Writing the Literature Review

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide to writing a literature review. It explains the key elements, such as referencing related research, making connections between sources, and positioning oneself in the research field. The video emphasizes the importance of both descriptive and interpretive writing and highlights techniques for organizing notes and crafting a critical narrative. Additionally, it offers advice on evaluating sources, using strong language to move from description to critique, and synthesizing ideas to create a well-structured literature review.

Takeaways

• 📚 A literature review involves extensive reference to related research, connecting source texts, and positioning your own research in relation to others.
• 🧐 Evaluating sources involves considering the authorship, expertise, academic standing, and the peer-reviewed nature of journal articles.
• 🤔 Critical questions to ask when reading include who the researchers are, the relevance and applicability of their findings, and any potential biases.
• 📅 Organizing notes can be done chronologically, by author perspectives, methods, or most commonly by topic or theme.
• ✍️ Writing a literature review requires both descriptive (what the research says) and interpretive (what the research means) components.
• ⚠️ Avoid a 'shopping list' style by moving beyond reporting to analyzing and interpreting the significance of research findings.
• 💡 Use language that shifts from descriptive to interpretive, such as 'this was significant' or 'this shows that,' to emphasize critical analysis.
• 🔍 Critiquing research involves pointing out both limitations (deficit critique) and strengths (strength-based critique) of the studies reviewed.
• 📝 Layer your critique by offering solutions or alternative approaches, and recognizing pivotal or groundbreaking research.
• ✅ A good literature review interprets, connects ideas, and critiques while maintaining a clear narrative and the writer's voice.

Q & A

What is the definition of a literature review?

A literature review is an extensive reference to related research in your field, where connections are made between source texts, and the author positions themselves in relation to the works they have read.

Why are journal articles often preferred in an academic literature review?

Journal articles are preferred because they are peer-reviewed, written by experts, and reviewed by their academic peers, ensuring a high standard of credibility.

What are some critical questions you should ask when reading sources for a literature review?

Some critical questions include: Who are the researchers? What is their reputation? Do the findings support the research? Are there any biases? Is the source applicable and relevant to your work?

What are common ways to organize notes for a literature review?

Notes can be organized chronologically, by the perspectives or positions of different authors, by methods used in research, or most commonly, thematically or topically, depending on the research question.

What are the two key components of writing a literature review?

The two key components are descriptive (reporting what the authors found and did) and interpretive (analyzing, synthesizing, and offering critical insight into the findings).

Why is it important to move from descriptive to interpretive writing in a literature review?

Moving from descriptive to interpretive writing is important to avoid a 'shopping list' style of writing. It enables the writer to analyze, interpret, and critique the findings, adding depth to the review.

What language can help shift from descriptive to interpretive writing?

Phrases like 'This shows that,' 'This is important because,' and 'This suggests that' help move writing from mere description to interpretation and give the writer a stronger voice.

What are the layers of a critical paragraph in a literature review?

A critical paragraph often contains three layers: description (what the author found), critique (pointing out limitations or strengths), and offering solutions or interpretations (proposing improvements or highlighting significance).

What is the difference between deficit critique and strengths-based critique?

Deficit critique points out limitations or gaps in the research, while strengths-based critique highlights significant achievements, milestones, or detailed, groundbreaking findings.

What should you check when reviewing your literature review writing?

You should check if you have interpreted and critiqued the sources, stayed on topic, used your own voice, and connected ideas to form a cohesive narrative thread.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Introduction to the Literature Review Process

This paragraph introduces the topic of writing a literature review and outlines the structure of the video. It defines what a literature review is and presents three key aspects: extensive reference to related research, connections between sources, and the researcher's positioning in relation to those works. The video encourages viewers to pause and reflect on important questions like the purpose of a literature review. It emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating sources based on authorship and the type of source, highlighting the value of peer-reviewed journal articles for their credibility and academic rigor. Larger critical questions such as relevance, biases, and the significance of findings are presented to guide the reading process.

