Mary Jackson Pitts, Ph.D.

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Conducting the literature review

Mary Jackson Pitts, Ph.D.

Objective– conducting the literature review

n To identify material which is pertinent to your topic area.

n You must locate, read, and analyze material.

n What are the dependent and independent variables.

n The independent variable influences.

n The dependent variable is the one that is influenced.

n Example… negative political ads influence voting behavior.

Where to start doing a lit. review?

n Scan articles for overview

n Group articles by category

n Use a consistent format to take notes(example)

n Write citation

n Identify RQ or Hypothesis

n Determine method– how did the method answer the research questions. Can you use a similar method?

Gathering information for the lit review.

n Operational definitions

n Look for definitions of key terms. Ie violence is etcs.

n Operational definitions “ are used to assign meaning to the variable by specifying the operations or activities required to measure it( Poindexter, & McCombs, p. 39).

Gathering information for the lit review.

n Identify methodology.

n SAMPLE

n SURVEY, CONTENT ANALYSIS, EXPERIMENT, SOME FORM OF TRIANGULATION AMONG THE THREE MAIN METHODS.

n WEAKNESSES OF METHOD

n ADVANTAGES OF METHOD

Gathering information for the lit review.

n Organize major findings of articles. You may need to write down percentages and extra.

n Distinguish between assertion and evidence

n Identify trends

n Note research trends.

n Identify gaps in literature.

n What is missing from the research about your topic.

n Check out future research suggestions.

n Identify relationships among studies

Writing the review

n Develop an outline… SEE OUTLINE EXAMPLE.

n Identify the key areas that you plan to cover in the paper

n Introduction:

n A. Describe the purpose of your research (in essence, present the questions your research will answer).

n B. Statement of the problem.

n Justify why it is important to look at this problem. In other words, describe why the study is important and how it advances current knowledge.

n C. Operational definitions.

Writing the review

n Review of literature:

n All pertinent material.

n From Classic or landmark studies to the most recent work. Not having the landmark study is a serious and fatal flaw.

n To make sure you have watch for information in newer articles. Most often another author will mention the classic study.

Writing the review

n Synopsize as many previous research articles on the topic as possible. What is said in these articles and provide critiques of these articles.

n Point out how your research questions extend this previous research.

n Pull all material together into a cohesive 5-7 page paper.

Writing the review

n Methodology:

n Explain the research methodology. You may choose to implement a content analysis, survey, or case study. If Institutional Review is needed, the paper proposal must be prepared by the End of September for submission to the IRB committee.

n Citation must be used in this section.

n Limitations can be included in this section of the paper.

Findings:

n Report Findings. Answer all research questions and provide evidence of support or lack of support of hypotheses.

Conducting the literature review

Mary Jackson Pitts, Ph.D.

Objective– conducting the literature review

n To identify material which is pertinent to your topic area.

n You must locate, read, and analyze material.

n What are the dependent and independent variables.

n The independent variable influences.

n The dependent variable is the one that is influenced.

n Example… negative political ads influence voting behavior.

Where to start doing a lit. review?

n Scan articles for overview

n Group articles by category

n Use a consistent format to take notes(example)

n Write citation

n Identify RQ or Hypothesis

n Determine method– how did the method answer the research questions. Can you use a similar method?

Gathering information for the lit review.

n Operational definitions

n Look for definitions of key terms. Ie violence is etcs.

n Operational definitions “ are used to assign meaning to the variable by specifying the operations or activities required to measure it( Poindexter, & McCombs, p. 39).

Gathering information for the lit review.

n Identify methodology.

n SAMPLE

n SURVEY, CONTENT ANALYSIS, EXPERIMENT, SOME FORM OF TRIANGULATION AMONG THE THREE MAIN METHODS.

n WEAKNESSES OF METHOD

n ADVANTAGES OF METHOD

Gathering information for the lit review.

n Organize major findings of articles. You may need to write down percentages and extra.

n Distinguish between assertion and evidence

n Identify trends

n Note research trends.

n Identify gaps in literature.

n What is missing from the research about your topic.

n Check out future research suggestions.

n Identify relationships among studies

Writing the review

n Develop an outline… SEE OUTLINE EXAMPLE.

n Identify the key areas that you plan to cover in the paper

n Introduction:

n A. Describe the purpose of your research (in essence, present the questions your research will answer).

n B. Statement of the problem.

n Justify why it is important to look at this problem. In other words, describe why the study is important and how it advances current knowledge.

n C. Operational definitions.

Writing the review

n Review of literature:

n All pertinent material.

n From Classic or landmark studies to the most recent work. Not having the landmark study is a serious and fatal flaw.

n To make sure you have watch for information in newer articles. Most often another author will mention the classic study.

Writing the review

n Synopsize as many previous research articles on the topic as possible. What is said in these articles and provide critiques of these articles.

n Point out how your research questions extend this previous research.

n Pull all material together into a cohesive 5-7 page paper.

Writing the review

n Methodology:

n Explain the research methodology. You may choose to implement a content analysis, survey, or case study. If Institutional Review is needed, the paper proposal must be prepared by the End of September for submission to the IRB committee.

n Citation must be used in this section.

n Limitations can be included in this section of the paper.

Findings:

n Report Findings. Answer all research questions and provide evidence of support or lack of support of hypotheses.

Conclusion:

n Restate the premise of your study.

n State whether your study’s data supports/or refutes this premise.

n Synthesize conclusions from the discussion in the body of your paper.

n Provide Future Research suggestions.

Assignment:

n Gather all material.

n Take notes from all material gathered.

n Organize all consulted references by placing them into an outline.