research study (Onwuegbuzie, Collins, et al., 2010).
Using Multiple Sections of a Report
The CLR as a mixed research study is enhanced by
recognizing that meaning-making can occur from any
aspect of a work (e.g., research article, book chapter,
book), including the title, abstract, literature review
section, theoretical or conceptual framework, purpose
statement(s), research question(s), hypotheses, state-
ment of the educational significance, method section
(e.g., participants, instruments, procedure, research
design, analysis), results section, and discussion section.
These sections contain quantitative and/or qualitative
information. For example, at the very least, the follow-
ing elements contain quantitative information:
findings pertaining to each quantitative study
presented in the literature review section of the
source
sample size(s) pertaining to one or more of the
studies
quantitative and/or qualitative studies presented
in the literature review section of the source
findings in the results section of each quantitative
study selected for the literature review section
Also, the following elements of the research study
contain qualitative information:
findings pertaining to each qualitative study pre-
sented in the literature review section of the source
the literature review section of each quantitative,
qualitative, or mixed research study presented in
the literature review section of the source
information about the sample characteristics per-
taining to each quantitative, qualitative, or mixed
research study presented in the literature review
section of the source
conclusion section of each quantitative, qualita-
tive, or mixed research study presented in the lit-
erature review section of the source; and findings
in the results section of each qualitative study
presented in the literature review section
Because of the array of quantitative and qualitative
data that are potentially inherent in each work, every
literature review lends itself simultaneously to the
analysis of quantitative and qualitative information.
As such, every literature review optimally involves
using mixed research techniques. Simply put, then,
the literature review represents a mixed research study.
A literature reviewer might use quantitative research
approaches to synthesize quantitative-based works
and qualitative research approaches to synthesize
qualitative-based works. With regard to quantitative
research techniques, for instance, a literature reviewer
might utilize correlational research techniques to
examine, across studies, the relationship between the
size of the effect of a reading intervention on reading
achievement and the mean age of the students exposed
to the intervention. With respect to qualitative research
approaches, for example, a literature reviewer might
utilize case study techniques for the collection of qual-
itative information, wherein each source represents
a case. And, adopting Stake’s (2005) typology, the
literature review can be framed as an intrinsic case
study (i.e., the literature review is designed to select
4. 51
Methodology of the Literature Review
sources of information that highlight particular cases
of interest [e.g., illustrative case, deviant case]), an
instrumental case study (i.e., the literature review is
designed to examine a particular case for the main pur-
pose of providing insight into a phenomenon or issue,
or to obtain a generalization), or a collective/multiple
case study (i.e., the literature review is designed to
examine multiple cases in an attempt to examine
a phenomenon)—with the instrumental case study
being the most common qualitative method that can
be mapped onto the literature review process.
In fact, literature reviewers have at their disposal
many quantitative and qualitative research designs,
which have been identified in Chapter 1. In any case,
whatever combination of quantitative and qualitative
research approaches is used to conduct the literature
review, it is clear that the CLR represents a mixed
research study. Thus, bearing in mind the 350-year
history of formal literature reviews, we are surprised
that the literature review has not been framed as a
mixed research study until recently. In fact, building
on the seminal work of Heyvaert et al. (2011), similar
to the typologies presented in Chapter 2 of narrative
and systematic reviews, we have identified only seven
frameworksthatapplytheprinciplesofmixedresearch,
namely, what (a) Whittemore and Knafl (2005) called
integrative review; (b) Gaber (2000) called meta-needs
assessment; (c) Harden and Thomas (2010) called
mixed methods synthesis; (d) Sandelowski, Voils,
and Barroso (2006) called mixed research synthesis;
(e) Pluye, Gagnon, Griffiths, and Johnson-Lafleur
(2009) called mixed studies review; (f) Pawson,
Greenhalgh, Harvey, and Walshe (2005) called realist
review; and, most recently, (g) Onwuegbuzie, Collins,
et al. (2010) also called a mixed research synthesis.
A Pathway to Knowledge:
Methodology
One aspect that all cultures have shared throughout
time is a quest for knowledge. An important pathway
to knowledge is via a framework called methodology.
