Overview
Literature reviews are a critical component of any research project. There is a recognized method to follow in order to conduct a thorough literature review that contributes positively to our understanding of the research in a given field or area of study.
Posing a feasible research question begins this process. This question is the foundation for an effective precision search, one that includes the relevant keywords and is neither too broad or too narrow. Results must be reviewed to ensure that irrelevant sources are excluded and pertinent materials are included in the final list of readings.
Visualizing or mapping the included materials helps to identify patterns and connections as well as gaps and inconsistencies in the research. Included sources should be annotated so that their relevance is easily understood.
It is critical to recognize, however, that a literature review is not a summary of the final list of sources. Instead, once the sources have been identified and summarized, it is necessary to synthesize the information and ideas by theme and connections in order to fully explore and explain the knowledge that has emerged in response to given issues and problems.
This week, we will review the steps to conducting a literature review and learn more about how to synthesize research results.
Readings
Section I: Writing with integrity
Bullock, R. (2021). The Norton field guide to writing. W.W. Norton & Company.
- Chapter 50: Synthesizing ideas (pp. 519 – 525).
Creswell, & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design : qualitative, quantitative, and
mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
- Chapter 2: Review of the literature (pp. 23 – 48).
Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2021). “They say/I Say”. The moves that matter in academic writing (5th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.
- Chapter 1: They say. Starting with what others are saying (pp. 19-31).
- Chapter 2: “Her point is”/ The art of summarizing (pp. 32 – 46).
- Chapter 3: “As he himself puts it”. The art of quoting (pp. 47-56).
They say/I say tutorials (linked in Week 10):
- Chapter 2 summarizing
- Chapter 3: Quoting
QUT Library. (2015, September 3). How to paraphrase [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/SObGEcok06U (6:37 minutes).
Before class activities
Key questions to ask while reading and watching
- What is a claim and how does it relate to your research question?
- What are the key differences between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing the ideas of others?
- How could a writing template help you properly recognize and cite the ideas of other scholars?
“Pile of words”: Group and label key concepts
Organize into three lists of similar terms and label each list (include definition of each label).
Remember: You may already understand some of these ideas relatively well and others may be new to you—you are encouraged to look up (e.g., in a dictionary or encyclopedia) the unfamiliar concepts in order to create your lists.
Make note of your reasons for grouping the ideas together as you will share them in class. These are self-paced individual activities, for which there are no right or wrong answers. The instructor will not grade this work.
Predict a learning outcome
After class activities
After class, annotate each reading for key ideas. For videos and podcasts, you can annotate the transcript.
Summarize the author’s key ideas from each reading.
Highlight the following information:
- Purpose of the reading;
- Scope (the extent of the study);
- Thesis (the main argument[s]);
- Method (research method if applicable);
- Outcome(s) and conclusion.
Respond to the following statement about the readings: do you agree or disagree with the statement and why?
“Plagiarism is theft, but of more than words. By not acknowledging a source, the plagiarist steals the modest recognition that honest researchers should receive, the respect that a researcher spends a lifetime struggling to earn. And that weakens the community as a whole, by reducing the value of research to those who follow” (Booth et al., 2016, p. 273).
Did this reading provide any inspiration or insights you can use in this or any of your other classes? If yes, what is the inspiration and/or what are the insights?