05:01

🔍 Descriptive vs. Interpretive Writing in Literature Reviews

This paragraph distinguishes between descriptive and interpretive writing in literature reviews. It emphasizes that descriptive writing reports on what authors found, while interpretive writing analyzes and critiques the significance of their findings. Through examples, the video shows how descriptive elements report the research outcomes, while interpretive elements explain why these findings are significant. It discusses the use of language that signals importance, such as 'this shows that' and 'this is crucial,' which helps to move writing from mere description to interpretation. This approach strengthens the writer's voice and enhances the critical aspect of the literature review.

10:01

📋 Checklist for a Strong Literature Review

This concluding paragraph offers a checklist to ensure a well-rounded literature review. It advises the reader to verify whether they have interpreted and critiqued sources, stayed on topic, and used their own voice. The paragraph serves as a final reminder to combine reporting with critical analysis, ensuring a balanced and effective review. For further academic support, the video provides additional resources, including a website and YouTube channel, for ongoing guidance.

Keywords

💡Literature Review

A literature review is an evaluative summary of prior research on a particular topic, often used to identify gaps and establish the context for new research. In the video, it is described as a critical element of academic writing that involves extensive reference to related research, making connections between sources, and positioning one's own work in relation to those sources.

💡Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing in a literature review involves reporting what previous researchers have found or done. It includes summarizing studies or findings without offering personal interpretation or critique. The video emphasizes that descriptive writing alone can lead to a 'shopping list' style, which lacks depth. Examples from the video include phrases like 'He found' or 'She discovered.'

💡Interpretive Writing

Interpretive writing is the process of analyzing, synthesizing, and critiquing the information presented in the literature. It goes beyond description to evaluate the significance of findings and establish connections between studies. In the video, the example highlights that interpretive writing uses phrases such as 'This shows that' or 'This is significant because,' moving the review from listing facts to offering insights.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking refers to the process of analyzing and evaluating the credibility, relevance, and value of the research being reviewed. It is an essential skill for writing a literature review, as discussed in the video, where questions like 'Who are the researchers?' and 'Are there any biases?' are posed to encourage deeper analysis of the sources.

💡Peer-Reviewed Sources

Peer-reviewed sources are scholarly articles that have been evaluated by experts in the field before publication, ensuring the credibility and academic rigor of the research. The video stresses the importance of using such sources in a literature review because they provide trusted, expert opinions. Journal articles, often peer-reviewed, are preferred in academic contexts for this reason.

💡Synthesizing

Synthesizing involves combining ideas from different sources to create a cohesive argument or narrative in a literature review. This is a key step in moving from description to interpretation. The video suggests organizing notes topically or thematically to help with synthesis, ensuring that the literature review is coherent and relevant to the research question.

💡Bias

Bias refers to any prejudice or partiality in the research that could affect the validity of its findings. In the video, bias is discussed as one of the critical questions to ask when evaluating literature. Recognizing bias helps ensure that the literature review is based on reliable and objective information.

💡Thematic Organization

Thematic organization refers to grouping the literature by key themes or topics rather than by chronological order or research methods. The video suggests this as a common approach for organizing a literature review, as it helps structure the discussion in a way that is directly relevant to the research question and creates a narrative thread.

💡Critique

Critique in a literature review involves evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the research. The video outlines different types of critiques, such as 'deficit critique' that points out limitations, and 'strengths-based critique' that highlights the significance or groundbreaking nature of a study. Offering solutions or alternative interpretations is also part of an effective critique.

💡Writer’s Voice

The writer’s voice refers to the unique perspective and interpretation that an author brings to their review of the literature. In the video, it is emphasized that using phrases like 'This is crucial' or 'This points to' helps to establish a strong writer's voice. This voice is essential for moving beyond mere description to engage in meaningful interpretation and critique.

Highlights

Introduction to the literature review, including what it is, its purpose, and what it consists of.