There are many ways of defining methodology. For
example, methodology can be defined as “the branch of
logic that deals with the principles of the formation of
knowledge” (American Heritage Dictionary, 1993,
p. 858)oras“abodyofpractices,procedures,andrules in
a discipline or an inquiry”; also, as “a set of working
methods” or “the study or theoretical analysis of such
working methods” (p. 858). Alternatively stated, a
methodology is a broad approach to scientific inquiry
that contains a system or set of practices, methods,
rules, and principles within a given field (e.g., social
and behavioral science) or discipline (e.g., sociology).
Some authors use methodology and methods inter-
changeably; yet, these two concepts are very different.
In fact, methods represent merely one component of
methodology.
Methodology Conceptualized
In her seminal article, Greene (2006) conceptualized
that the development of a methodology for the study of
human beings necessitates consideration of the follow-
ing four inter-related but conceptually distinct domains:
(a) philosophical assumptions and stances, (b) inquiry
logics, (c) guidelines for research practice, and (d) soci-
opolitical commitments (see also Greene, 2008). The
first domain, philosophical assumptions and stances,
refers to the core philosophical or epistemological
beliefs associated with the methodology. This domain
also includes beliefs regarding axiomatic elements,
including the following: epistemology (i.e., study
of the nature and scope of knowledge), pertaining to
issues such as the relationship between the knower and
the known; ontology (i.e., nature of reality), relating to
issues such as single versus multiple-constructed real-
ities, and subjectivity versus objectivity; and axiology
(i.e., study of values), pertaining to issues such as the
role of values in research. Consequently, the domain
of philosophical assumptions and stances “guides the
inquirer’s gaze to look at particular things in particular
ways and offers appropriate philosophical and theoret-
ical justification for this way of seeing, observing, and
interpreting” (Greene, 2006, p. 93).
According to Greene (2006), inquiry logics, the
second domain, involve the identification of appro-
priate research goals, research objectives, research
purposes, and research questions; appropriate sam-
pling designs; broad research designs and procedures;
criteria of quality for inferences; and standards for
reporting findings. In addition, this domain involves
identifying logics of justification for each of these
research strategies, with an overall logic connecting
all the research elements in a coherent way.
5. 52 Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
The third domain, guidelines for research prac-
tice, provides specific research strategies. Here, the
philosophical assumptions and stances (Domain 1) and
logics of inquiry (Domain 2) are translated into specific
researchprocedures.Thus,guidelinesforresearchprac-
tice represent the how to of research, which includes
procedures relating to sampling schemes, research
designs, data collection, data analysis, and data inter-
pretation that emanate from Domain 2. Domain 3 also
includes specific procedures for collecting (e.g., sur-
veys, interviews), analyzing (e.g., correlation, method
of constant comparison), interpreting, and reporting
data. Therefore, guidelines for research practice pro-
vide the nuts and bolts of the research study.
The fourth domain, sociopolitical commitments,
addresses whose interests should be served by the
particular research approach, where the investigation
is situated in society, whether the study contributes to
collective theoretical knowledge, whether the inves-
tigation generates knowledge, whether the study
informs governmental decision makers and stake-
holders, whether the study is located in a protected
space that is free from political dispute, and whether
the study lies somewhere among competing elements
that represent social critique or advocacy for particular
interests, viewpoints, and subgroups. The domain of
sociopolitical commitments plays an important role in
situating the research in society. According to Greene
Tool: Overview of Four Domains of a Methodology
The four domains are summarized in Table 3.1. As a set, these four domains provide a unified and
interactive framework and a set of practical guidelines for a methodology. Also, these domains have
been fully developed with respect to both the quantitative and qualitative research traditions. In
recent years, these domains have begun to be fully developed with respect to mixed research, which
still represents an emerging methodology.
dĂďůĞϯ͘ϭപFour domains that drive the development of a methodology
Domain Description
Philosophical
stances
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6. 53
Methodology of the Literature Review
(2006), “While values are present in all four domains,
they are proclaimed in Domain 4” (p. 94).
The CLR as a Methodology
When conceptualizing the definition of the literature
review, we consider further the following ideas of
Greene (2006):
A methodology for social inquiry gains cred-
ibility and persuasiveness when all of these
domains act in concert with one another,
when their interlocking connections are
smooth and well oiled, when the overall pres-
entation is strong, coherent, well articulated
and thus persuasive. (p. 94)
We contend that the CLR is a methodology because
of its potential to have a “coherent foundation for
inquiry with tightly interconnected logics of justi-
fication, positioning, procedures, and rationales”
(Greene, 2006, p. 94). Specifically, the literature
review has at its root several research philosophies
(Domain 1), some of which will be discussed in
more detail in the next chapter.
