Transcript 3220Lecture4Chapter5.ppt
DEFINING THE PROBLEM: LITERATURE REVIEWS
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
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Decision maker’s objectives Background of problem Differentiate problem from symptoms Determine unit of analysis Identify relevant variables State research question Conduct exploratory research Develop testable hypotheses
LITERATURE REVIEW: What is it?
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Theoretical base for your research
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Evaluative report of existing literature
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Critical assessment of the current state of knowledge
What do I do?
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Find out what has already been done
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Discover what has not yet been addressed
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Position your research
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Identify gaps or flaws in existing research
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Suggest methods you should use
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Provide support for your chosen methods
Where to start?
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Select topic
– Achievable, interesting, focused, important •
Determine what you want to know
– Break down into topic areas • e.g. Student drinking: current behaviour, effects on health, effects on functioning, motivations, etc.
How to do it?
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Identify key search words and synonyms
– e.g. Charity advertisements, charity appeals, nonprofit advertising, not-for-profit advertising, nfp, etc.
Identify information sources
– Books, academic journals, popular press articles, government documents, conference proceedings, etc.
– ABI Inform is an important management database • http://www.uleth.ca/lib/ ; Select “articles”; Select “management”; Select “connect” for ABI Inform
What should be recorded?
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List of key search words
– What was useful, what wasn’t
List of databases
– What was useful, what wasn’t
Bibliography of citations
– Easier than tracking them down again later!
– Annotated: include short summary for later review – Use APA style from the start
What to use?
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Use general and specific information
– e.g. Recycling: • Overall recycling trends, • general consumer motivations for recycling, • specific local programs.
Use peer-reviewed academic articles when possible
– other (gov’t reports, popular press, stats, etc.)
How to evaluate relevance?
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Read abstract, introduction and conclusion Identify “classics”
– articles that are frequently cited – (look at references) •
Identify authors active in the area
– Search by author name
How to evaluate?
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What are key points?
Does it relate to research question?
Assess source quality
– #1 blind peer reviewed (type of publication), – #2 author (background/training), potential biases (purpose)
Is method sound? Appropriate?
Are there apparent flaws/weaknesses?
Are results consistent with other work?
– If not, why not?
What questions should it answer?
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REVIEW
– What is the current state of knowledge in the area?
– How have others approached the research area? – What are the key concepts and theories in the area?
MOVING FORWARD
– What do we still need to find out?
– What is the best way to find that out? – What would be the importance of your research?
Assignment
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Literature review for your group topic
– Determine what you want to know – Identify search terms – Find several relevant articles – Summarize these – Write the lit review with references – Submit via email to prof. and all group members