Selecting Relevant

Literature
Prepared by: Delvie Mae Baldoza
Introduction
The Literature review is an important aspect in doing a
research. With a wide range of materials to choose from, the
researcher needs to select materials relevants to the study.
There are two main ways to do a literature search which are
using the traditional paper approach and electronically, by
means of computer.
Another consideration would be the types of literature
review. First, is the type of an initial collection to build
study bank of previously completed qualitative studies to
help you consider the kinds, methods and sources of
evidence for a new study.
Introduction

Second, is the type of selective review that deliberately

targets other studies and appear to cover the same topic
and helps you define your new study in your own
manner. Third, is a comprehensive review which is
conducted out of the desire to summarize what is known
on a given topic.
What is a Literature Review?

The Literature review provides an overview of what

has been written about a specific topic. The review of
Literature includes practically all the information and
data which are authoritative and relevant to the topic
of the study as in the case of research and similar
scholarly undertakings.
The Literature can cover a range of
sources, namely:
Journal articles
Monographs
Computerized databases
Conference proceedings
Theses and dissertations
Empirical studies
Government reports and reports from the other bodies
Historical records
Statistical handbooks
Some questions that can help lead you to
your choice
1. Have you clearly indicate the scope and purpose of the
review?
2. Have you included a balanced coverage of what is
available?
3. Have you included enough materials to show the
development and limitations in this area?
4. Have you included the most recent and relevant studies?
5. Have you indicated the source of the literature by
referencing accurately?
6. Have you used mostly primary sources or appropriate
secondary sources?
Why do a Literature Review?
Literature reviews may be great way to help you come up with
enriching your research idea. There also means of ensuring that your
idea/s has not been researched on by someone else. Hence, there is a
need to conduct a literature review. Dempster and Hannah (2016)
provide some reasons why a review is done.

 To indicate the research that has been conducted in the area before
to ensure that you're not 'reinventing the wheel'.
 To demonstrate that you're aware of important and recent studies in
your study area. This way you ensure that you haven't missed an
important study that makes your first imagined.
To ensure that you haven't missed literature detailing a novel way
for you to conduct your study, or pointing you to a data-collection
tool that is most appropriate for your study.

To explain the theoretical background to your proposed

researched project.

To demonstrate your ability to critically analyze the literature in

your study area. This indicates that your research idea is based on
a good understanding of previous research in the area, and it also
demonstrates your ability to highlight the existing gap or any
disagreements in the research that your study addresses.
Kinds of Literature Review

Traditional
—Also referred to as narrative literature review, it
provides a quick overview of current studies . It helps explain why
your study is important in the context of the literature and can also
help you identify areas that need further research.

Integrative
—This review synthesizes findings from different
approaches (Whittemore & Knafl, 2005) This approach allows for
the integration of qualitative with quantitative studies.
Syntactic
—This review synthesizes high quality empirical
information to answer a given research question. Conducting
a systematic review involves following vigorous predefine
protocols
"that minimizes bias and ensure transparency"

Scoping
—This review involves abroad research question that
explores the current evidence base (Armstrong & Waters,
2011). It can help inform areas that are appropriate for a
ststematic review.
Characteristics of a good Literature
Review
Consider now the materials you may cite or had cited,
relatively to your study by using the characteristics that define
a good literature review. These characteristics can serve as
criteria in selecting materials for a review of literature.
Materials must be as recent as possible. This is important
because of the changes that are going on. Sources to be
looked into must give information that are attuned to the
time frame indicated in the study.
Materials must be as objective and unbiased as possible.
Avoid data and materials which are extremely one-sided
Materials must be relevant to the study. Whatever kind of
materials is needed to explain or support the study must
have a bearing on the topic.
Materials must not be too few nor too many use discretion
on how much or many to include but there should be
enough materials included for the researcher to be able to
offer insights on the study. The availability of materials will
also be a determining factor.
Types of Sources
The other element in selecting relevant materials for the literature
review is the types of sources with which to be familiar with. Searching
for information related to the research being under taken needs time
and much thought. The sources can be classified into the following:

Primary Sources
—Publication in which researchers report the results of
their studies. Findings are commuticated by the authors directly to the
readers.
Secondary Sources
—Publications in which authors describe the work of
others.
There is also a mention of general references which can direct you
in what other materials you can get information from related to
your topic. These may be articles, monographs, books and other
documents. Most general references are either indexes, which list
the author, title and place of publications of articles and other
materials or abstracts, which give a brief summary of various
publications, as well as their author, title and place of publications.
An example frequently used by researchers in education is Current
Indexes to Journals in Education. A commonly used abstract is
Psychology Abstracts (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2008)
In effect, researchers when preparing a literatutre review need to
refer any or all of these sources to ensure that other works dealing
with their intended study can shed light on their own, as well as
glean information from them and evaluate their current work.
Using Computer for Literature Review
With the easy accessibility to the use of computers, they have
become one of the rich sources for writing a review of literature.
They are available in school libraries. Various online terminals are
linked to one or more retrieval systems that draw from a number of
databases. A most commonly used database is Education Resources
Information Center (ERIC).
Information that can be located are from data that date back to
1966. Print outs can be obtained from the search engine for the
desired references. A vast reservoir of information on all sorts of
topics which would be considered is the World Wide Web (WWW)
which is part of the internet. You can locate information on various
topics with just a few clicks of the mouse button.
Often, you can tell whether the material is relevant or not
from reading the title, if not, the abstract of the article which
May help you decide whether the article is relevant. Keep a
record of the materials you identify as relevant for your
review.
A Literature review will try to look for as much material as
possible of this existing research. It will review major scholarly
books in the relevant area, but will also take a keen interest in
journal articles, which in many subjects give more up to date
material.
Preparing a Literature Review thus involves:
Searching for reliable, accurate and up-to date material on
the topic or subject.
Reading or summarising the key points from this literature.
Synthesising these key ideas, theories and concepts into a
summary of what is known.
Discussing and evaluating these ideas, theories and
concepts.
Identifying particular areas of debate or controversy.
Preparing the ground for the application of these ideas to
new research.