2. AgendaAgenda
What is a review of the literature?What is a review of the literature?
A Good Literature ReviewA Good Literature Review
Ask Yourself QuestionsAsk Yourself Questions
So what is a literature review?So what is a literature review?
Now you can start writingNow you can start writing
Quoting referenceQuoting reference
Quoting “actual script” into your writingQuoting “actual script” into your writing
3. What is a review of the literature?What is a review of the literature?
A literature review is anA literature review is an
account of what has beenaccount of what has been
published on a topic bypublished on a topic by
accredited scholars andaccredited scholars and
researchers.researchers.
You will be required toYou will be required to
write a chapter onwrite a chapter on
literature review.literature review.
4. What is a review of the literature?What is a review of the literature?
In writing the literatureIn writing the literature
review, your purpose isreview, your purpose is
to convey to your readerto convey to your reader
what knowledge andwhat knowledge and
ideas have beenideas have been
established on the topicestablished on the topic
you have chosen, andyou have chosen, and
what their strengths andwhat their strengths and
weaknesses are.weaknesses are.
5. What is a review of the literature?What is a review of the literature?
As a piece of writing, theAs a piece of writing, the
literature review must beliterature review must be
defined by a guidingdefined by a guiding
concept (e.g., yourconcept (e.g., your
research objective, theresearch objective, the
problem or issue you areproblem or issue you are
discussing, or yourdiscussing, or your
argumentative thesis). Itargumentative thesis). It
is not a descriptive list ofis not a descriptive list of
the material available, orthe material available, or
a set of summaries.a set of summaries.
6. A Good Literature Review is:A Good Literature Review is:
FocusedFocused - The topic should be narrow. You should only present- The topic should be narrow. You should only present
ideas and only report on studies that are closely related to topic.ideas and only report on studies that are closely related to topic.
ConciseConcise - Ideas should be presented economically. Don’t take- Ideas should be presented economically. Don’t take
any more space than you need to present your ideas.any more space than you need to present your ideas.
LogicalLogical - The flow within and among paragraphs should be a- The flow within and among paragraphs should be a
smooth, logical progression from one idea to the nextsmooth, logical progression from one idea to the next
DevelopedDeveloped - Don’t leave the story half told.- Don’t leave the story half told.
IntegrativeIntegrative - Your paper should stress how the ideas in the- Your paper should stress how the ideas in the
studies are related. Focus on the big picture. What commonalitystudies are related. Focus on the big picture. What commonality
do all the studies share? How are some studies different thando all the studies share? How are some studies different than
others? Your paper should stress how all the studies reviewedothers? Your paper should stress how all the studies reviewed
contribute to your topic.contribute to your topic.
CurrentCurrent - Your review should focus on work being done on the- Your review should focus on work being done on the
cutting edge of your topic.cutting edge of your topic.
7. Besides enlarging your knowledgeBesides enlarging your knowledge
about the topic, writing a literatureabout the topic, writing a literature
review lets you gain and demonstratereview lets you gain and demonstrate
skills in two areas:skills in two areas:
information seekinginformation seeking: the ability to scan the: the ability to scan the
literature efficiently, using manual orliterature efficiently, using manual or
computerized methods, to identify a set ofcomputerized methods, to identify a set of
useful articles and booksuseful articles and books
critical appraisalcritical appraisal: the ability to apply principles: the ability to apply principles
of analysis to identify unbiased and valid studies.of analysis to identify unbiased and valid studies.
8. A literature review must do theseA literature review must do these
things:things:
be organized around and related directly to thebe organized around and related directly to the
thesis or research question you are developingthesis or research question you are developing
synthesize results into a summary of what is andsynthesize results into a summary of what is and
is not knownis not known
identify areas of controversy in the literatureidentify areas of controversy in the literature
formulate questions that need further researchformulate questions that need further research
9. Ask yourself questions like these:Ask yourself questions like these:
What is theWhat is the specific thesis, problem, or researchspecific thesis, problem, or research
questionquestion that my literature review helps to define?that my literature review helps to define?
WhatWhat typetype of literature review am I conducting? Am Iof literature review am I conducting? Am I
looking at issues of theory? methodology? policy?looking at issues of theory? methodology? policy?
quantitative research (e.g. on the effectiveness of a newquantitative research (e.g. on the effectiveness of a new
procedure)? qualitative research (e.g., studies )?procedure)? qualitative research (e.g., studies )?
What is theWhat is the scopescope of my literature review? What typesof my literature review? What types
of publications am I using (e.g., journals, books,of publications am I using (e.g., journals, books,
government documents, popular media)? Whatgovernment documents, popular media)? What
discipline am I working in (e.g., environment,discipline am I working in (e.g., environment,
geotechnical engineering, transportation, structure)?geotechnical engineering, transportation, structure)?