Example: Postpositivist
Philosophical Frame
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place more emphasis on quantitative findings than on
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Example: Constructivist
Philosophical Frame
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The Inter-Dialogue of Methodology
To understand better the concept of methodology and
the literature review, we might regard how music is
expressed through multiple genres, such as pop music,
jazz music, classical music, and so on. Oftentimes,
musicians will compose and perform fusion music,
which is a combination of many genres and philoso-
phies, as well as methods. Thus, the methodology in
the literature review process is similar to fusion music,
and after conducting the literature review, you will have
left your mark in time—like a carbon footprint. Even
though you, as the literature reviewer, will explore
and determine your own philosophical stance in Step
1 of the Seven-Step Model, we regard our own philo-
sophical stances in creating this book as what Johnson
(2011) recently termed dialectical pluralism, which is
a thoughtful, eclectic integration of methods and per-
spectives. Dialectical pluralism is a research stance that
is inspired by the way mixed methods, or multiple data,
inform one and other. At times, when we study a topic
that focuses directly on the lives and experiences of
underserved and marginalized persons or groups, such
as children/adolescents or adults needing mentoring,
7. 54 Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
we use a philosophical lens that we conceptualized
ourselves, which we call critical dialectical pluralism
(Onwuegbuzie Frels, 2013a). Critical dialectical
pluralism represents a social justice paradigm, the goal
of which is to give voice and to empower the people
who are being studied (Onwuegbuzie Frels, 2013a).
Thus, rather than viewing the literature review as only
a phase in the research study, we should view the liter-
ature review as a methodology. We built our concept
of methodology on the words stated by Onwuegbuzie,
Leech, et al. (2011):
the literature review represents a methodology
because it represents a broad approach to scien-
tific research that encompasses a set of research
objectives, research purposes, and research
questions, as well as methods and procedures,
criteria of quality, and standards for reporting.
Each individual component of the literature
review (e.g., selecting a topic, searching the
literature, developing the argument, surveying
the literature, critiquing the literature, and writ-
ing the review; see, for e.g., Machi McEvoy,
2009) must be compatible for the process to be
optimal. (p. 187)
The CLR Meta-Framework
As you have seen in previous chapters, there are many
ways that the literature review reveals itself throughout
history and involves the use of one of the three research
traditions (i.e., quantitative, qualitative, mixed). In this
chapter, we have discussed ways that the literature
review represents a data collection tool, a method, a
mixed research study, and, most of all, a methodology.
Further, because oftentimes a methodology can be an
abstract process, a methodology needs some type of
mechanism, or process, to bring it to fruition. This
would be a framework. By now, you might be asking,
thenwhyameta-framework?Theprefixmetaisusedto
mean about (its own category) and one example would
be to say metadata are data about data. Definitely, there
are many frameworks within the Seven-Step Model,
such as steps within steps. Therefore, the CLR is a
meta-framework. For example, in Step 1: Exploring
Beliefs and Topics, we provide many parts of the belief
system, such as worldview, field/discipline-specific
beliefs, and topic-specific beliefs. We imagine that if a
person holds many beliefs on one issue, he/she might
have a meta-belief system.
Returning to the metaphor of music genre as
methodology, there are various frameworks for a
symphony orchestra. The composer of the music
itself uses a framework: perhaps a traditional three
movement symphony, or four movement symphony,
or a symphonic poem to convey the compositional
ideas. Each section of the orchestra and each musi-
cian within the section uses a framework to interpret
the composition, and the conductor has particular
steps to begin and to end the concert of this music.
As a result, the concert itself is a meta-framework of
many steps, procedures, approaches, and ideas.
Introducing the Seven-Step Model
As we have discussed throughout this chapter, the
literature review involves culture, ethics, multimodal-
ities, and your identity as a researcher—inclusive of
your values, beliefs, and experiences. As the phrase
suggests, the Seven-Step Model of the CLR comprises
seven steps: (a) Step 1: Exploring Beliefs and Topics;
(b) Step 2: Initiating the Search; (c) Step 3: Storing
and Organizing Information; (d) Step 4: Selecting/
Deselecting Information; (e) Step 5: Expanding the
Search to Include One or More MODES (Media,
Observation(s), Documents, Expert(s), Secondary
Data); (f) Step 6:Analyze and Synthesize Information;
and (g) Step 7: Present the CLR Report. These seven
steps are multidimensional, interactive, emergent,
iterative, dynamic, holistic, and synergistic.
