How to Write the Literature Review in 5 Steps (PPT)

Summary

Dr. Edward Padama guides researchers through the literature review process in five steps, emphasizing its importance in justifying research needs. He advises starting with keyword and synonym identification, using scholarly databases like Google Scholar, and applying boolean operators for precise searches. The video outlines strategies for evaluating and selecting sources, identifying themes and gaps, organizing the review, and writing the literature review, including introduction, main body, and conclusion. Dr. Padama encourages viewers to engage with the channel for further research writing assistance.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research relevant to your study, establishing a theoretical basis and justifying the need for your research.
• 🔑 The literature review is crucial in research as it identifies gaps and problems that your study aims to address, thus proving its necessity.
• 🔍 Step one in writing a literature review is to search for relevant literature using keywords, synonyms, and boolean operators to refine your search in scholarly databases.
• 🔑 Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) are essential for combining or excluding keywords in searches to yield more focused results.
• 📚 Step two involves evaluating and selecting sources by reading abstracts, checking citation counts, and identifying the most important publications from your search results.
• 🔍 Step three is about identifying themes, debates, and gaps in the literature, which helps in organizing your review by noting recurring trends and contradictions.
• 📝 Step four suggests organizing your literature review by outlining it chronologically, thematically, or by research methods and theories.
• ✍️ Step five is writing the literature review, which includes an introduction, main body summarizing sources, and a conclusion restating the main argument and its supporting evidence.
• 📈 Citation counts are a good indicator of the reliability of a study or literature, with higher counts suggesting more credibility.
• 📖 Scholarly databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect are key resources for finding relevant literature for your review.

Q & A

What is the significance of a literature review in research?

A literature review is significant in research as it establishes and justifies the need to conduct the research. It surveys scholarly articles, books, journals, and studies relevant to the research, providing a theoretical basis and highlighting existing problems or gaps that the research aims to address.

Why is the literature review not considered an easy part of research?

The literature review is not considered easy because it plays a crucial role in the research process. It is essential for establishing a theoretical foundation and identifying gaps in existing knowledge, which justifies the need for the research.

What are the five steps involved in writing a literature review as discussed in the script?

The five steps involved in writing a literature review are: 1) Search for literature relevant to the study, 2) Evaluate and select sources, 3) Identify themes, debates, and gaps, 4) Organize by outlining, and 5) Start writing the literature review.

How does one develop a list of keywords for literature review search?

To develop a list of keywords for literature review search, one should identify variables from the research title, which are usually the research problem or a strategy to be tested.

What is the role of synonyms in literature review search?

Synonyms play a role in providing alternative search parameters when used with boolean operators. This helps in obtaining more specific and richer search results.

What are some scholarly databases recommended for literature review search?

Some scholarly databases recommended for literature review search include Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct.

What are boolean operators and how are they used in literature review search?

Boolean operators are words like 'AND', 'OR', and 'NOT' used to combine or exclude keywords in a search. They help in producing more focused and productive search results by eliminating inappropriate hits.

Why is it important to evaluate the citation count of a study during literature review?

Evaluating the citation count of a study is important because it indicates the number of times the study has been used in other research, suggesting its reliability and relevance.

What organizational strategies are suggested for literature review?

Suggested organizational strategies for literature review include identifying themes, debates, and gaps, and organizing by outlining chronologically, thematically, or methodologically.

How should one start writing the literature review?

One should start writing the literature review by utilizing three parts: an introduction that presents the study, a main body that summarizes and synthesizes the sources, and a conclusion that restates the main argument and reiterates the most important evidence.

What is the purpose of the conclusion in a literature review?

The purpose of the conclusion in a literature review is to restate the main argument, remind the reader of the strengths of the argument, and reiterate the most important evidence supporting those arguments.