SELECTING

RELEVANT
LITERATURE
 SPECIFICALLY, AFTER
WORKING ON THIS MODULE,
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
•1. Select related literature for review.
• 2. Identify different types of sources for literature
review.
•3. Realize the importance of a good literature review.
 YOUR READINESS
CHECK
•Imagine you are in a library browsing
through its book and resource collection.
List ten possible resources that you can
use in your chosen study.
 YOUR INITIAL TASK
• TRUE OR FALSE. Write True if the statement is correct and
False if the statement is wrong.
•1. Preparing literature review involves searching for
reliable, accurate and up – to – date material on the
topic or subject.
•2. Materials are not necessarily relevant to the study.
•3. Journals which are usually published monthly,
quarterly or bi-annually fall under primary
sources.
•4. Literature review is done to ensure that you’re
not ‘reinventing the wheel’.
•5. Scoping provides a quick overview of current
studies.
 WHAT IS LITERATURE
REVIEW?
•A 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 other bodies
•  Historical records
•  Statistical handbook
 SINCE THERE ARE VARYING SOURCES FROM WHICH YOU CAN
DEDUCE, BASE AND DERIVE LITERATURE REVIEW, HERE ARE
SOME QUESTIONS THAT CAN HELP LEAD YOU TO YOUR CHOICE.
• 1. Have you clearly indicated 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?
• Dempster and Hannah (2016) provide some reasons why a
review is done. These are the following:
• Toindicate 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 research
idea seem less brilliant than you first imagined.
• To ensure that you haven't missed literature detailing a novel way
for you to conduct your study is , or pointing you to a data-
collection tool that is most appropriate for your study.
• To explain the theoretical background to your proposed research
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 areas that your study addresses.
KINDS OF LITERATURE REVIEWS
• After having answered the questions above and having known the reasons for
doing a literature review, you should notes the kinds of literature review. These are
the following:

•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 is allows for
the integration of qualitative with quantitative studies.
• Syntactic. This review synthesizes high quality empirical information to
answer a given research question. Syntax in literature refers to the way in
which words and sentences are placed together. Usually in the English
language the syntax should follow a pattern of subject-verb-object
agreement but sometimes authors play around with this to achieve a lyrical,
rhythmic, rhetoric or questioning effect.
• Scoping. This review involves a broad research question that explores the
current evidence base ( Armstrong, Hall, Doyle & Waters, 2011). It can help
inform areas that are appropriate for a systematic review.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD
LITERATURE REVIEW
•1. 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.
•2. Materials must be as objective and as unbiased as
possible. Avoid data and materials which are extremely
one-sided.
•3. 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.
•4. Materials must not be too few but nor too many. Use
your 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
• 1. Primary Sources- publications in which researchers report the results of
their studies. Findings are communicated by the authors directly to the
readers. Most materials that fall under this type are journals which are
usually published monthly, quarterly or bi-annually. Each article deals with a
particular research or study.
• 2. Secondary Sources- publications in which authors describe the work of
others ( Fraenkel & Wallen ,2008). Textbook is a familiar example of this
type. This is also used for different courses offered in the curriculum. Other
examples used are encyclopedias, research reviews and yearbooks.
 USING COMPUTER FOR
LITERATURE
• 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 and most public libraries. Various online computer 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. Printouts can be obtained from the search engine for
the desired references. A vast reservoir of information on all sorts of topics 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.
 PREPARING A LITERATURE
REVIEW THUS INVOLVES:
• Searching for reliable, accurate and up-to date material on the topic or
subject.
• Reading and summarizing the key points from this literature.
• Synthesizing 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
 YOUR DISCOVERY TASKS
•List at least ten key words or phrases coming from your
research title. Then opposite to each term is a possible
source material that you can use as reference for your
study. You may browse from the internet or materials
such as books, newspapers, and magazines you have at
home. Follow the format below in accomplishing the
task. Write your answer in a separate paper.
• Term –
• Source:
• Author:
• Date:
• Title:
• URL: (if its from an internet website)
• Publisher: (if from books, magazines, newspapers)
• Edition: Vol.: Page:
 EXAMPLE:
• Topic: Reasons for College Students in Transferring to Other
Schools
• Terms: Reasons for transferring
Source: Internet website
Author: Laskily, Jones.
Date: July 8, 2019
Title: Reasons Why Students Transfer URL:https://collegetransfer.net