The importance of extensive reference to related research in the field, making connections between texts, and positioning yourself in relation to the works.

Guidance on how to evaluate sources, emphasizing the importance of authorship, peer review, academic relevance, and expert standing.

Explanation of why journal articles are often preferred in academic contexts due to their peer-reviewed and expert nature.

Key critical questions to ask when reading sources, including who the researchers are, their reputation, biases, and relevance to your work.

Strategies for organizing notes for a literature review, such as grouping chronologically, by perspective, method, or topically.

The two main components of the literature review writing process: the descriptive (reporting) and interpretive (critical) elements.

How to avoid writing a 'shopping list' of ideas by moving from descriptive reporting to interpretive writing with examples.

Examples of descriptive versus interpretive writing, illustrating how to analyze and synthesize information effectively.

Introduction to the language of interpretation, providing phrases like 'this shows that,' 'this is important,' and 'this points to,' which help strengthen the writer's voice.

How to respond to text with critique, using both deficit critique (pointing out limitations) and strength-based critique (highlighting strengths).

The layered approach to writing a literature review, involving description, critique, and offering solutions to limitations.

Use of positive critique to emphasize groundbreaking, detailed, or useful research findings with examples of impactful language.

The importance of connectivity between ideas in a literature review to create a cohesive narrative, moving beyond simple description.

Final checklist for writing a literature review: ensure that you have interpreted, critiqued, written on topic, and used your own voice.

Transcripts

In this video on writing the literature review

we're going to look at what a literature review is

we'll look at some of the language you can use to write your literature review

and we'll look at some example text

In the video, I'm going to ask you to do some reading

and do some considering of examples

so at times I'll ask you to pause the video

to think about some questions

or do some reading and to reflect

on some of the issues around

writing the literature review

First, some questions.

What is a literature review?

What is the purpose of a literature review?

and what does one consist of?

Stop the video now, write some notes

in answer to those questions

and reflect on some of the answers

as we go through some of the ideas in this video

First of all defining a literature review

Pause the video and read this definition from Ridley

There are three key things

I want you to take from this definition

One, there's extensive reference to related research

in your field

Two, connections are made between those source texts

that you draw on

And three, you position yourself

in relation to those works that you read

So, the literature review starts with the reading

and the person who needs to evaluate the sources is you

How do you do this?

One way is to consider the authorship

Who authored the research?

Are we talking about someone who's expert?

Is it relevant? Is it academic?

Does this person have standing in the field?

The other way you can judge

the type of sources you're looking at

is where they come from

and what we're looking for

are sources which are peer-reviewed

academic, expert, trusted, published and written

Here's a question, journal articles are often preferred

for literature review in an academic context ...

Why is this?

Think about that

The answer's in front of you.

It's because journal articles are peer reviewed

They're academic, they're written by experts,

they're reviewed by peers

of the people who have written them

that's why they're preferred

So, you've started the reading

now, there are some larger questions

you need to ask yourself as you're reading

and I'm not just talking about who wrote it

what they found, what they did,

I'm thinking about some of the larger critical questions

that you can ask yourself as you read

and here are some of them

Who are the researchers?

What's their reputation?

Do the findings support the research?

Are there any biases evident?

And perhaps the biggest one,

the biggest question ...

Is it applicable, is it relevant to your work?

The key thing is that the research

the critique, starts with the reading

So ... you've started reading

now you've got to think about how you can group your notes

how you can organise your notes

there are a number of different ways

it depends on your questions

You might organise them chronologically, by time

You might organise them by the perspectives of different authors

the positions taken, the schools of thought

the method, how they did the research

or, most commonly, you might organise it topically or thematically like an essay

So, it's really important to note that

whatever organisation you choose

it depends on your research question

and the aims of your study.

Ultimately, you have to synthesise the ideas

and respond to the text

So, a tip, create a plan

a sectioned plan

as a document and,

as you read,

take notes and import them

directly into the plan

so that you have a sense of organisation

and section as it happens.

