The document provides an overview of what constitutes a literature review. It defines a literature review as a systematic evaluation of published research on a topic that analyzes and synthesizes, not just summarizes, scholarly writings related to a research question. The document discusses the literature review process and includes examples of analyzing primary sources, secondary sources, and the structure of a literature review. It also covers avoiding plagiarism, the importance of literature reviews, when they are considered, and some reference websites for conducting a literature review.

1. Review of literature
Prepared by
Ms Rijitha R
MA, M.Phil (Comm), SET
Assistant Professor, Department of EM

2. What is LR?
• A literature review is a systematic review of
the published literature on a specific topic or
research question.
• The literature review is designed to analyze--
not just summarize-- scholarly writings that are
related directly to your research question.
• That is, it represents the literature that
provides background information on your
topic and shows a correspondence between
those writings and your research question.

3. What is LR?
• "In a literature review, you're aiming to
summarise and provide a critical analysis of
the research arguments you have found in
your readings, without making new
contributions to the literature. Hence the
term: “literature review”."

4. Literature review process - an overview

5. • Review of Literature
Primary Data Secondary Data
First report Already collected data
Ex: Interviews Ex: Books, articles etc.

6. Primary sources
• Primary sources are materials that provide first hand testimony or
direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation. They are
created by the individuals who either witnessed or experienced the
events or conditions being documented. Generally, primary sources are
created at the time when the events or conditions occurred, but can
also be created later if based on first hand experiences. Primary
sources enable you to get as close as possible to understanding the lived
experiences of others and discovering what actually happened during
an event or time period.
• Examples:
• diaries
• correspondence
• photographs and illustrations
• newspaper articles from the time period
• pamphlets
• broadsides, posters and other ephemera
• autobiographical materials
• interview or speech transcripts

7. Secondary Sources
• Secondary Sources interpret and/or analyze primary and
secondary sources. Secondary sources can be a useful way of
discovering significant primary sources.
• Examples:
• Scholarly journal articles
• Biographies
• Political commentary analyzing an election, politician, or event
• Documentaries - interviews unique to the documentaries can be
considered and utilized as primary sources. In general, it is
always a good rule of thumb to track down the original source of
evidence referenced in a documentary or any secondary source
if you want to use it in your research.

8. Structure of lit review

9. Example
• A study done in Malayasia (Hamdan 1987), was found
that of an estimated 2000 mass communicators, 316
were women. They were employed in 51 newspapers,
magazines, Radio-TV, Malaysia National film Unit,
Government Information Department an public
relations organisations. Women were given access to
writing editorials, reporting matters concerning
politics, economy, sports, public affairs, etc., but
were still denied top level decision-making
opportunities. A noteworthy conclusion of the survey
was that women journalists and other women
professionals have common problems. On the whole,
the study concluded that there is a commonality
between the problems of women journalists and of
women in other professions.”

10. Abstract
• An APA abstract is a one paragraph (± 250 words) summary
of your paper. It introduces the objective or problem
statement of the paper and includes information on the
method, research results, and conclusions of your research.
• Although most regular APA formatting guidelines apply, the
abstract page also has specific requirements. The first line
of the paragraph is, unlike regular paragraphs, not indented.
• At the end of the abstract, keywords relevant to the research
are included. These keywords improve the findability of
your paper in databases. Indent the line with keywords and
start with the italicized word “Keyword:”, followed by the
keywords.

11. Example

12. Example of Abstract
• “Smart Phone Usage And Subjective Well Being- A Study On Working
Women”
• Several studies have stated that mobile phone usage is prone to addiction,
which creates problem in family, relationships and even health issues. This
study aims to prove smart phone usage in a positive aspect (which provides
Subjective well being or stress relief). This research will be done using
Quantitative method where 300 samples of “Working Women” (who is
more stressful than other sample types, as they have to draw a line between
Professional and Domestic life) will be used for data collection. The
objectives of this study is to find out, (1) In what ways Smart phones
help them to relieve from stress (2) What kinds of applications they
use/watch for well being (3) Amount of time spend in using smart
phone applications and (4) How far they depend on Smart phones for
well being
• Keywords: Smartphone, Cell phone, Mobile Phone usage, Well-being,
Subjective Well-being (SWB), Working Women, Stress relief

13. What is the Difference between Citation,
Reference list & Bibliography?
• Citation:
A reference made in the text to a source of information. This can be
in the form of a direct quotation, summarising or paraphrasing.
• References list:
An organised listing of the works cited in the text, placed at the end
of the document.
• Bibliography:
A full listing of all material consulted in relation to the research,
including any source material not directly cited in the text, placed at
the end of the document.
•

14. Research Citation styles
• APA (American Psychological Association) is
used by Education, Psychology, and Sciences.
• MLA (Modern Language Association) style is
used by the Humanities.
• Chicago/Turabian style is generally used by
Business, History, and the Fine Arts.

