Literature Review

Todays objectives Describe what a literature review is How to conduct a literature review Using library databases

Where we are now

Observation/ Background survey Broad area of research Literature review Problem definition
Problem statement Research questions

Theoretical framework
Variables clearly identified

Hypothesis generation

Research design
Deduction
Hypothesis substantiated? RQ answered?

Methods
Data collection Analysis Interpretation

Revise: Selecting Methods

Quantitative Methods Precise hypotheses and definitions stated at the outset. Data reduced to numerical scores. Major focus on assessing and improving reliability of scores obtained from instruments. Qualitative Methods Hypotheses and definitions that emerge as study develops. Data are typically narrative descriptions. Reliability of inferences is often assumed to be adequate.

Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Quantitative Methods Qualitative Methods Random techniques for Expert informant (purposive) sample. obtaining meaningful samples. Preference for narrative/literary Preference for precise descriptions of procedures. descriptions of procedures. Primary reliance on Preference for specific researcher to deal with design control for procedural bias procedural bias (procedural and measurement integrity checks).

Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Quantitative Methods Assessment of validity with reliance on statistical indices. Preference for statistical summary of results. Preference for breaking down of complex phenomena into specific parts for analysis. Qualitative Methods Validity is assessed through cross-checking sources of information (triangulation). Preference for narrative summary of results. Preference for holistic description of complex phenomena.

Turning questions into hypothesis

Examples
Topic : Student cooperation in group work
Question: Which students? Hypothesis: Younger students cooperate more willingly than those in other age groups Female students cooperate more willingly than those in other age groups Question: When? Hypothesis: Student cooperation is greater when the task is perceived as enjoyable

Examples
Topic : Disruptive behaviour in religious

secondary schools Question: Which students?

Hypothesis: Students from families of lower SES display more disruptive behaviour Students who have had disciplinary problems in primary school display more disruptive behaviour Question: When? Do students from lower SES have more disciplinary problems? What are the factors which lead to misbehaviour in school?

What is literature?
Scholarly Journals ( Educational Technology

R &D) Professional Journals ( Educational Leadership, ) Monographs Books; research reports; dissertations; other? Media Popular magazines (e.g. Dewan Siswa, Time) Newspapers (e.g., Berita Harian; The STAR) Remember be critical!
question what you read

Literature review
What is a literature review ?

Discussion of published information in a

particular subject area Sometimes, information in a particular subject area within a certain time period

Literature review
Can be a simple summary of the sources

SUMMARY - recap of the important information of the source

Has an organizational pattern and combines both

summary and synthesis SYNTHESIS - a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information.

gives a new interpretation of old material combine new with old interpretations trace the intellectual progression of the field, including

major debates evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant.

Refer research article

Motivation in an online learning environment

What you should do

Identify key terms Locate literature Critically evaluate and select the literature Organize the literature Write a review

Mapping out
Build family tree Identify variables Identify context/ setting Identify theories Look for research done in the area Categorize
Defining Historical Justification Methods Scope Context

EXAMPLE
Resilience in a single parenthood

Check
Defining Historical Justification Methods Scope

Context

Conducting a literature review

Start with a known item/ variable

Use simple Google search

Move on to annotated bibliography and

dissertation abstracts Search databases

Where to start looking

Start with your (sub)discipline first Has anyone in your field studied this problem? E.g., Education? = ERIC database Branch out to other disciplines esp. if the

topic is interdisciplinary
What has been done in other (related) fields? E.g., Psychology (PsycINFO); Sociology

(Sociological Abstracts); Cultural TheoryETC.

Track your literature

Keep a journal jot notes as you read Why is each item of interest to you? Where does the item fit in your research?
Provides background/definitional information? Provides a good example to highlight your argument?

Jot examples of great quotes including page #s

Remember paraphrases must be cited as well

Make copies as you go Difficult/time-consuming to go back Be aware of copyright rules/restrictions! Itemize everything document full citation as you find relevant information

Review
Re-view or look again at what others have done

in a particular area of study (so may include research, opinion pieces, news articles, etc.) Is analytical and comparative not purely descriptive Summarizing the articles is not enough what does this mean to you? How does this connect with other things youve read? Use the literature
to support/defend your argument To identify concepts/issues previously found to be significant

and/or insignificant including points of controversy (critical eye)

The Lit Rev Bullseye

Think of the literature

search as a bullseye Your problem is in the centre has anyone studied this topic before? Chances are no hits! Slowly move your search out & away from the problem to find other relevant studies

The Lit Rev Bullseye - example

What do we know about the

effects of playing video games on young adults day to-day behaviours? Start with the exact question has anyone studied this? If no are there studies of how young adults behaviours in general? Studies of video gaming ? Studies that look at the problem but with a different age group? In a different locale?

Evaluating the relevance of the literature: Questions to ask

Topic relevance: Is the literature on the same

topic as your proposed study? Individual and site relevance: Does the literature examine the same individuals and sites you want to study?

Evaluating the relevance of the literature: Questions to ask

Problem relevance: Does the literature

examine the same research problem as you propose in your study? Accessibility relevance: Is the literature available in your library or can it be downloaded from a web site?

Construct a Literature Map

Identify key terms for the topic and put them

at the top of the map Sort studies into topical areas or families of studies. Provide a label for each box which will become a heading for the review Develop the map on as many levels as possible

Literature Map
Study Abroad Programs
The need for Teaching Programs to be Culturally Responsive Bennett, 1995; Eastman, Smith, 1991; Grant 1994; Noel,1995

U.S. Programs

Attitude Toward Study Abroad King, Young ,1994

Personal insights of Preservice Teachers Friesen, Kang McDongall, 1995; Mahan, Stachowski, 1991

Possible Improvements Martin, Rohrlich , 1991; Stachowski, 1991

Personal insights of Preservice Teachers Cockrell, Placier Cockrell, Middleton 1999, Goodwin, 1997 Kea, Bacon, 1999

Predominantly English Speaking Countries Mahan, Stachowski, 1990; Vall, Tennison, 1992

Need for further study: Non-English Speaking Cultures Question: Do short-term study abroad programs in nonEnglish speaking cultures help create cultural responsiveness in preservice teachers?

Conventional Programs Colville-Hall Macdonald, Smollen, 1995; Vavrus, 1994

Cross-Cultural Programs Cooper, Beare Thorman, 1990; Larke, Wiseman, Bradley, 1990

Exercise: Write a critical review

Choose 3 related articles and identify a

research problem relating to your study.

Summarize each study in an abstract that

highlights important elements Identify each articles contribution to your study State your stance
Write a short review. Post your review online

Suggestion: Write one possible research question this will give you the focus