How do films & TV shows influence our level of tolerance and respect towards cultural diversity and ethnicity? Analyze at least 5 TV shows and films
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literature_review.pptx
Abeer Najjar
Literature Review: consult the literature so you do not invent the wheel
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The Research Process: Getting Started
Researcher as a detective
Seeking answers to questions
Answer exists, but is unknown to you
If the answer is not known or available, conduct research to find the answer
Research process depends on your abilities to search for and track down information
Overview
What is a Literature Review?
Purpose- Why?
Research reports (types)
Research Article
Why write a review of the Literature?
Main tasks
Questions and comments
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What is a Literature Review?
is a classification and evaluation of what accredited scholars and researchers have written on a topic, organized according to a guiding concept such as your research objective, thesis, or the problem/issue you wish to address.
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A review of the literature is a classification and evaluation of what accredited scholars and researchers have written on a topic, organized according to a guiding concept such as your research objective, thesis, or the problem/issue you wish to address.
Researchers don’t work in a vacuum, their research is built on previous work done on a topic
Knowing what others have done and helps “reinventing the wheel”
Purpose- Why?
“A literature review allows you to examine the research question in greater detail by considering what others have said about the topic, what they have shown in their studies, and how they have studied the topic”
(Szuchman & Thomlinson, 2000, p. 41)
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Reviewing previous research is bound to shape a new study in a number of ways:
The purpose of one’s study may be affected: researchers start with a tentative idea, but as they explore the relevant literature, they discover not only what has been done, but also what has not been done and what might be worth doing
Previous research is used to provide support for, or shape, the formal research question or hypotheses posed
As researchers review relevant literature, they also look at how those studies were conducted, gathering ideas for the design o their own studies
They looked at how the variables of interest were defined and measured
How the data were collected
And possible ways of analyzing the data
Research reports (types)
Secondary research report (textbook, book, mass media)
Primary research report (actual studies as reported for the first time by the person (s) who conducted the research)
a scholarly article
a scholarly text (edited texts)
a conference paper
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The search for previous research:
it begins by understanding the types of literature available and where they can be found
Types of research reports:
Secondary research report (textbook, book, mass media): a report of a research study by someone other than the person who conducted the study or a later report by the person who conducted the study that cites or uses the primary report that has already appeared elsewhere
Most people’s exposure to secondary research reports comes from the mass media –the newspapers and magazines they read, the radio program or TV news
Researchers’
Primary research report (actual studies as reported for the first time by the person (s) who conducted the research)
Scholarly journal: is the most important source for locating primary research reports. Sometimes they publish book reviews
The main advantage of scholarly journal is that unlike some other sources, the importance and accuracy of the reported results have been reviewed by a panel of experts in the field before being published
a scholarly article
a scholarly text (edited texts): here a scholar collects original research studies about a particular topic and puts them together in a book, typically with introduction that frames the study and perhaps a concluding chapter that comments on them.
a conference paper: a manuscript presented at a scholarly conference
Research Article
Abstract (one paragraph)
Introduction (1-2 pages)
Literature review
A formal Research question or hypothesis (problem statement)
Methodology
Results
Discussion
References
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Abstract: a summary of the important points in the article , typically one paragraph long. It includes the most important information included in the article, the aims of the study, methods used, prominent findings.
It can tell you whether the article is relevant and can be included in your study or not and where to read in the article.
Introduction: gives an insight into the topic and why it is important to be studied
It establishes the purpose and the significance of the study
Literature review meant to provide a coherent and comprehensive understanding of the relevant research previously done
Research question: explaining how the research question grew out of what was learned from the literature review
Methods: explain exactly how the research was conducted
Results: what was found
WHY WRITE A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE?
Your objective is not to rack up points by listing as many articles as possible; rather, you want to demonstrate your intellectual ability to recognize relevant information, and to synthesize and evaluate it according to the guiding concept you have determined for yourself. Your reader not only wants to know what literature exists, but also your informed evaluation of the literature.
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Combine: synthesize: produce
Main tasks
organize information and relate it to the thesis or research question you are developing
synthesize results into a summary of what is and isn't known
identify controversy when it appears in the literature
develop questions for further research
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A literature review is NOT just a summary, but a conceptually organized synthesis of the results of your search. It must
organize information and relate it to the thesis or research question you are developing
synthesize results into a summary of what is and isn't known
identify controversy when it appears in the literature
develop questions for further research
In the body, you should:
Group research studies and other types of literature (reviews, theoretical articles, case studies, etc.) according to common denominators such as qualitative versus quantitative approaches, conclusions of authors, specific purpose or objective, chronology, etc.
Summarize individual studies or articles with as much or as little detail as each merits according to its comparative importance in the literature, remembering that space (length) denotes significance.
Provide the reader with strong "umbrella" sentences at beginnings of paragraphs, "signposts" throughout, and brief "so what" summary sentences at intermediate points in the review to aid in understanding comparisons and analyses.
Identify key terms
Keyword search for each term in university catalog
Keyword search to combine terms
Examine resources for alternative keywords
Communication databases
Expanded Academic Index
Read articles and books
Can you answer your question?
Basic Library Search
Adjusting the Question
Adjust your question as you learn more
Incorporate information you find into your question
Did you uncover any relevant theories?
Do theories provide competing explanations?
Reading Scholarly Books & Articles
Evaluate the quality of the information
Get a historical overview
Start with a literature review
Identify primary ideas and conclusions
Track down others’ references
Summarize what you’ve found
The Role of Theory in Research
Generally, quantitative research starts with theory
Generally, qualitative research answers questions to develop theory
Theories are . . .
Developed and tested incrementally over time
Never complete
Theory-Research Link
Theory
provides patterns for interpreting data
links one study to another
provides a framework for understanding how communication concepts and issues are important
helps us interpret the meaning of research findings
Theory-Research Link
Scientific inquiry is a process of developing and testing theory
Process is not always linear
Meaningful inquiry drives theory or is theory-driven
Multiple studies used to develop or challenge theory
Continuing with the Research Process
Repeat work of others if it is flawed or dated
Disagreement among scholars may suggest a study
Develop research studies to fill in the gaps
Develop research studies to answer the questions previous research results raise
Questions and comments
?
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