The document discusses literature reviews in nursing research. It defines a literature review as a comprehensive description and evaluation of evidence on a given topic. The purposes of a literature review are outlined as attaining knowledge in a field, identifying common methodologies, verifying that proposed research is needed, and generating hypotheses for further study. Sources of literature can include electronic databases, books, journals, and conference papers. The document reviews the general guidelines and steps for conducting a literature review, including understanding the problem and keywords, identifying relevant sources, searching and analyzing the literature, and writing the review. Common errors in literature reviews are also listed.

1. LITERATURE REVIEW
Dr. Binu Babu
Ph. D (N), MSN, MBA
Mrs. Jincy Ealias
MSN, RN
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2. Literature review
• Literature reviews are the form of
disciplined inquiry that involves studying
something in a planned manner and
reporting it so that other inquirers can
potentially replicate the process if they
choose (Frey et al 2000)
• A review of literature is a comprehensive
description as well as an evaluation of the
evidence related to a given topic.
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3. Purpose of a Literature Review
• To attain a good knowledge of the field of inquiry –
facts, scholars, etc.
• To identify the methodologies common to the field
• To verify that the proposed research is really
needed.
• Literature reviews helps to narrow a problem
• Literature reviews generate hypotheses, Research
questions or questions for further studies.
• Literature reviews commence a long-term study of
interest.
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4. The sources
Electronic database
1. MEDLINE
2. CINHAL
3. Science Direct
4. Medscape
5. Scopus etc.
Printed sources
1. Journals
2. Text Books
3. Magazine
4. News Articles etc
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5. Sources of literature review
Sources
Electronic
database
Books
Magazines
and
newspapers
Journals
Conference
paper
Research
reports
Thesis
Encyclopedi
a &
dictionary
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6. General Guidelines to
Writing a Literature Review
• Introduce the literature review by pointing
out the major research topic that will be
discussed
• Identify the broad problem area but don’t be
too global (for example, discussing the history of
education when the topic is on specific instructional
strategy)
• Discuss the general importance of your
topic for those in your field
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7. • Don’t attempt to cover everything written on
topic
• Need to pick out the research most relevant to
the topic you are studying
• Use the studies in literature review as
“evidence” that the research question is an
important one.
• Literature reviews is important to cover
research relevant to all the variables being
studied.
• Research that explains the relationship
between these variables is a top priority.
• Need to plan the structure of literature review
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8. Organizing Literature Review
• Topical Order: organize by main topics or issues;
emphasize the relationship of the issues to the main
“problem”
• Chronological Order: organize the literature by the dates
the research was published
• Problem-Cause-Solution Order: Organize the review so
that it moves from the problem to the solution.
• General-to-Specific Order: Examine broad-based
research first and then focus on specific studies that
relate to the topic
• Specific-to-General Order: Try to make discuss specific
research studies so conclusions can be drawn
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9. Understanding the concepts
of problem and key words
Identify the relevant sources
Searching the literature
Analyze and synthesis the
literature
Writing the literature
review
Steps of literature review
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10. Steps of literature review
Step – 1:- Understanding the concepts of problem and key words
• Identify the key terms and variables and its characteristics
Step – 2:- Identify the relevant sources
• Locate the sources (electronic or printed)
Step – 3:- Searching the literature
• Collect the appropriate information's related to our research problem.
Step – 4:- Analyze and synthesis the literature
• Analyze and synthesis the collected data, for this we can use PQRS system
• Preview
• Question
• Read
• Summarize
Step – 5:- Writing the literature review
• While writing a literature review researcher should avoid long and confusing word.
Sentences must be a clear, the spelling and grammar must get clear.
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11. Elements
of
Literature
Review
INTRODUCTION
BODY
CONCLUSION
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12. Common Errors
• Review isn’t logically organized
• Review isn’t focused on most important facets of
the study
• Review doesn’t relate literature to the study
• Too few references or outdated references cited
• Review isn’t written in author’s own words
• Review reads like a series of disjointed summaries
• Review doesn’t argue a point
• Recent references are omitted
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13. References
• Grove SK, Gray JR. Understanding nursing
research: Building an evidence-based practice.
7th ed. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier; 2018.2.
• Polit DF, Beck C. Nursing research: Generating
and assessing evidence for nursing practice.
10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health;
2017.3.
• Sharma SK. Nursing research et statistics. New
Delhi: Elsevier; 2014.
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14. THANK YOU
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