Research paper and ppt

Review of the Related Literature

Benefits of Conducting a Literature ReviewBenefits of Conducting a Literature Review

• Discover if someone has already answered your research question.

• Find new ideas, perspectives, and approaches.

• Learn about other researchers who conduct work in the same area.

• Identify controversial issues and gaps in understanding that have not yet been resolved.

Benefits of Conducting a Literature Review

• Learn how others have handled methodological and design issues in studies similar to your own.

• Uncover sources of data that you may not have known existed

• Discover established measurement tools

• Interpret and make sense of your findings and tie your results to the work of those who have preceded you

Benefits of Conducting a Literature Review

• Bolster your confidence that your topic is one worth studying

The more you know about investigations and perspectives related to your topic, the more effectively you can tackle your own research problem

Locating Related Literature

Identify one or more keywords and then: • Use the library catalog and browse the

holdings • Use indexes, abstracts, and other

general references • Use online databases

 PsycINFO  ERIC  Google ScholarTM

Locating Related Literature

• Consult with reference librarians • Surf the Internet using a search engine • Examine citations and reference lists

from published work

Planning a Literature Search

• Write down the problem (on paper, the computer, brainstorming software)

• Write each subproblem • Identify important words and phrases • Translate these words and phrases into

specific topics (your agenda) • Seek out resources related to your agenda • Read

Use Your Library Time Efficiently

• Set up your own database or spreadsheet in advance  Consider bibliographic software

• Go to the library armed with data- gathering tools  Notebook, laptop

Use Your Library Time Efficiently

• Identify the materials you want to read, then determine if they are available in your library  Keep records of each search  Take advantage of computer technology

Use Your Library Time Efficiently

• Develop & implement a plan to find the sources you’ve identified, including those not immediately available

• Search in the library

 Hold or recall books that are checked out

 Use Interlibrary Loan

 Use an online document delivery service

 Order your own copies of books

• Read and take careful notes

Evaluate, Organize, Synthesize

• Determine for yourself whether the conclusions are justified based on the data.

• Organize the ideas to address the problem.

Evaluate, Organize, Synthesize

• Synthesize what you’ve learned  Identify common themes  Show how approaches to the topic have

changed over time  Compare and contrast theoretical positions  Describe general trends  Identify and explain discrepant or

contradictory findings

Writing a Clear and Cohesive Literature Review

• Get the proper psychological orientation  Know what you want to do

• Develop an organizational plan or outline • Emphasize relatedness

 how the literature is related to the problem

• Use logical transitions

Writing a Clear and Cohesive Literature Review

• Use appropriate paraphrases and citations  Changing a just few words is still plagiarizing  Credit people whose ideas you are using  Use direct quotations only when necessary

• Summarize what you’ve said • Plan to revise • Ask others for advice and feedback