How to Write the Review of Related Literature (Part 1)

Summary

The video provides an in-depth guide on writing a literature review for a research paper or thesis. It emphasizes understanding the meaning, nature, and dynamics of a literature review, which helps in controlling and guiding the writing process. A literature review surveys relevant scholarly materials, providing a comprehensive understanding of the research topic and avoiding duplication. The review supports the rationale of the study by showing the necessity and timeliness of the research, highlighting its originality, and identifying gaps in existing literature. The video concludes with the promise of further details in the next lesson.

Takeaways

• 📚 A literature review is a survey of scholarly materials that summarize and evaluate the state of knowledge on a specific topic.
• 🔍 It helps researchers avoid duplicating existing work and wasting time, energy, and resources.
• 💡 The review enables researchers to gain insights and identify gaps in the literature to enhance the originality of their research.
• 🔗 The literature review must be closely connected to the rationale of the study, supporting its main claim or argument.
• ⏳ It demonstrates the timeliness and necessity of the research by citing relevant and recent studies.
• 🛠️ The review should show that while previous research exists on the topic, the current study offers a unique contribution.
• 🎯 Researchers should cite only those works that are directly relevant to their study and avoid irrelevant quotes, no matter how significant they seem.
• 📝 The literature review should be well-structured and planned to maintain clarity and direction in the research process.
• 🧠 Writing a thorough literature review helps develop a theoretical framework and appropriate methodology for the study.
• 👩‍🔬 A comprehensive literature review positions the researcher within the scholarly context, addressing gaps or contributing to debates in their field.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a literature review in a research paper?

The purpose of a literature review is to provide an overview of the scholarly materials related to a specific topic, summarizing and evaluating its state of knowledge or practices. It helps the researcher situate their own project within the existing body of research and avoid duplicating prior studies.

Why is it important to understand the meaning, nature, and dynamics of a literature review before writing it?

Understanding the meaning, nature, and dynamics of a literature review allows the researcher to have greater control and clear direction over the writing process, ensuring the inclusion of relevant and significant scholarly materials.

How does conducting a literature review help a researcher identify gaps in existing research?

By reviewing existing scholarly materials, the researcher can identify gaps in the literature, which can be addressed in their own study, thus contributing to the uniqueness and originality of their research.

What is the connection between the rationale of a study and the literature review?

The literature review is directly connected to the rationale of the study, as it supports and justifies the main claim or argument developed in the rationale. It demonstrates the timeliness and necessity of the research project.

How can a literature review support the argument that a study is timely and necessary?

A literature review supports the argument that a study is timely and necessary by citing recent important research that clarifies the main issues of the project. It shows how the research builds on existing studies while also contributing something new.

What does it mean for a literature review to be selective and economical?

Being selective and economical means that the researcher should only cite works that are directly relevant to their study and avoid including passages or statements that are not aligned with their main argument, even if the sources are famous or well-regarded.

What are the consequences of duplicating existing research without identifying gaps?

Duplicating existing research without identifying gaps can lead to wasted time, energy, and resources, as the study would not contribute anything new to the academic field.

How should a researcher plan and structure a literature review?

A researcher should plan and structure their literature review by focusing on the key points, such as aligning the review with the main argument of their study, addressing gaps in existing research, and positioning their work in relation to other scholars.

What role does a literature review play in developing a theoretical framework and methodology?

The literature review helps the researcher develop a theoretical framework and methodology by providing insights into existing research, identifying gaps, and positioning the study within a scholarly context.

How can a researcher show familiarity with the topic in their literature review?

A researcher can show familiarity with the topic by thoroughly reviewing relevant scholarly materials, addressing key debates, identifying gaps, and demonstrating how their study contributes to the existing body of knowledge.