TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

IJAGUN,PMB 2118, IJEBU ODE, OGUN STATE

ONE DAY WORKSHOP ON CURRENT TREND IN

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE USE OF
E-VIEWS STATISTICAL PACKAGE

PURPOSE AND TECHNIQUES OF THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE

 THE ROLE OF LITERATURE REVIEW IN RESEARCH
RESEARCH

PROBLEM SCOPE CONCEPTS JUSTIFICATION

METHODOLOGY

DESIGN VARIABLES/MODEL ECONOMETRIC TECH & ISSUES

RELATIONSHIP/PROXIES
……YOU ARE WELCOME
1. THE LITERATURE
 TOPIC: TECHNIQUES AND PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE

1. THE LITERATURE
The Literature is a document or collation of ideas,
feelings, facts, opinion and generalization about an
issue. For example, A collation of fact and feelings on
Productivity, Economics of health and nutrition,
poverty etc.
 BUILDING BLOCS OF A STUDY OR LITERATURE

A literature consists essentially

of
Theories, Opinions and Study findings
THEORY: This is a partially verified statement concerning the
relationships among variables. It usually consist of a set of interrelated
proposition and corollaries that specify how variables relate to the
phenomena to be explained. It can also be defined as a body of laws
that have been empirically tested with proven conclusion which
established relationship between the structure, functions and
performance of the problem, event or phenomena under study.
Theories are useful in understanding what the subject matter of a
phenomena is, its environments and how the subject matter is likely to
behave in a different set of circumstances. A good theory assist in
empirical research as it helps to describe, explain and predict the
phenomena of interest with a view to making practical decisions.
OPINIONS: These are individual feelings,
thoughts, views or beliefs about a subject matter,
rather that a fact. It is usually based on knowledge
attained, skilled acquired or the professional
experience of the owner of the opinion. At times,
opinions can be professional advice. It is not as
strong as theory. Opinions are not stable as it may
change at anytime. These first two are usually found
in textbooks.
STUDY FINDING: These are several piece of
current research carried out at various level of
education. Usually, a circulation of ideas,
feelings, opinions, facts and findings about an
issue is called a STUDY. They are found in
research reports published in various reputable
journal, periodicals and magazines, projects,
theses and dissertations.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review means the process of locating,
obtaining, reading, evaluating and summarizing the
studies about a topic. Often, these are research
studies(but the may also include conceptual articles or
thought pieces) that provide framework for thinking
about topics in order to bring out the strength,
weakness and relationships with the proposed study, in
order to identify theoretical, methodological and policy
gaps.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
The literature review combines the most significant
aspects of the work a researcher has consulted,
combining and synthesizing them in an interpreted
description of the field of study. A good literature
review shows how the studies mentioned relate to the
broad topic, as well as show the expert reader that you
have surveyed much of the appropriate literature.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter of the project provides a content for the
proposed study and demonstrate why it is important
and timely. Thus, the chapter needs to clarify the
relationship between the proposed study and previous
work conducted on the topic. It is usually impossible to
write a final introductory chapter prior to the
completion of the review of literature and method
chapter because those chapters will inform the problem
and its operationalization.
 3. PURPOSE
OF
LITERATURE REVIEW
3. PURPOSE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
The most important essence of the review of
literature is to avoid needless duplication of effort. No
matter what your topic is, chances are that someone has
already done research on it. by becoming familiar with
that area through a Literature Review, you can avoid “re-
inventing the wheel” your specific research question may
have already been addressed and answered. If so, then,
conducting your research as originally planned would be
waste of time.
3. PURPOSE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is also important at the design
phase of the research. Designing a study involves
several decisions as to what variables to include and
how to measure them, what apparatus to use, what
procedure to use e.t.c. Published research provides
you with a rich resource for addressing these
important design questions.
3. PURPOSE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
A review of the literature keeps you up to
date on current empirical and theoretical
controversies in a particular research area. Such
controversies not only provided a rich source of
research ideas but also gives direction to specific
research hypothesis and designs.
3. PURPOSE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
Summarily, researchers use the scholarly literature
in a study to present result of similar studies, to
relate to the present study to an ongoing dialogue
in the literature, and to provide a framework for
comparing results of a study with other studies.
4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
FOR
THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE
 4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE
PRIMARY SOURCES: These are sources that contain a full
research report, including all details necessary to
duplicate the study. Thus it contains a direct account of
all events or phenomena given by someone who actually
observed the event or phenomena. Such sources
contains details about description of the rationale of the
study, its subject, apparatus, procedure, result and
references. Examples are research report, diaries,
newspaper, magazines, and journal.
4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE
SECONDARY SOURCES: This is a source that summarizes
information from primary sources ( such as presenting
the basic findings). The author of secondary source
materials has processed a pool of primary materials and
has brought his own interpretation, view point and
prejudice to bear on the primary materials. Examples are
textbooks, review of research reports, encyclopedias,
dictionaries, periodicals, film or lectures.
5. STEPS IN CONDUCTING
A
LITERATURE REVIEW
5. STEPS IN CONDUCTING A LITERATURE REVIEW

Identify key words useful in locating materials in an

academic library. These keywords may emerge from
preliminary studies. These are broad bodies of
literature that have relevance for the research
topic(local and international)
5. STEPS IN CONDUCTING A LITERATURE REVIEW

With the keywords in mind, go to the library and

begin researching for journal and books. You can
refer to e-database such as ERIC, PSYCINFO,
SOCIALFILE, The social science citation index, Goggle
scholar, Proquest etc.
Initially, try to locate about fifty(50) reports of
research in articles or books related to the research
on your topic.
5. STEPS IN CONDUCTING A LITERATURE REVIEW