By multidimensional, we mean that each of the
steps has multiple components or dimensions. By
interactive, we mean that each step is dependent on
all the other steps. That is, each step is related to each
of the other steps by going back and forth at differ-
ent stages of the review. By emergent, we mean that
leads should be followed as they emerge, such as
good detectives following all leads. For example, as
we discussed earlier and will discuss in more detail in
Chapter 8, whenever possible, as part of the literature
review, prolific authors should be interviewed by the
reviewer to find out about these authors’latest unpub-
lished works, ongoing works, and/or future works
(Step 5). The information that these authors provide
8. 55
Methodology of the Literature Review
Tool: The Meta-Framework of the Seven Steps
Figure 3.1 depicts what we have been discussing as a meta-framework of the concepts described in
the first three chapters. As a literature reviewer, it is important that you understand the bigger picture
because, as a culturally progressive researcher, it is an ethical responsibility to be able to justify each
decision that you make and, moreover, to be able to convey your literature review to others, through
your own lens, without changing the original intentions of the authors whose sources you synthesize.
As seen in Figure 3.1, the core of the meta-framework is the core of our Seven-Step Model, the cul-
tural progressive approach that drives the literature review process. Layered within the model are the
ethical approach, multimodal texts and settings, and the identity of the literature reviewer, as an original
thinker, critical thinker, and reflexive literature reviewer.
Culturally
Progressive
As a
Methodology
As a Mixed
Research
Method
Multimodal
Texts and
Settings
As a
Method
The
Researcher
Identity
The Comprehensive Literature Review
Meta-Framework
As a
Research Tool Seven-Step
Model
Ethics
ŝŐƵƌĞϯ͘ϭപ 5
would be maximally emergent. By iterative, we mean
that the steps are recursive. That is, any or even all of
the steps can be repeated, as many times as is needed.
Further, the reviewer often oscillates (i.e., moves
back and forth) between some or all of these steps.
For instance, the literature reviewer might receive
information from one or more prolific authors (i.e.,
Step 5) that might lead the reviewer to focus the search
further (i.e., return to Step 2) or to select/deselect liter-
ature (i.e., return to Step 4). By dynamic, we mean that
the CLR is vibrant, energetic, lively, and eventful—
and, hence, exciting. By holistic, we mean that the
9. 56 Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
literature reviewer should incorporate as many semi-
otic systems as possible. Finally, by synergistic, we
mean that the CLR follows Hall and Howard’s (2008)
four core principles for synergistic approaches:
synthesizing information obtained from as many
of the five MODES as possible culminates in a
literature review that is more comprehensive than
would have been obtained if a traditional litera-
ture review has been conducted
using a dialectic approach to conducting the litera-
ture review, wherein multiple philosophical assump-
tions and stances are intertwined, when applicable
considering of equal importance quantitative and
qualitative research techniques for conducting
the literature review in general and synthesizing
the information in particular
balancing the multiple roles of the literature
reviewer (i.e., culturally progressive, ethical, multi-
modal, original thinker, critical thinker, reflexive
researcher)
Exploration, Interpretation, and
Communication Phases
The first phase, Exploration, involves a series of investi-
gative steps. In particular, optimally, literature reviewers
should explore an array of their belief systems, includ-
ing their worldviews, research philosophical beliefs,
discipline-specific beliefs, and topic-specific beliefs, as
well as the inter-relationships among these belief sys-
tems (Step 1). In addition, literature reviewers should
explore their topics of interest, using various means
(e.g., personal beliefs, knowledge, and experiences;
Tool: The Three Phases of the Seven-Step Model
Figure 3.2 presents the seven steps of the CLR process subdivided into the following three phases:
Exploration, Interpretation, and Communication.
