This document discusses what constitutes a literature review. It notes that a literature review puts research in context by critically reviewing and analyzing relevant literature from various sources. It identifies gaps in existing research that the new study can address. The literature review establishes credibility by demonstrating knowledge of previous work. It should build an argument, not just collect sources, and should be part of the ongoing research process rather than something done after reading.

1. What do we mean by a literature
review?
Bruce Hargrave
Military Education Group

2. Fact or Fiction?
• We will have a look at three famous
quotations.
• Your task is to identify which one(s) are
true.
• In other words, you must identify Fact
from Fiction.

3. Gentlemen, we
have run out of
money, now we
will have to think.
Winston Churchill

4. We’re the air
force. We drop
bombs, kill
people and break
their stuff.
Gen Charles ‘Chuck’ Horner

5. The British
write the best
doctrine in the
world.
Fortunately,
they never read
it.
Field Marshall Erwin
Rommel

6. Gentlemen, we
have run out of
money, now we
will have to think.
Winston Churchill

7. We’re the air
force. We drop
bombs, kill
people and break
their stuff.
Gen Charles ‘Chuck’ Horner

8. The British
write the best
doctrine in the
world.
Fortunately,
they never
read it.
Field Marshall Erwin
Rommel

9. The Nature of Truth
• Verifiable facts
– If three people are witnesses to a car crash,
will their statements agree on all the facts?
• Scientific experiment
– An experiment repeated under the same
conditions, will give the same results.
• Published works
– If I go to the reference you have given, in the
same resource, I will find the same thing.

10. In other words…
• If you can give me a reference, from the
literature, to one of the quotes (Churchill,
Rommel and Horner)…
• Am I more likely to believe it?
• And does it become a fact?

11. To review the literature on a subject…
• First, we need to find it.
• Then, we need to read it.
• Then, we need to interpret it.
– Do we think it’s reliable?
– How do we know?
– Does it still hold true today?
– Is it still relevant?
• We need to subject it to critical analysis
– More on this later with Kevin.

12. For a literature review of a military
subject…
• Do we only need to consult military
sources?
• How widely should we research the
literature?
• How can we make sure we don’t miss vital
information sources?
• How do we know when it’s complete?

13. A literature review:
• Puts your research focus in the context of
the wider community in your field.
– That community may be academic.
– It may be military.
– It may be both.
• Reports your critical review of the relevant
literature.
• Identifies a gap within that literature that
your research will attempt to address.

14. By doing a literature review, you also:
• Establish your credibility as someone who
has something important to say on the
subject.

15. When to stop
• ‘Build an argument, not a library.’
– Rudestam and Newton (1992).
• Writing your essay is part of the research
process.
• Not something that happens after you
have finished reading the literature.