15. APA STYLE
• It is a reference style is one of the Author-Date
reference styles. When quoting directly or
indirectly from a source, the source must be
acknowledged in the text by author name,
year of publication and location reference.
• If quoting directly, a location reference such as
page numbers and paragraph numbers is also
required.

16. APA - ABSTRACT EXAMPLE

17. APA STYLE- REFERENCE
EXAMPLE

18. MLA STYLE
• The Modern Language Association (MLA)
specifies a standard format for essays and
research papers written in an academic setting:
• One-inch page margins.
• Double-spaced paragraphs
• A header with author's last name and page number
one-half inch from the top of each page.
• Name of author, name of professor, title of
course, date of paper on the first page of the
paper.
• A works cited page beginning on a separate page
at the end of the paper.

19. MLA REFERENCE
One author:
Nabokov, Vladimir. Lolita. New York: Putnam, 1955.
Two authors:
Cross, Susan, and Christine Hoffman. Bruce Nauman:
Theaters of Experience. New York: Guggenheim
Museum; London: Thames & Hudson, 2004.
Three authors:
Lowi, Theodore, Benjamin Ginsberg, and Steve Jackson.
Analyzing American Government: American
Government, Freedom and Power. 3rd ed. New York:
Norton, 1994.

20. Chicago style
• Chicago style is a system used by researchers to structure their written work and
references. Chicago is often the preferred choice for those working in history.
Notes:
• First Name Last Name of Author, “Title of Page,” Title of Website, Month Day,
date published or accessed, web address.
• Bibliography:
• Last Name, First Name of Author. “Page Title.” Website Title. Month Day, Date
published or accessed. Web address.
• Example Notes and Bibliography:
• John Smith, “Obama Inaugurated as President,” CNN, accessed February 1, 2009,
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/01/21/obamainaugurated/index.html. Smith, John.
“Obama Inaugurated as President.” CNN. Accessed February 1, 2009.
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/01/21/obamainaugurated/index.html.
• story and other social sciences.

21. Avoiding Plagiarism
Plagiarism, the act of using others' words / ideas without
clearly acknowledging the source of that information &
claiming them as your own; this may lead to fail in your
course
In order to avoid that:
• Use your own ideas.
• Use the ideas of others only to support your argument.
• Insert complete citation information for each item you use.
• Use quotation marks when directly stating another person's
words.
• Submit your work earlier

22. Why is a Literature Review Important?
• A literature review is important because it:
• Explains the background of research on a topic.
• Demonstrates why a topic is significant to a subject
area.
• Helps focus your own research questions or problems
• Discovers relationships between research
studies/ideas.
• Suggests unexplored ideas or populations
• Identifies major themes, concepts, and researchers
on a topic.
• Tests assumptions; may help counter preconceived
ideas and remove unconscious bias.
• Indicates potential directions for future research.

23. When is Literature Review considered?
• It depends on several factors:
1. Understand what has or has not been investigated
2. Justify your own research (validate your research if using same
methodology)
3. To develop alternate research projects
4. What worked and did not work earlier

24. 1. Understand what has and has not
been investigated
• Identifying an unmet need (Social Media
Research)
• Example: unmet need of a sharing information: a specific
message related to Covid 19 is not been given much
importance because of other information's.
– review the strengths and weaknesses of research
projects
– our own research project could be addressing
objectives not addressed by other research projects in
the literature

25. 2. Justify your own research
(this is the most common reason)
• Provide evidence that supports your research
with references as a way of validation
• Learn in the review the concepts or types of
databases considered

26. 3. To develop alternate research
projects
• Gives us an understanding of what is available
in terms of data and analysis. If we understand
the limitations of previous research, it is a
learning for us to design a study with stronger
objectives/methodology
– Example: A research on health benefits of being
usage of smart phone for gaming activities may
have only looked at a younger population and only
in a selective geographical location

27. Finally
Start with a clear study objective and start
broad
Narrow down the search to specific study
objectives only
focus on the methodology used in the articles
learn and assess the strengths and weaknesses
in the previous research

28. Some of the reference website for
Review of Literature
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
Journal of Communication
Journalism Studies
Critical Studies in Media Communication
European Journal of Communication
Journalism & Mass Communication Educator
Public Opinion Quarterly
New Media & Society
Asian Journal of Communication
journals.sagepub.com › home › jmq
www.jstor.org
www.springer.com

29. Thank You