Exploration Phase
Step 1: Exploring Beliefs and Topics
Step 2: Initiating the Search
Step 3: Storing and Organizing Information
Step 4: Selecting/Deselecting Information
Step 5: Expanding the Search to Include One or More MODES (Media, Observation(s), Documents,
Expert(s), Secondary Data)
Interpretation Phase
Step 6: Analyzing and Synthesizing Information
Communication Phase
Step 7: Presenting the CLR Report
ŝŐƵƌĞϯ͘Ϯപ : $ E ?$
10. 57
Methodology of the Literature Review
professional beliefs, knowledge, and experiences) to
explore initial key terms associated with this topic to
inform their information searches (Step 1). Further, lit-
erature reviewers should explore potential information
databases, and then, once appropriate databases have
been identified, they should search these databases to
explore information about the topic and to identify the
most appropriate key terms to help focus the search
(Step 2). Literature reviewers also should explore what
information to select and what information to deselect
(Step 4) and expand the search by incorporating one or
more of the five MODES (Step 5). While making their
journeys to and through Step 5—the final step of the
Exploration Phase—literature reviewers should explore
how to store and to organize information.
The second phase, Interpretation, involves liter-
ature reviewers interpreting the selected information
that they extracted via the previous five steps. This
interpretation occurs through analysis and synthesis
pathways. As the word suggests, this interpretation
phase is interpretive because it is the culmination
of the analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of
selected information sources, which are then syn-
thesized, leading to what Tashakkori and Teddlie
(1998) refer to as meta-inferences, which represent
inferences from each information source that are
combined into a coherent narrative.
The third and final phase, Communication,
involves literature reviewers disseminating their lit-
erature reviewer reports to the appropriate audience.
This dissemination might take the form of a presenta-
tion that is delivered via Acting (e.g., performance
ethnography wherein the literature review report is
performed via dramatic representations such as plays),
Visually (e.g., via drawings, paintings, photographs,
videos, multimedia), Orally (e.g., presenting the liter-
ature review report in class; presenting the literature
review report as part of a thesis/dissertation defense;
presenting the literature review report at a research
conference by itself, or as part of the presentation of
a primary research report), or, most importantly, in
Writing (e.g., via a class assignment, thesis/disser-
tation chapter, research article, book chapter, blog,
website, or Internet-based social bookmarking ser-
vice)—with the printed and/or digital form of the
literature review report being stored somewhere (e.g.,
library, bibliographic database, website). Typically,
the goal here is to make the research report avail-
able to one or more others, thereby contributing to the
cycle of knowledge generation.
Using the Seven-Step Model to
Inform Primary Research
As seen in Figure 3.4, the Seven-Step Model can
be applied to any or all of the 12 components of a
primary research report: problem statement, back-
ground, theoretical/conceptual framework, research
question(s), hypotheses, participants, instruments,
procedure, analyses, interpretation of the findings,
directions for future research, and implications for
the field. The following sections provide an over-
view of these applications.
Problem Statement
An effective (i.e., research-worthy) problem state-
ment (also called the statement of the problem) is
the description of a current and important challenge
(i.e., problem) that is confronted by researchers and/
or practitioners for which there are no adequate solu-
tions available from the extant literature. Further, a
research-worthy problem statement should make
clear the nature and scope of the problem that has
been identified. More specifically, the problem state-
ment is a section in a research report that contains
the topic for the study, the research problem within
this topic, a justification for the problem based on
past research and practice, deficiencies or shortcom-
ings of past research or practical knowledge, and the
importance of addressing the problem for diverse
audiences (Creswell, 2002, p. 650). Clearly, to
obtain “a justification for the problem based on past
research” and to identify “deficiencies or shortcom-
ings of past research,” a Comprehensive Literature
Review is needed.
Background
It should be obvious that a literature reviewer
needs to provide adequate background information
to be able to write the literature review section of
a primary research report. Thus, we do not need to
provide a further explanation here as we hope it is
implied!
11. 58 Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
Step 3
Storing and
Organizing
Information
Step 4
Selecting/
Deselecting
Information
Step 6
Analyzing/
Synthesizing
Information
Step 7
Presenting the
CLR Report
Step 5
Expanding the
Search
(MODES)
Interpretation Phase
Communication Phase
Exploration Phase
Step 1
Exploring
Beliefs
and Topics
Step 2
Initiating the
Search
ŝŐƵƌĞϯ͘ϯപ 3$ 53 @ : $ E ?$
Tool: Overview of the Seven-Step Model
Figure 3.3 illustrates the flow of the Seven-Step Model. This figure also reflects the exploration,
interpretation, and communication phases.
