PURPOSE OF REVIEW RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Review of related literature and studies is an essential component of research papers and
theses, and it serves several purposes.

Purpose of a literature review

1. To provide a theoretical framework

2. To identify research gaps
3. To establish the significance of the research
4. To identify research methodologies
5. To avoid duplication of research

In reviewing related studies whether by manual or computer search, the researcher can hardly
find time to read the whole research manuscript, e.g., theses and dissertations. Thus, he should
be skillful enough to go to important pages where important parts of the study are found.

This are the parts of the manuscript

1. Abstract:
Copy exactly as written in the manuscript or article.

2. Rational or Background of the Study:

Note the researcher’s motivation and justifications for conducting the study.

3. Statement of the Problem or Research Objectives:

List them exactly as stated in the manuscript or article.

4. Hypotheses:
List them exactly as stated in the manuscript or article.

5. Research Methodology:
List the research design (experiment, survey, and case study.), research environment
or locale of the study, the respondents or subjects of the study, sampling procedures,
data gathering procedures, research instrument (questionnaire, interview schedule),
and statistical treatment of data. Note any unusual procedures or techniques employed
by the researcher.

6. Findings:
List the major findings of the study and indicate whether the objectives of the study
were attained or whether the hypotheses were supported.

7. Conclusion:
Describe the researcher’s conclusions. Note your disagreement with the researcher as
well as the reasons for such disagreement. Likewise, note the strengths and
weaknesses of the study that make the results particularly applicable or limited with
regard to your present research question.

What should be reviewed?

A literature review should cover scholarly articles, books, and other sources that are directly
related to the research question or topic. The sources reviewed should be current, relevant, and
credible, and they should provide insight and support for the research question or thesis
statement. The review should include both primary and secondary sources that have been
published in reputable academic journals, books, and other reputable sources. The review
should also critically evaluate and synthesize the information presented in these sources to
create a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

What it is not to be reviewed?

A literature review is not a summary of every article or book ever written on the topic, nor is it a
simple listing of sources. Instead, it should be a critical analysis of the sources that are most
relevant to the research question, with an emphasis on synthesizing and integrating the
information presented in the sources. The literature review should not include non-scholarly
sources such as blogs, opinion articles, or websites that are not credible or relevant to the
research question.

Writing your review

When writing a literature review, it is important to organize the review around a clear and
focused research question or thesis statement. The review should begin with an introduction
that provides background information on the topic and establishes the research question. The
body of the review should be organized thematically or chronologically, with each section
addressing a different aspect of the research question or thesis statement. Each section should
begin with a clear topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the section. Within each
section, the review should critically evaluate and synthesize the information presented in the
sources, identifying similarities, differences, and gaps in the existing research. The review
should conclude with a summary of the main findings and their implications for the research
question or thesis statement.

Tips for writing an effective literature review

 Use a variety of search methods to find relevant sources, such as searching databases,
consulting experts in the field, and checking reference lists of relevant articles and
books.
 Keep detailed notes on each source, including the author, title, publication information,
and key findings, to help with organizing and synthesizing the information later.
 Be selective in the sources you choose to include in your review. You want to include
sources that are relevant, credible, and provide useful insights into your research
question or topic.
 Consider using a citation management tool, such as EndNote or Zotero, to help organize
your sources and citations.
 Use clear and concise language when writing your review, and avoid overly technical
jargon that may be difficult for readers to understand.
 Be critical in your evaluation of the sources, considering the strengths and weaknesses
of each study and how they relate to your research question.
 Use transitions to help guide readers through the different sections of your review and to
help them understand the relationships between the different sources and ideas.
 Avoid bias by acknowledging and addressing conflicting viewpoints or limitations in the
existing research.
 Finally, make sure to cite your sources properly using the appropriate citation style (e.g.,
APA, MLA).