Dissertation
G003
lecture2.pptxIP3017 Final Year Dissertation
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Session 2: Literature Review & Finding Sources
Recap: The Research Process
Question
Literature Review
Method
Analysis
Theoretical Framework
The Research Question
Your research needs to be driven by and to pivot around a central research question
Everything that you include and do needs respond to this question.
You need explain exactly how everything you are including/doing is working to respond to your research question.
You must state it explicitly at the very outset of your introduction and refer back to it as much as possible
The Literature Review
What is a literature review?
Your appraisal of existing works on your topic.
No topic is completely new – we draw on existing studies
A process of reading, thinking, and writing about the literature.
Results in a short, written synthesis of previous research on a particular topic.
Where does the Lit Review belong?
Introduction
Introduce research question/s
Set the scene (context: empirical and academic)
Provide summary of what’s to come
Literature Review(/Theoretical Framework)*
What has everyone else in academia already said?
What are the key academic debates in this area?
What are the key theories in the literature that are informing your research
What are the key concepts you will be working with?
Methodology
Research Method/s
Discussion/Analysis
Conclusions
Bibliography
*
What is a literature review for?
To achieve a general overview of a body of research with which you are not familiar
To discover what has already been done well and not waste time “reinventing the wheel”
To determine where there are flaws in existing research are
To place your research in identifiable scholarly literature
Identify your ‘original contribution’
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How do I conduct a Literature Review?
Collect Academic Sources
Read Analytically
Summarize the literature
Connect your research to the literature
**These stages happen simultaneously in practice**
Step 2: Reading Critically
The purpose of an academic text:
It is your job to analyse how successfully the author makes their point:
Important information for reference lists and citations!
Summary of the source
Critique of the article
The bigger picture
Adapted from Cottrell (2011)
Step 3: Writing the Lit Review
“Conventional Wisdom” Model:
What the existing studies have in common? What is the “conventional wisdom” about a subject?
“Ongoing Debates” Model:
What the studies disagree about? What are the main “camps” or “schools of thought”?
Thematically:
What are the key themes running through the literature? How do different authors approach these?
Step 4: From the Literature Review to your Research
The conclusion of the literature review should indicate how your research will relate to what other scholars have done so far
Will your research:
Question the conventional wisdom? Are there areas where the literature is inconclusive?
Weigh in on an existing controversy in the literature? Providing evidence for one side or the other
Fill a Gap Theoretical? Is there any alternative theory that no scholar discussing that topic has yet to consider?
Fill an Empirical gap? Is there any relevant historical case or source of data that has been overlooked in answering that question?
Reminders: Literature Review
Content
1) review of what is already known/argued on your topic
2) review of theoretical approaches and methodology used by others to research your topic or similar issues
How
Show relationship between sources – not just an analysis of each source in turn
Show how sources relate to your research – what is useful and why, how will you extend or refine the existing literature?
Organise by theme, not by publication date or author
Not just a description or summary or other people’s work
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What is bad about the literature review?
Sessions
TERM 1
Tuesday 12th November (wk 8), 4pm - 6pm, Room ELG15
Using Theory
TERM 2
Wednesday 29th January (wk 2), 9am-11am, Room: Geary
Conducting Research/Writing your thesis
Wednesday 18th March (wk 9), 9am -11am, Room: Geary
Final Q&A session