On to the writing component of the review

There are two key elements

One is a descriptive or reporting element

where you talk about what happened

you describe what the author has found

what they discussed, what they did

It's an account

The second crucial aspect of the literature review

is an interpretive or critical element

the dialogue

where you ask and answer questions of the text

you analyse, you interpret, you synthesise

you bring together information

The second part is super important

because if we just stay at the first part

the descriptive reporting element

we run the risk of having our writing

grounded in a shopping list style of writing

where we're saying

'He noted', 'He found',

'She did this', 'She discovered'

It becomes a list of ideas

rather than an interpretation or a treatment of ideas

which is what a review is

So, how do we do this?

How do we move our writing

from the descriptive to the interpretive?

Look at this example

take 30 seconds to read it

and look at what's going on

What you can probably see

as suggested by the color we're using

is that the first part of this is descriptive

It's what Evans showed

The second part is interpretive

because we're saying here

Evans showed this ...

the method was successful

and this was significant because ...

Let's look at another example

Take 30 seconds to read this again

You'll see a similar thing going on

we have a descriptive element

Weng et al. out found something

and then an interpretive element

where Bruce argues why these findings were crucial

why they were important

So when we're using this language

'this was significant' 'this was crucial'

we're flipping the writing

we're moving it from descriptive to interpretation

the critical component

And there's language we can use to do this

language we can use to highlight importance

to interpret, to give us a voice

'This shows that,'

'This is important'

'This is vital'

'This points to'

And this language is important for two key reasons

One, it moves your writing from the descriptive to the interpretive

And two, it gives you a stronger writer's voice

it's you talking,

it's you giving interpretation

Another element of the lit review is responding with critique

So, let's look at another example

As I give you these parts of the paragraph

read through them and look at what's going on

it's a layered approach to writing

The first layer, again, shows us description

it's what Brent found

A second layer reveals some critique going on

and, again, we have

'was limited in its application'

this is some sort of deficit critique

showing a limitation of Brent's work

Then we have a third element

and what you can see here

is now we're offering a solution

'It may have been more illustrative to do X Y and Z'

And in a final bit to that

we have another critical part,

but this time it's a positive critique

'pivotal', 'longitudinal'

'multi facility broad scope study'

So we have layers to this paragraph

Description

Critique

Solution

Let's look at some of the language of critiquing

We can have deficit critique

where we're pointing out limitations to the research

asking questions or pointing out limitations

It's fantastic, once pointing out limitations,

if we can then move the writing into offering solutions

that's being critical

We also have strengths-based critique

where we're looking at a milestone study

or things which are significant or groundbreaking

or detailed or useful

this is the type of language which we can use

Let's look at another example

now pause the video

take 30 seconds to a minute to read through this

and develop some impressions

around this paragraph based upon that topic

'Resilience at the micro level'

okay

having read it

can we say that this paragraph is on topic?

Is it relevant?

It is.

Can we say that it's critical and interpretive?

It isn't

So what we have here

is a shopping list of descriptive ideas around the topic

Let's look at the same paragraph again

with some key differences

take 30 seconds to a minute

to look at the paragraph and look at the language

and see what's going on here

Let's have a look at this

now, we'll highlight some of the language

which looks at the interpreting and connecting

and you getting a voice

'she suggests that'

'this understanding is crucial because'

and we also have some positive critique going on here

it can be single words like 'pivotal'

or it might be things like 'successful and widely used'

'her research makes it clear'

'a key implication drawn from this'

What do you see that this language does?

It interprets, but it also gives a sense of connectivity

between ideas

This gives you the narrative thread in your review

So, again, what we want

is not just description

of what researchers found

or what researchers argue

what we want is review

and that is interpreting

connecting

and critiquing

To finish up with I'll offer you a checklist

Have I done these things?

Analyse your work, have you interpreted? Have you critiqued along with reporting and describing?

Have you written on topic?

Have you used your voice?

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