1.

Why is it important for your research investigation that you are critical when reviewing the
literature?

 We should be critical in reviewing the literature because review of literature is important

because it describes how the proposed research is related to prior research in statistics. It also
demonstrates the preparedness to complete the research. The literature review helps to
persuade the person reading and marking your assignment that what we have written about is
relevant and the arguments are justified and worthwhile.

2. What might Sarah’s project tutor mean by suggesting that a critical literature review should be
‘balanced’? 10pts

 Sarah’s project tutor only read the positive side of her literature review. Sarah’s project tutor
suggesting about her critical literature should be balanced means, Sarah should not look only
into the positive side but also into the negative side so that there is no bias in here literature
review and it is well balanced. Sarah’s project tutor only read the positive side of her literature
review.

3. What does Sarah need to do to develop a literature review which is sufficiently critical, yet also
sufficiently balanced? 10pts

 For me, Sarah should read many books related to her topic so that she can have different ideas
on what to write in here literature review. Sarah should also make use of feedback. Feedback is
vital to writing a good review, and should be sought from a variety of colleagues, so as to obtain
a diversity of views on the draft. This may lead in some cases to conflicting views on the merits
of the paper, and on how to improve it, but such a situation is better than the absence of
feedback. A diversity of feedback perspectives on a literature review can help identify where the
consensus view stands in the landscape of the current scientific understanding of an issue.

Embedded quality at Zarlink Semiconductor

1. Which type(s) of research design is Mick employing? Provide a critique of this research design.
 The data collection using the interviews and questionnaire methods. He conducted interviews
with management and got questionnaires filled from the employees at Swindon, Zarlink where
he had to make necessary changes to begin the embedding of quality. The aim of the research
was to identify the core values for embedded quality. Mick believed that each case is different
and that therefore findings from research in other companies would not provide the answers
sought, since the success of certain techniques is usually contingent upon the individual
 circumstances of the organization. Consequently, Mick’s approach was to investigate in depth
the particular organization in which he was employed.

2. What are the research quality issues in this study and how can these be overcome?
