Writing a literature review by Tim Lang
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1. A literature review summarizes and evaluates the existing scholarly research on a particular topic. It identifies what is known and unknown about the topic based on previous studies and publications. 2. The literature review plays an important role in defining the research problem and guiding the research methodology. It helps clarify what the existing body of knowledge says about the topic of interest and identifies gaps. 3. Conducting a literature review is an iterative process that involves searching various sources, evaluating relevant literature, and refining searches based on the findings. It is important to seek advice from supervisors and experts on the appropriate process and scope for one's field of study.
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Writing a literature review by Tim Lang
- 1. Writing your literature review Tim Lang Centre for Food Policy, City University London [email_address] Research Development Day, 23 November 2011
- 2. What is a thesis / doctoral inquiry? Clarity about the purpose of a thesis It is a qualification but above all a standard Phd implies a structure (a narrative): Defining a problem which is real Exploring this through a recognised process Producing findings Contributing to the literature / ‘knowledge’ Pointing to future work
- 3. Lit reviews are ... Critical accounts of what’s published A summary of the arguments & data A description of the ‘state of the art’ A way of highlighting what is known What is not known: gaps A way of producing ‘problems’ – differences, tensions, holes in knowledge
- 4. Lit reviews are not ... An opportunity to give your own private / professional views (you suspend those!) Your deep analysis of the entire area on which others have worked decades (centuries) and in which you are relatively new
- 5. Rule number 1 is take advice Take advice from your supervisor(s) Follow a process which is right for your discipline (they differ on what & how) Note that process Adapt it only with and on advice Read up on the literature on doing a Literature Review!
- 6. The role of Literature Review It’s partly about methodology There are processes for conducting a Lit Rev It’s partly about clarification: what does the existing body of knowledge say about your possible ‘problem’? It’s partly a ground clearance exercise: Making sure no-one else has done what you are minded to do
- 7. The Lit Review is also personal It’s your first serious walk into the territory you are about to explore It charts your route It will form your thoughts It’ll be your interpretation of what the lit says it’ll form a key element in your rationale for research
- 8. Different kinds of Lit Revs Systematic Reviews Cochrane Reviews Scoping reviews Rapid reviews Discipline specific reviews (conventions) Etc
- 9. Purpose of reviews Is it to aggregate data (ie a meta-analysis)? Is the focus on quantitative or qualitative data? Is it to produce a narrative / interpretation of ‘facts’ and the body of knowledge? Is it a narrative synthesis?
- 10. Range of literature to review Which disciplines do you need to search in? Is it clear who ‘owns’ the problem? Are you sure what your discipline is? (does it matter?) How many journals? Which disciplines? Which boundaries do you cross?
- 11. Depth of literature How deep do you want to go? This is an issue of complexity It’s a matter of judgement Decide on quality Are you prepared to take low quality journals? Low quality articles (if interesting)? Do you only accept double blind randomised intervention trials (Cochrane / gold standard)? Only experimental not theoretical?
- 12. The process mechanics Choice of keywords Choosing combinations Which journals? How? Is there a place for browsing the shelves? Will electronic searches suffice? Can you ask people? If so, whom? (take advice from supervisors) How can you scope the terrain?
- 13. Problems you’ll encounter Overload: Modern electronic searches can produce 100s / 1000s of articles When to stop: Follow conventions Multiple probes: You will inevitably need to refine your searches (questions of depth / range)
- 14. Evaluating the Literature To some extent, the Lit Rev is a pretence at (ie claims) objectivity Some evaluation is inevitable Indeed, the purpose of Lit Rev is to evaluate: If there is a problem How to tackle it What others have found Gaps
- 15. Sources on the process The best thing to do is to read others’ articles and see what / how they did it Above all, think as well as using process and purpose The Lit Rev sets your entire thesis / inquiry process onto a proper footing
- 16. A note of intellectual caution Despite their advantages, be wary of letting process take over A Lit Rev is to aid thinking (hence a doctorate being PhD /philosophy) Beware letting Lit Revs impose too much order: Knowledge is not just ‘known’ or ‘unknown’ or ‘known unknowns’ (D Rumsfeld) Knowledge is also an engagement with blur, complexity, etc
- 17. A note of emotional caution In an ideal world, the Lit Rev never ends Literature always grows So you must make yours time specific Never retrofit a systematic review With others one can but be pragmatic: When writing up finally, add literature which is really useful examiners would be shocked if you omitted
- 18. Sources, sources, sources You can do a Lit Rev on Lit Revs There is much advice on the web See: http://www.cochrane.org/ Hart, C. (2009) Doing a literature review: releasing the social science research imagination London: Sage Petticrew M, Roberts H (2010) Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide . Oxford: Blackwell