Skim the initial group of articles and duplicate those

that are central to your topic. What will guide you
here is whether a particular article will make a useful
contribution to your understanding of the literature
5. STEPS IN CONDUCTING A LITERATURE REVIEW

As you identify useful literature, begin designing a

literature map. This is a visual picture of grouping
the literature on the topic that illustrate how a
particular study will contribute to the literature,
See example in the next slide.
 A SAMPLE LITERATURE MAP
SELECTED STUDIES ON HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN
Author Scope Methodology Key variables Findings
Dependent variable Independent variable

1. Bathayauth Hong: James Children aged 0 – 59 Multivariate Height-for-age House wealth index Household wealth inequality is
DE. Banta & Jose A months Bangladesh logistic (stunting) strongly associated with childhood
Betancourt. (2006) dhs Bangladesh regressions adverse growth rare stunting.
Reducing poverty and making
services more available accessible to
the poor are essential to improving
overall childhood health and
nutrition status in Bangladesh

2. Olalekan A. uthman Children under 5 years of Concentration Height-for-age-z- Household, economic status, Socio-economic inequality in
(2009) age NDHS Nigeria index score health, health senile index, childhood malnutrition in Nigeria in
maternal education, oroper determinanced not only by health
sanitation, breastfeeding. system functions, but also by factors
beyond the scope of health
authorities and care delivery
systems
 GUIDELINES IN PREPARING LITERATURE MAP
 Who are the most current authors or authority in my
research area and what is the boundary of their
discussions and research
 What theoretical model or models relate to the
research topic
 What methods and results have previous research in
the field produced
 What different methodologies have been used by
other researchers in this area.
 GUIDELINES IN PREPARING LITERATURE MAP
What are the key methodologies issues that must
be addressed as this will determine your own
choice of methodology
What are the most recent research findings in this
area of study
What gaps and contradictions exist among these
findings and what new research questions do these
findings suggest
 GUIDELINES IN PREPARING LITERATURE MAP
What structure suits my literature review best.
 What should I leave out

NOTE
 Draft summaries of the most relevant articles.
 Assemble the literature review, structuring it
thematically or organize it by important concepts.
 6. TECHNIQUES
FOR
REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
 6. TECHNIQUES FOR REVIEWING THE LITERATURE

A critical reading and analysis of the literature

involves two steps:

• An initial appraisal
• Careful analysis of the content.
 6. TECHNIQUES FOR REVIEWING THE LITERATURE

The initial appraisal involves evaluating the following;

a. The Author
b. Date of publication
c. Edition or revision
d. Publisher
e. Title of the journal
6. TECHNIQUES FOR REVIEWING THE LITERATURE

Careful analysis of the content.

Evaluating the content of an article published in a
scholarly journal involves a careful reading and an
analysis of the different part of the article.
6. TECHNIQUES FOR REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
If it follows the APA style, it will be reported thus :
a. Abstract
b. Introduction
c. Method (The study sample/ variable
measurement/ proxies. Econometric techniques and
issues).
d. Results
e. Discussion
f. References
6. TECHNIQUES FOR REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
The findings therefore will suggest what theories or
issues emerge and what conclusion can be drawn?
What are the major similarities and differences
between the various writers. Are there controversies
generated and what are the agreement on such. Are
there any significant questions that could form the
basis of further investigations?
7. STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
OF
THE CHAPTER
 7. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAPTER
A careful process as above critically done will produce
the followings(Although the structure differ from
faculty to faculty):
1.Conceptual Review
2.Theoretical Review
3.Methodological Review
4.Empirical Review
5.Appraisal of Literature
6.Theoretical framework
7.Theoretical model
7. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAPTER
1. CONCEPTUAL REVIEW
Major issues should be emphasized such as
(a)Confusing concepts are clarified
(b)Challenges and prospects of whatever system
that is reviewed so they can help in policy
recommendation
7. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAPTER
2. THEORETICAL REVIEW
- Only relevant theories for the two variables
- Source and basic tenets of the theory
- Its strength
- Its weakness
- Relationship with current study
- Mathematical derivation of the relationship –
the model
7. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAPTER
3. EMPIRICAL REVIEW
- Only relevant papers
- What they found or discovered only and not
stories or method used but may include
explanations on their findings.
- This may include scope
 7. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAPTER
4. METHODOLOGICAL REVIEW
- What are the research design used
- What are the variables used and how are they measured
- What are the methods / Econometric techniques
used and why
- What type of data used
- Any econometric problem encountered and how
resolved
7. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAPTER
5. LITERATURE APPRAISAL
-It is not a summary of your reviews
-Rather it is a general assessments of the reviews to
indicate the gap / omissions and suggest way
forward
- It is from here that the study framework is
produced in the form of :
 7. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAPTER
(a) Theoretical framework: The best of all the
theories that explain the relationship being studied
is emphasized with the mathematical explanations
of the relationship, from where you pick the study
model or theoretical framework that can help you to
adapt a model.
(b) Method: the best of all methods that suit the
study based on the research design LITERATURE APPRAISAL
7. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHAPTER
(c) Variable measurement: the best way to measure
the variables at hand considering all the measures
reviewed.
(d) The apriori expectation: The conclusion(s)
among earlier author based on their resolution on
the divergent opinion about the issue.

LITERATURE APPRAISAL
 There must be a logical link between this chapter
and chapter III.
 You cannot write a fine introductory chapter
without the review of literature.