As you can see from this figure, Step 3 (Storing and Organizing Information) plays a pivotal
role in the literature review process because every selected information source needs to be stored
and organized, at least initially. Thus, as can be seen, arrows go from Step 2, Step 4, and Step 5 to
Step 3, which indicates that information obtained during Step 2, Step 4, and Step 5 must be stored
and organized. Also, arrows go from Step 3 to Step 4, Step 5 (i.e., via Step 4), and Step 6, which
indicates that information obtained in previous stages should be stored and organized before moving
to Step 4, Step 5, and Step 6. In the following chapters, you will learn about each of the seven steps
to conduct the CLR.
12. 59
Methodology of the Literature Review
Tool: Seven-Step Model to Inform Primary Research Areas
Figure 3.4 presents how the Seven-Step Model might be used to inform the various components of
the primary research study.
The Comprehensive
Literature Review
PROCESS
Background
Hypotheses
(if applicable)
Participants
Instruments
Analyses
Procedure
Problem
Statement
Interpretation of
the Findings
Implications for
the Field
Evidence-Based Decisions throughout Primary Research
Theoretical
Conceptual
Framework
Directions for
Future Research
Research
Question(s)
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a primary research report
Applying Concepts
As we outlined in Chapter 1, before the literature review begins, the literature reviewer must determine
whether the goal of the literature review is as an end in itself (i.e., as a stand-alone study) or as a study to
inform primary research. If the goal is as an end in itself, then the Seven-Step Model will only be used to
generate the literature review report (e.g., for written communication, for oral communication). However,
if the goal of the literature review is to inform primary research, then the literature reviewer should
undertake a series of literature reviews, as needed, throughout the conduct of the primary research.
Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
As noted by Lester (2005), a theoretical framework
guides the research process via the use of formal theory
“developed by using an established, coherent explana-
tion of certain sorts of phenomena and relationships”
(p. 458). In contrast, a conceptual framework is “an
argument that the concepts chosen for investigation,
and any anticipated relationships among them, will
be appropriate and useful given the research problem
under investigation” (p. 460). Virtually all quantitative,
qualitative, and mixed research studies are driven, at
13. 60 Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
least to some degree, by a theoretical framework and/
or a conceptual framework. In order to identify an
“established, coherent explanation of certain sorts of
phenomena and relationships” (i.e., theoretical frame-
work) or to determine whether the “concepts chosen for
investigation, and any anticipated relationships among
them, will be appropriate and useful” (i.e., conceptual
framework), the literature reviewer must be familiar
with the extant body of information.
Research Question(s)
A research question is an interrogative statement
that the researcher attempts to answer using research
techniques. In most instances, research questions
stem from the literature because they represent a
narrowing of the purpose statement, which, in turn,
reflects a gap in our knowledge base. Even if the
research question stems from practical experience,
it is always a good idea to examine the literature not
only to contextualize the research question, but also
to check to determine whether this research question
has not already been addressed by one or more other
teams of researchers. Thus, a literature review helps
a researcher finalize his/her research question(s).
Hypotheses
Theresearchhypothesisisaproposedexplanationofan
observable phenomenon that can be tested via research.
Alternatively stated, a hypothesis is a declarative state-
ment wherein the researcher—typically in quantitative
research studies or the quantitative phase(s) of mixed
research studies—makes a prediction or judgment
about the relationship that exists among the vari-
ables of interest. As stated by Johnson and Christensen
(2010), “the stated hypothesis typically emerges from
the literature review or from theory” (p. 77). Thus, a
literature reviewer needs to conduct a literature review
to be able to finalize his/her hypotheses.
Participants
In the participants section of a research report, at a
minimum, authors describe the sample/population size,
sampling scheme (how the sample was selected), and
characteristics of the sample/population members. It is
always a good idea to examine the literature to contex-
tualize all the sampling decisions made. For example,
in quantitative research, wherein hypotheses are
tested, the appropriateness of the sample size needed
for determining whether these relationships exist (i.e.,
what is called statistical power) depends, in part, on
the size of the relationship expected among the vari-
ables that underlie the hypothesis (i.e., known as the
effect size). Information regarding the expected size of
the relationship among the variables of interest can be
gleaned from the size of the relationships among the
same or similar variables that has been documented in
previous empirical reports. Consequently, the literature
review can play an important role in helping the liter-
ature reviewer make sound decisions regarding his/her
choice of participants.
