Contextualization of Research
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The document discusses the importance of contextualizing research through a literature review. It helps researchers broaden their perspective on a topic, narrow down their research question, and locate relevant sources. The literature review is conducted in three stages - an initial review to select a topic, a thorough review to expand knowledge of theories, and a final focused review to refine the research question. Researchers must learn from past studies by understanding their methods, findings, and contributions to the field. Once sources are located through indices, databases, bibliographies and other means, the literature must be organized, summarized and synthesized to contextualize the research problem and inform the study.
Contextualization of Research
- 1. Contextualization of Research What and Why of Contextualization Why It helps the researcher broaden the view and perspective of the research. It helps him or her narrow down the topic and arrive at a focused research question. What The research need to be placed in a broader context by reviewing the related literature. Review of Literature Preparatory Phase It helps the researcher selects an area, topic or problem. Second Stage It is when the topic has been selected, a thorough and systematic review of the literature is necessary to broaden the perspective of the research. Last Stage The literature is reviewed once more when the researcher needs to narrow down the topic in preparation for the actual administration of the research Selecting the Research Topic First Step General interest of a topic of your choice. Second Step Begin to review the literature of your general topic. Third Step To find an specific problem in your general topic in order to work on it. Fourth Step Review the literature and examine other research studies in the same field, you will be able to decide on the details of the research topic, make it more specific and focused Helps the researches to generate and select a research topic, expand their understanding and broaden their knowledge and perspective of that topic, and at the same tiime arrive at a researchable and well-defined question for research. Broadening the Perspective and narrowing the question Once you have selected the topic, you need to expand it, mainly by investigating prevailing theories relating to it. During this stage you will conduct a more thorough and systematic review of the literature by examining and reviewing current theories. Focusing on the relevant information When reading literature Be interested in finding out why, where, and by whom the research was conducted. What the underlying assumptions of the studies were and which procedures and methodologies were used for collecting data. Focus on the major findings of such research and how studies added to the body of knowledge on the topic. Locating the Sources for the Literature Review Indices Indices are publications which provide large numbers of references on a variety of topics, and therefore instrumental in pointing the researcher to existing material in the field. Computer Research Computer Research is the procedure by which references on certain topics are generated from available computer databases. A quick, efficiente way to obtain references to articles, reports and papers available in specific databases. Bibliographies Annotated bibliographies are references lists which focus on specific topics, and are usually put out by research centres. Professional Conferences Research reports and conferences also provide valuable sources for locating references. The "Underground" Press This refers to the circulation of papers and other material among colleagues, often before the material is published in journals or books. Journal Articles Journal are collections of articles which are published regularly. It adresses the research problem or question, reviews the related literature, describes the methods and procedures used for collecting and analyzing data. Edited Collections and Reviews Edited Collections are books which contain a number of research articles on given themes. Reviews can be in the form of annual volumes in which each issue consists of a collection of papers relating to topics which vary from year to year. Reading the Literature Once you have located the material, you need to sift through it to determine its relevance to their specific research topic. It is important to decide at this how much reviewing should be done, which references should get more emphasis, and which aspects you should focus on. Organizing and Reporting the Review of the Literature Once the material for the review has been collected, reviewed, and summarized, you need to synthesize it and write the review of the literature, to decide how organize the information, and to compile the abstracts in the literature report. The Literature review is generally preceded by a section relating to the context of the problem. In that section you provide general background to the research problem, the major theories and controversies related to it. Contextualization of Research.mmap - 09/10/2014 - Mindjet