This document outlines the purpose and process of conducting a literature review. It defines a literature review as an evaluation of previous research on a topic to identify gaps and avoid duplication. It discusses the different types of literature reviews and emphasizes that a critical literature review goes beyond description to include analysis and conceptual innovation. It also contrasts systematic reviews, which use transparent and unbiased methods, with narrative reviews, which provide an initial impression of a topic.

1. LITERATURE
REVIEW

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
❖ Early essential step in research
❖ Review the accumulated knowledge on your research
question- what is already there
❖ We learn from and build on what others have done
❖ Compare, replicate, criticise
❖ Sources- books, journals, dissertations, govt documents,
policy reports etc

3. GOALS OF A LITERATURE REVIEW
❖ What is already known about this area?
❖ What concepts and theories are relevant to this area?
❖ What research methods and research strategies have been
employed n studying this area?
❖ Are there any significant controversies?
❖ Are there any inconsistencies in findings relating to this
area?
❖ Are there any unanswered research questions?

4. Six Types of Literature Reviews
1.Context review- linking a specific study to a later body of
knowledge
2.Historical review- author tracing an issue over time- how
a concept, theory or research method developed over time
3.Integrative review- author summaries the current state of
knowledge on a topic, highlighting agreements and
disagreements within it- often combined with a context
review- may be published as an article to help other
researchers

5. Types
4.Methodological review- author compares and evaluates the
relative methodological strength of various studies and shows
how different methodologies account for different results
5.Self-study review- demonstrating the researcher’s familiarity
with a subject area- for educational program or course
requirement
6.Theoretical review - presenting several theories or concepts
focused on the same topic and compares them on the basis of
assumption, logical consistency and scope of explanation

6. Alan Bryaman’s classification- systematic and narrative review
❖ Systematic review- a replicable, scientific and
transparent process that aims to minimise bias though
exhaustive literature searches of published and
unpublished studies and by providing an audit trail of
the reviewer’s decisions, procedures, and conclusions
❖ Unbiased and comprehensive accounts of the literature
❖ A systematic review that includes only quantitative
studies is called meta-analysis

7. Systematic review
❖ meta-analysis: summarising the results of a large
number of quantitative studies and conducting various
analytical tests to show whether or not a particular
variable has an effect
❖ It also enables secondary analysis

8. Narrative Review
❖ To enrich human discourse by generating
understanding rather than by accumulating knowledge
❖ For gaining an initial impression of the topic area that
they intend to understand through their research
❖ Less focused and more wide ranging in scope than
systematic review
❖ Qualitative research

9. CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW
❖ Aims to demonstrate extensive research and critical
evaluation of quality
❖ Goes beyond mere description to include degree of
analysis and conceptual innovation
❖ involves critical reading

10. What is Critical Reading?
❖ Involves actively engaged in what we read by first
developing a clear understanding of the author’s ideas
❖ questioning and evaluating the arguments and evidence
provided to support those arguments
❖ and finally by forming our own opinion

11. Interpreting a Text Critically
❖ Questions what you read
❖ Thinks about what the author wants you to believe and
works to convince you
❖ Decides whether the author’s views are worthy of
agreement

12. Critical LR-Evaluating what you have read
❖ What is the author’s main argument?use your own words
to re-articulate the main idea
❖ List and explain the reasons the author provides for his/
her main argument
❖ What kind of evidence is presented to support the author’s
argument? Is it fact or opinion? What is the source of the
information- does it come from an informed authority in
the field?
❖ What is the purpose and tone of the article?

13. Critically evaluating review
❖ Is the author objective or does he/she try to convince the reader to have a certain
opinion? If so, what viewpoint does the author try to convince you of? What reasons
does the author provide for choosing this view point?
❖ Does the author’s argument assume that the reader thinks in particular way or has a
particular world-view? What are the major underlying assumptions that the author
makes, and you think they are reasonable and acceptable to most people?
❖ Does the author make “jumps” or inferences based on his/her evidences? Is the line of
reasoning logical?
❖ Does the author try to appeal to the reader’s emotions? Does the author use any loaded
words in the headline or the article? List these words and explain their effect on the
reader
❖ Forgetting what the author think for a moment, what are your own thoughts and
opinions about the issues raised in the article?

14. Summary Writing
❖ First reading
❖ Second reading
❖ Write a summary of the entire passage that is one or two
sentences long and includes the main idea of the passage
❖ First draft- combine your thesis statement
❖ Third reading- make further adjustments by comparing
your summary to the passage
❖ Final draft- make sure the summary is coherent as a whole

15. Reference
❖ Bryman, Alan (2012) “Social Research Methods”, 4th
Edition, Oxford University Press: New York
❖ Lawrence, Neuman (2014) “Social Research Methods:
Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches”, 7th Edition,
Pearson New International Edition: UK
❖ The Handbook of Social Work Research Methods:
Literature reviews, SAGE Research Methods, University
of Newcastle: Australia