Instruments
In a research study, instruments are tools used for facil-
itating the fulfillment of one or more of the following
research objectives: explore, describe, explain, predict,
influence (see Figure 1.4 in Chapter 1). For example,
in quantitative research, where the primary research
objectives are to describe, to explain, to predict, or
to influence data, instruments are used to measure, to
observe, or to document data. In qualitative research,
where the primary research objectives are to explore
or to describe, instruments are used to document or to
examine phenomena. In mixed research, instruments
can be used for any of the reasons for which they are
used in both quantitative and qualitative research. The
literature review plays a vital role in helping the litera-
ture reviewer select the most appropriate instrument(s)
for a primary research study. Unfortunately, in our
experience, we have noticed that many researchers—
especially beginning researchers—do not thoroughly
investigate the instruments that they have selected.
Example: Using the CLR to
Select an Instrument
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14. 61
Methodology of the Literature Review
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Procedure
The procedure section is “the section of the research
report that describes how the study will be executed”
(Johnson Christensen, 2010, p. 592). This section
also includes a delineation of the research design,
which, as we defined in the previous chapter, is
the framework (e.g., outline or plan) that is used to
address the research question(s). As is the case for
the participants and instrument sections, a literature
review can play an important role in helping the lit-
erature reviewer make sound procedural decisions.
Analyses
In the context of research, an analysis involves breaking
the underlying data into smaller parts to gain a better
understanding of the phenomenon represented by these
data. In addition to examining methodological sources
to determine appropriate ways to analyze the data, given
the research question(s) and/or hypotheses, the litera-
ture reviewer should examine reports that are similar
to the primary study to ascertain the analyses that were
conducted, as well as any problems experienced by the
analysts. For example, for quantitative research studies,
it would be useful to find out how different research-
ers dealt with missing data during their analyses
(i.e., information that was not obtained from one or
more participants). In qualitative research, it might
be useful to find out what analytical techniques led to
data saturation (e.g., the analysis led to the emergence
of themes or categories such that the analyst concludes
that new data will not provide any new information
or insights for developing these themes or categories;
Morse, 1995). Thus, the literature review can play an
important role in helping the literature reviewer make
sound analytical decisions.
Interpretations of the findings
As we discussed in the previous chapter, when debunk-
ing Myth 3, researchers are unable to contextualize their
findings without incorporating relevant information
from the extant body of works. Therefore, researchers
include a section to discuss the implications of the find-
ings. Even more importantly, when serendipitous (i.e.,
unexpected) findings emerge, it is even more important
to use the extant body of works to help explain these
findings. For instance, in the previous chapter, we
described how Onwuegbuzie et al. (2003) conducted
a literature review during the interpretation phase of
their study, which led to them identifying a phenome-
non that they labeled a Matthew effect to describe the
performance of cooperative learning groups in intro-
ductory-level education research methodology courses.
Therefore, the literature review during the interpretation
phase helps to rule in or rule out rival explanations.
Directions for Future Research
It should be obvious that a literature reviewer needs
to conduct a literature review to provide useful
directions for future research that does not lead to
unnecessary, redundant research being conducted in
the future. As such, we do not need to provide a fur-
ther explanation here but will keep this feature as
our final thoughts on the subject.
Implications for the Field
In interpreting their findings, it is essential that the lit-
erature reviewer does not provide recommendations
15. 62 Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
that have been demonstrated previously as being
inappropriate. Thus, the literature reviewer needs to
conduct a review to help make thoughtful and ethical
recommendations that are culturally progressive. The
implications for the field section of a research report
allows the literature reviewer to include ideas for the
future research on this topic.
The Seven-Step Model as
a Cyclical Process
As we have discussed, the Seven-Step Model can be
used to inform at least 12 components of a primary
research report. For primary studies, the Seven-Step
Model should serve as a cyclical process, wherein the
literature reviewer undergoes the seven steps as many
times as is needed to inform adequately all compo-
nents of a research report. This does not mean that the
Seven-Step Model needs to be applied on at least 12
occasions. In fact, it is possible that several, if not most,
of these components can be informed within the same
seven-step cycle by carefully coding each information
source. We will show you how to accomplish this in
Step 3 of the Seven-Step Model (i.e., Chapter 6).
