Writing Critical

Literature Review

Dr. Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan

School of Educational Studies
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Critical Literature Review (CLR)
• An essential and complex process
• Determines the thoroughness of thesis
• A reflection of Chapter One (1)
• A nexus for Chapters Three (3), Four (4) and
Five (5)
• Way we choose, write and present: sentences,
paragraphs, arguments, ideas/contents,
tables/charts/figures, citation/quotes and
references.
A lame literature review direction
“Bulls Eye”
that indicates a COMMON AND
LACKLUSTURE research ideas
New Variables

Uncharted,
Unexplored
Territories

Literature Review’s Indication

A critical literature review of Direction of Research
indicates an INNOVATIVE
AND INTERESTING
exploration of research ideas
What can a critical literature review tell you?
Moving towards a more fresh and innovative research

Management style and effective

schools
Management style and effective
school for the blind
ICT management style in effective
school for the blind
 Guidelines to CLR
• Systematic collocation and recording
of references

• Design a framework for Literature

Review – based on objectives and
research questions (important
variables)

• NOT SUMMARIZING ONLY!

 SEESS:
1. Summarize relevant research,

2. Evaluate research,

3. Establish relationships between different work/research,

4. Show connections between the research and your work

5. Select parts of research – methodology & findings

(compare and contrast with your own work, make
connections to your own work)
 Conclusion
• Work around objectives and ideas /
methodology / findings of the research
reviewed

• Connect them to your own work