Week1: HealthcareCapstone

The Literature Review

The “literature” represents an on-going scholarly conversation.

A literature review “re-views” – looks again – at what others have said, done, found in a particular area.

The “literature” you choose will inform and underpin everything you write, so plan searches carefully.

Search1

An effective literature search:

• reduces time spent looking for information • maximizes quality and appropriateness of results • helps clarify the scope of your research topic • helps define and “refine” the research question(s) • helps find data and research methods • helps locate a ‘niche’ in the literature • helps identify experts/ important works in the field

Assess the relevance of the literature

Topic relevance: Is the literature on the same topic as you proposed to study?

Individual and site relevance: Does the literature examine the same individuals and sites you want

to study?

If not

Re-search if necessary – revise strategies, select new keywords, change databases, etc.

Re-fine the research question(s)

Re-assess the relevance of the literature

Repeat process if necessary

Summarize each source with a matrix2

Summarize each source to:

• Recap the important and most relevant information found in each source • Identify variables • Identify context/ setting • Identify theories • Identify findings

1 Need help with search strategies? Contact your VCU Library Liaison http://www.library.vcu.edu/liaisons/ 2 This Literature Review Guide includes several matrices http://guides.library.vcu.edu/lit-review

Synthesize the body of literature

Integrate the literature – enter into the on-going scholarly conversation with your own narrative

about how these perspectives, findings, conclusions, fit together with one another – and – with

your research questions

• Identify similarities and differences • Trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates • Reflect upon the importance of the body of literature for your research • Evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant.

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Nita Bryant [email protected] Revised 11/18/2013