Transcript THE LITERATURE REVIEW

THE LITERATURE REVIEW
RSCH 7100
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
RELATED LITERATURE
REVIEW
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Systematic identification, location,
and analysis of documents
Documents--journal articles, journal
reviews, ERIC papers, monographs,
books, periodicals, abstracts
LITERATURE REVIEW
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Why??
Because we said so---NO, NO, NO
Assists in formulating research question
Points out possible research strategies
Points out possible measuring devices
LITERATURE REVIEW
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Introduces you to significant
research personalities
May replicate or extend previous
study
May find inconsitencies in studies
LITERATURE REVIEW
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May question applicability of findings to
different samples, cultures, regions
Study may already have been conducted
Provides a context-rationale for study
Facilitates interpretation of study results
LITERATURE REVIEW
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Studies already conducted related to
your research question
Provides suggestions about what
studies need to still be conducted
PREPARATION TO WRITE
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Always keep your research problem
central
Discussion of documents read
Have a plan of ATTACK
Begin discussion like inverted pyramid
Broad topic to specific nature of
research proposal
PREPARATION TO WRITE
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Headings and subheadings
Strive for clarity
Emphasize relatedness between
research question and literature
reviewed
Integrate-integrate-integrate
PREPARATION TO WRITE
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Avoid quotes
Paraphrase, paraphrase, paraphrase
End of section, summarize findings
Significance of literature reviewed
linked to research question
Answers “What does all this mean?”
PREPARATION TO WRITE
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Make an outline
Main topics ordered
Subtopics under each main topic
Analyze references with outline
Read most recent ones first, oldest last
Seminal works important
PREPARATION TO WRITE
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Read abstracts first--is article
appropriate?
Sort references where fit in outline
Use data-based, empirical studies
Opinion pieces, descriptive research
helpful in introduction--set stage
PREPARATION TO WRITE
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Don’t ignore studies that differ from
majority or personal bias.
Why different findings?
References least related to research
question FIRST
References most related to research
question LAST
PREPARATION TO WRITE
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Related literature review is NOT a
series of abstracts or annotations
Integrate-integrate-integrate
Not a literary production---be clear
and concise
SOURCE GUIDELINE
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Primary Source -- description of
study written by person who
conducted it
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Secondary Source -- much briefer
description of study written by other
than original researcher
 Use
Primary Sources
Yeaaa
We are
DONE!!