Remembering that although here we discuss the
literature review as informing many parts of a primary
research study, the literature review also can stand
alone and, in this case, it is also a cyclical process. In
fact, in writing this book on the literature review, we
conducted our own information research to inform our
report as a stand-alone literature review. We considered
the research problem, which was the misrepresentation
of the literature review in the social sciences. Next,
we knew that simply describing the literature review
through time would not add to the knowledge base;
yet, we determined that we needed to synthesize this
information toward a new definition. Thus, the CLR
was born!
Conclusions
In closing, it is important to remember that as a literature
reviewer, you should be aware of your identity as a cul-
turally competent and ethical researcher, and that your
comprehensive literature review might become some-
one else’s basis for future research or for establishing a
best practice in your field. Indeed, a literature review is
a methodology. Therefore, as a methodology, method,
and more, the literature review holds an important place
in “the literature,” and can impact stakeholders in your
field or discipline. Now that we have discussed many
ways to consider research tradition and tied these ideas
to the literature review in Chapters 1 and 2, it is time to
embark on your all-important literature review journey.
In the next chapter, you will begin Step 1 and explore
your worldview and research philosophical beliefs,
topic-based beliefs, and discipline-based beliefs. In
addition, in Step 1, we begin to guide you in document-
ing your step through the reflective practice, or what
we call the CORE product. We suggest that you review
these important chapter concepts before moving on:
The literature review represents a data collection
tool, a method, a mixed research method, and,
above all, a methodology.
When the literature review serves as an end in
itself (i.e., stand-alone), then the literature review
represents a single research study that ends when
the literature review process ends.
When the goal of the literature review is to inform
primary research, then the literature review repre-
sents an embedded study.
The CLR is facilitated by using mixed research
techniques—that is, by collecting and analyzing
both quantitative and qualitative information
within the same literature review.
The literature review can be framed as an intrinsic
case study (i.e., the literature review is designed to
select sources of information that highlight particular
cases of interest [e.g., illustrative case, deviant case]).
The literature review also can be an instrumental
case study (i.e., the literature review is designed to
examine a particular case for the main purpose of
providing insight into a phenomenon or issue, or to
obtain a generalization).
The literature review can be a collective/multi-
ple case study too (i.e., the literature review is
designed to examine multiple cases in an attempt
to examine a phenomenon).
A methodology is a broad approach to scientific
inquiry that contains a system or set of practices,
methods, rules, and principles within a given field.
These assumptions apply to the CLR.
16. 63
Methodology of the Literature Review
Tool: Example of Using the Seven Steps
Figure 3.5 represents a synopsis of our own literature review for designing the Seven-Step Model. As
seen in this figure and in Step 7, we revisited the steps as needed when writing the final report, which
is our textbook.
Compiled reference list and
stored in electronic file
Defined our worldview and how culture
influences knowledge
Refined the topic of the CLR
Determined our research stance as
(critical) dialectical pluralism
Created the problem statement: All
literature review textbooks neglect the
cultural, ethical, and multimodal aspects
of a literature review
Step 1
Exploring
Beliefs
and Topics
Searched:
Research textbooks
Literature review books
Library databases
Step 5
Expanding the
Search
(MODES)
Used an iterative process for
making decisions on each chapter
and chapter content
Synthesized sources to compose 10
myths
Created the CLR definition based
on myths and problem statement
Step 3
Storing and
Organizing
Information
Created an outline of each chapter
Composed sections, ending each chapter
with specific points
Designed conceptual maps for displaying
and presenting complex ideas
Edited writing
Consulted three students: one
undergraduate student and two master’s-
level students for feedback/comments
Revisited the CLR and steps as needed
when writing/clarifying concepts
Step 7
Presenting the CLR
Report
Step 2
Initiating the
Search
Step 4
Selecting/
Deselecting
Information
Step 6
Analyzing/
Synthesizing
Information
Contacted and conducted virtual interviews:
• A prolific author on research methods with respect to the literature review as methodology
• A prolific author on multimodal texts and new literacies for additional sources on the topic
Conducted an Internet search for greater understanding of grey literature, RSS, and other Web 2.0
sources
Conducted a historical literature review on the literature review
Consulted media (YouTube) for additional resources on literature reviews and technology
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17. 64 Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
Chapter 3 Evaluation Checklist
CORE Guiding Questions and Tasks
Critical Examination 6
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