REVIEW OF LITERATURE [RoL]

Definition

The review of literature is reviewing those sources that are important in providing in depth knowledge
needed to make changes in practice.

Importance of review of literature

 Determine how well theory and research are developed in the study
 Define concepts
 Examine research design, methods and scales, instruments, measures and technique of data
collection and analysis used by others.
 Identify a study for replication or comparison
 Define ethical implications of similar study.
 Identify a guide to use in writing the research report.

Uses of RoL

In research

 To identify the research problem

 Compare finding with information from the review of literature
 Constantly compare literature with data being generated.
 Provided frame work for the study
 It acts as a source of data.
 It is a step of research which is used to develop all the other steps of the research process.

Non research

 Uncovering the knowledge

 Use as a source of data
 Helps the faculty to develop and revise the curricula and to develop theoretical papers of
presentation.

In clinical settings

 To implement research based nursing interventions

 To develop protocols or policies in hospitals
  To develop specific quality assurance in hospitals/ organizations/ governmental agencies

Other uses

 Serves as a source of research ideas

 Gives orientation to what has already been known
 Makes provision of conceptual contexts
 Provides basis for assessment of feasibility
 Provides useful information on research approach

Sources of RoL

It is divided in to two:-

1o sources

It is the description of an investigation written by the person who conducted the study

E.g.:- nursing research article

2o sources

A secondary source written by a person other than the individual who developed the theory or conducted
research

E.g.:- 1. Index like: - CINHAL

Nursing studies index
Index medicus
2. Abstract review
3. Computerised data base
In general

 Books  Year books

 Chapters of book  Inventions
 Journal articles  Journals
 Abstracts  Bibliography
 Critique reviews  Dictionaries
 Abstracts published in conference  Encyclopaedias
proceedings  Hand books
 Professional and governmental reports  Indexes
 Un-published doctoral dissertations and
thesis
Steps in RoL
 Preliminary review generally includes 3 steps

 Identification of important publications

 Summarize and record the content of publications
 Comparisons of contents

 How to review

 To select a pertinent books or articles from general review

 To summarise and record information
 Author
 Title
 Year of publications
 Record informations from research report
 Problem statement
 Definition of concepts
 Hypothesis
 Theories or assumptions
 Methods of research including how sample were drown
 Instruments and scales used
 Type of research
 Methods and findings of data analysis
 Interpretation of data
 Recommendations and suggestions
 Make special note of informations for nursing practice or theory