Literature Reviews: Common Errors Made When Conducting a Literature Review

Summary

Dr. Patton discusses the significance of literature reviews in establishing one's intellectual heritage and genealogy. He emphasizes the importance of understanding previous work and engaging deeply with the literature rather than merely accumulating citations. Patton warns against common pitfalls like seeking uniqueness or relying on secondhand accounts, advocating for direct engagement with foundational works to grasp scholarly thinking and methodologies.

Takeaways

• 📚 A literature review is not just about reviewing literature; it's a means to understand one's intellectual heritage and genealogy.
• 🔍 Scholars are expected to know the foundational knowledge in their field and how their work fits within that larger tradition.
• 🚫 Avoid common mistakes such as focusing on the quantity of sources rather than their quality and relevance.
• 📈 Do not aim to position your work as uniquely without precedent; instead, understand the existing intellectual traditions and how your work contributes to them.
• 🔎 Conducting a literature review involves engaging deeply with the work of others to understand what is relevant to your area of inquiry.
• 🧩 Recognize that your intellectual tradition includes the work of those who have shaped the field through their questions, theories, and methods.
• 📝 The purpose of a literature review is to position your work within a stream of knowledge and to identify where you will make your unique contribution.
• 📖 Reading the classics is crucial for understanding how scholars think and for learning from their methods and approaches to inquiry.
• 🤔 Engage with the original works to grasp the foundational concepts and methods that have shaped your field.
• 🔬 Pay attention to both the theoretical and methodological streams of your intellectual heritage to understand the full scope of your field's development.

Q & A

What does Dr. Patton suggest is the true purpose of a literature review?

Dr. Patton suggests that the true purpose of a literature review is to understand one's intellectual heritage or genealogy, and to position one's own work within the larger tradition of knowledge.

Why is it important for scholars to conduct a literature review?

It is important for scholars to conduct a literature review to understand the knowledge created by others, to position their own research within that knowledge, and to fulfill their obligation as scholars to understand what work has come before them.

What common mistake does Dr. Patton warn against when undertaking a literature review?

One common mistake is focusing on the quantity of sources rather than the quality of engagement with those sources. It's not about how many articles one can find, but understanding and engaging with the work that is relevant to one's own area of inquiry.

What is another error Dr. Patton mentions that students often make in literature reviews?

Another error is trying to position one's work as unique by finding a topic that no one else has studied before, rather than understanding the existing literature and how one's work fits within that tradition.

Why is it a mistake to think that a literature review is about finding a completely unique topic?

It's a mistake because there is always a rich tradition of research in any given field, and even if a specific topic hasn't been studied, there is likely extensive literature on related subjects that forms part of the intellectual tradition one should be aware of.

What should be the approach to understanding the intellectual tradition in a field?

One should understand the burning questions that have defined the field, the classic works and thinkers, and how their ideas have evolved over time, leading up to the most recent research and current discussions in the field.

Why is it important to read the original works of classic thinkers in a field?

Reading the original works allows one to learn not just the specific findings but also how scholars think, how they inquire, and how they develop their methods, which is part of the intellectual heritage that all scholars stand on.

What is the significance of understanding both the theoretical and methodological streams in a literature review?

Understanding both streams allows one to grasp the concepts and methods that have been inherited, which are crucial for making a meaningful contribution to the field. It provides a comprehensive view of the intellectual heritage and the potential areas for new contributions.

How should students approach the task of reading classic works in their field?

Students should approach reading classic works with an eye for understanding the methods, the thought processes, and the dedication to inquiry of the authors, rather than just focusing on the outcomes or findings of those works.

What is the final goal of a literature review according to Dr. Patton?

The final goal of a literature review is to be able to articulate one's intellectual DNA, to identify the intellectual traditions one is part of, the places where one departs from others, and to clearly define where one intends to make a contribution to the field.