ADM 630 Methods of Research

Major Research Project

Master Research Project 3 (Literature Review Outline) Instructions
Literature Review Outline - To organize your ideas and writing, an outline is required. This
outline is for your own literature review (i.e., the Introduction section of your own paper). The
outline should identify the themes (major ideas) on your topic based on your ten selected articles
and your own reflection.
You are also encouraged to create an outline for other sections of the Major Research Project
although it is not a requirement. The literature review outline (MRP3) should reflect a strong
sense of understanding of the problem being investigated.
Description
MRP3 requires you to create an outline for the literature review portion of your MRP project/
paper. This assignment is intended to allow you to communicate with your instructor regarding
your proposed approach to your research project. Do not list the titles and/or abstracts of your
selected sources as part of your outline. Your outline shall consist of main topics or themes
developed through the research and theories used to support the structure of the research.
Resources:
Four Main Components for Effective Outlines (from Purdue Online Writing Lab)
Link: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/01/
Writing for Professional Publication: An Organizational Paradigm (by Thomas J. Buttery)
Link: http://www.apsu.edu/srate/JournalEditions/191/buttery.pdf
Literature reviews (from UNC)
Link: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What do you mean by headings?
Answer: Headings are the benchmarks of your manuscript. Each heading must represent the
theme or an important portion of the research problem. Meaningful headings help organize the
literature review section; contents from sources are mentioned under the appropriate heading.
Q: Can I use one word as a heading in my integrative review outline?
Answer: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Your reader must be able to interpret the meaning and
direction of where you wish to take the study. One word may not always express what is needed.

Example (for illustrative purpose only):

Name: Kurt Y. Michael
Title: The Effect of a Computer Simulation Activity versus a Hands-on Activity on Product
Creativity in Technology Education
I. Overview of computer use and computer simulations
A. Computer use in the classroom
B. Defining computer simulations
C. Educational benefits of computer simulations for learning
II. Background information on Product Creativity
A. Product creativity in technology education
B. The creative person
C. The creative process
D. Evaluating the creative product in industrial arts/ technology education
E. Computers and the creative product
Research Question:
1. Is there any difference in product creativity between the computer simulation and traditional
hands-on groups?
How to submit:
Save your work as a Microsoft Word document (.doc), attach the assignment to an email and
submit the email via Canvas. Name your file in this fashion: Last name_assignment name. A
possible example might be Wilson_MRP3.
Criteria
Use of headings guide the reader
Headings start broad and narrow to address research problem
Clear transition from one heading to the next
Headings in outline address questions reader may have about research problem
Outline and extended description listed above is adequately addressed
10 points - It meets all the requirements and needs no revision.
8-9 points - It meets most requirements and needs few/or some revision.
6-7 points - It meets some requirements and needs more revision.
1-5 points - It meets few requirements and needs further systematic revision.
0 points - It does not meet any requirements.