Understanding Literature Reviews

Study Notes

The main purpose of a literature review is to determine the current state of knowledge or agreement on a specific research topic.
This involves critically examining texts to identify gaps in understanding that new research can address.
The goal is to identify, analyze, and synthesize the most relevant and authoritative materials related to the research topic.

### Doing a Literature Review

A literature review is a crucial academic skill that helps researchers to:
- Critically analyze and report on relevant literature.
- Identify gaps in existing research that need to be addressed.
- Provide context for new research by comparing it to previous studies, replicating findings, or identifying weaknesses.

A good literature review serves several purposes:
- Demonstrates familiarity with existing knowledge and establishes researcher credibility.
- Shows the path of prior research and how a current project connects to it.
- Integrates and summarizes current understanding in a specific area, highlighting areas of agreement, disagreement, and remaining questions.
- Identifies blind alleys in research and suggests future research directions.

### How to Evaluate Articles

Examine the Title:
- A good title is specific and describes the research topic without revealing results or asking yes/no questions.
- It should mention key variables and the setting or participants.
- Example: "Parental Involvement in Schooling and Reduced Discipline Problems among Junior High School Students in NCR"
Read the Abstract:
- An abstract summarizes the essential elements of a research study.
- It outlines the study's purpose, methods used, and highlights the major findings.
Read the Article:
- Begin by skimming the article and quickly reading the conclusion. This helps to understand the overall topic and content.

### Conditions Affecting Reading

Various factors can affect reading comprehension during literature review:
- The complexity of the article.
- Specific research questions or issues being focused on.
- The reader's theoretical background.

### Sources for the Literature Review

Primary Sources: Original materials providing firsthand information. Examples include:
- Letters, diaries, memoirs, autobiographies.
- Official documents, research reports, patents.
- Empirical research articles.
Secondary Sources: Interpret and analyze primary sources, providing a broader perspective. Examples include:
- Academic journal articles.
- Conference proceedings.
- Books.
- Documentaries.
Tertiary Sources: Compilations of information from primary and secondary sources, providing summaries and overviews. Examples include:
- Encyclopedias.
- Dictionaries.
- Atlases.
- Handbooks.

Note Frame and Layout:
- Utilize headings, subheadings, category classifications.
- Include source information (bibliographic references) and location.
- Include notes and personal thoughts or comments.

The literature review involves a cyclical process:
- Select a Topic: Choose a clear and focused research topic.
- Select and Choose Literature: Identify relevant sources and critically evaluate them.
- Analyze and Interpret Literature: Critically analyze the selected literature and synthesize the findings.
- Write the Review: Organize and write the literature review, highlighting key findings, gaps in knowledge, and the significance of the research.

### Example of Literature Review

When writing a literature review, use the past tense except when discussing significance, which requires the present tense.
Example: Martin (2007) found a possible direct relationship between children's self-perception and feelings about superheroes. This suggests that superheroes might influence adolescent perceptions of masculinity.