Guidelines on how to write

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

A. Characteristics of the Materials Cited

The following are the characteristics of related literature and studies that should

be cited: (Repeated for emphasis)

1. The materials must be as recent as possible. This is important because of the

rapid social, political, scientific, and technological changes. Discoveries in historical

and archaeological research have also changed some historical facts. Researchers in

education and psychology are also making great strides. So, finding fifteen years ago

may have little value today unless the study is a comparative inquiry about the past and

the present. Mathematical and statistical procedures, however, are a little more stable.

2. Materials must be as objective and unbiased as possible. Some materials are

extremely one sided, either politically or religiously biased. These should be avoided.

3. Materials must be relevant to the study. Only materials that have some military

to or bearing on the problem researched on should be cited.

4. Materials must not too few but not too many. They must be sufficient enough

to give the researcher insight into his problem or to indicate the nature of the present

investigation. The number may also depend upon the availability of related materials.

This is especially a problem with pioneering studies. Naturally, there are few related

materials or even none at all. Ordinarily, from fifteen to twenty-five may do for a

master’s thesis and from twenty and above for a doctoral dissertation, depending upon

their availability and depth and length of discussions. The numbers, however, are only
suggestive but not imperative. These are only the usual numbers observed in theses

and dissertations surveyed. For an undergraduate thesis about ten may do.

B. Ways of Citing Related Literature and Studies

The following are the ways of citing related literature and studies:

1. By author or writer. In this method the ideas, facts, or principles, although they

have the same meaning, are explained or discussed separately and cited in the footnote

with their respective authors or writers.

Examples: According to Enriquez, praise helps much in learning, etc., (Enriquez,

1981) Maglaque found out that praise is an important factor in learning, etc., (Maglaque,

1984)

2. By topic. In this case, if different authors or writers have the same opinion

about the same topic, the topic is discussed and cited under the names of the authors

or writers. This is a summary of their opinions. This is to avoid separate and long

discussions of the same topic.

Example: It has been found out that praise is an important aid in learning of

children. (Enriquez, 1981)

3. Chronological. Related materials may also be cited chronologically, that is,

according to the year they were written. Materials which were written earlier should be

cited first before those which were written later. This can be done especially when

citation is by author or writer. If citation is by topic, chronological citation can be done in

the footnote.

C. What to Cite It should be emphasized that only the major findings, ideas,

generalizations, principles, or conclusions in related materials relevant to the problem

under investigation should be discussed in this chapter. Generally, such findings, ideas,

generalizations, principles, or conclusions are summarized, paraphrased, or

synthesized.

D. Quoting a Material A material may be quoted if the idea conveyed is so

perfectly stated or it is controversial and it is not too long. It is written single spaced with

wider margins at the left and right sides of the paper but without any quotation marks.

Example: Suppose the following is a quotation: Said Enriquez, Praise is an important

factor in children’s learning. It encourages them to study their lessons harder. Praise,

however, should be given appropriately.

Justification of the Study It should be made clear that there is no duplication of

other studies. The present inquiry may only be a replication of another study. It should

be stressed also that in spite of similar studies, the present study is still necessary to

find out if the findings of studies in other places are also true in the locale of the present

study. There may also be a need to continue with the present investigation to affirm or

negate the findings of other inquiries about the same research problem or topic so that

generalization or principles may be formulated. These generalizations and principles

would be the contributions of the present investigation together with other studies to the

fund of knowledge. This is one of the more important purposes of research: the

contribution that it can give to the fund of knowledge.

Synthesis

It should be emphasized in this area that the major findings, ideas,

generalizations, principles or conclusions in related materials relevant to the problem

under investigation. Generally, such findings, ideas, generalizations, principles or

conclusions are summarized, paraphrased, or synthesized.