10. Ask yourself questions like these:Ask yourself questions like these:
How good was myHow good was my information seekinginformation seeking? Has my? Has my
search been wide enough to ensure I've found all thesearch been wide enough to ensure I've found all the
relevant material? Has it been narrow enough torelevant material? Has it been narrow enough to
exclude irrelevant material? Is the number of sourcesexclude irrelevant material? Is the number of sources
I've used appropriate for the length of my paper?I've used appropriate for the length of my paper?
Have IHave I critically analyzedcritically analyzed the literature I use? Do Ithe literature I use? Do I
follow through a set of concepts and questions,follow through a set of concepts and questions,
comparing items to each other in the ways they dealcomparing items to each other in the ways they deal
with them? Instead of just listing and summarizingwith them? Instead of just listing and summarizing
items, do I assess them, discussing strengths anditems, do I assess them, discussing strengths and
weaknesses?weaknesses?
Have I cited and discussed studiesHave I cited and discussed studies contrarycontrary to myto my
perspective?perspective?
Will the reader find my literature reviewWill the reader find my literature review relevant,relevant,
appropriate, and usefulappropriate, and useful??
11. Ask yourself questions like these aboutAsk yourself questions like these about
each text book or article you include:each text book or article you include:
Has the author formulated a problem/issue?Has the author formulated a problem/issue?
Is it clearly defined? Is its significance (scope,Is it clearly defined? Is its significance (scope,
severity, relevance) clearly established?severity, relevance) clearly established?
Could the problem have been approached moreCould the problem have been approached more
effectively from another perspective?effectively from another perspective?
What is the author's research orientation (e.g.,What is the author's research orientation (e.g.,
interpretive, critical science, combination)?interpretive, critical science, combination)?
12. Ask yourself questions like these aboutAsk yourself questions like these about
each book or article you include:each book or article you include:
What is the author's theoretical framework (e.g.,What is the author's theoretical framework (e.g.,
psychological, developmental, feminist)?psychological, developmental, feminist)?
What is the relationship between the theoretical andWhat is the relationship between the theoretical and
research perspectives?research perspectives?
Has the author evaluated the literature relevant to theHas the author evaluated the literature relevant to the
problem/issue? Does the author include literatureproblem/issue? Does the author include literature
taking positions she or he does not agree with?taking positions she or he does not agree with?
In a research study, how good are the basicIn a research study, how good are the basic
components of the study design (e.g., population,components of the study design (e.g., population,
intervention, outcome)? How accurate and valid are theintervention, outcome)? How accurate and valid are the
measurements? Is the analysis of the data accurate andmeasurements? Is the analysis of the data accurate and
relevant to the research question? Are the conclusionsrelevant to the research question? Are the conclusions
validly based upon the data and analysis?validly based upon the data and analysis?
13. Ask yourself questions like these aboutAsk yourself questions like these about
each book or article you include:each book or article you include:
In material written for a popular readership, does the author useIn material written for a popular readership, does the author use
appeals to emotion, one-sided examples, or rhetorically-chargedappeals to emotion, one-sided examples, or rhetorically-charged
language and tone? Is there an objective basis to the reasoning,language and tone? Is there an objective basis to the reasoning,
or is the author merely "proving" what he or she alreadyor is the author merely "proving" what he or she already
believes?believes?
How does the author structure the argument? Can youHow does the author structure the argument? Can you
"deconstruct" the flow of the argument to see whether or where"deconstruct" the flow of the argument to see whether or where
it breaks down logically (e.g., in establishing cause-effectit breaks down logically (e.g., in establishing cause-effect
relationships)?relationships)?
In what ways does this book or article contribute to yourIn what ways does this book or article contribute to your
understanding of the problem under study, and in what ways is itunderstanding of the problem under study, and in what ways is it
useful for practice? What are the strengths and limitations?useful for practice? What are the strengths and limitations?
How does this book or article relate to the specific thesis orHow does this book or article relate to the specific thesis or
question I am developing?question I am developing?
14. So what is a literature review?So what is a literature review?
A literature review is a piece ofA literature review is a piece of discursive prosediscursive prose, not a, not a
list describing or summarizing one piece of literaturelist describing or summarizing one piece of literature
after another. It's usually a bad sign to see everyafter another. It's usually a bad sign to see every
paragraph beginning with the name of a researcher.paragraph beginning with the name of a researcher.
Instead, organize the literature review into sections thatInstead, organize the literature review into sections that
present themes or identify trends, including relevantpresent themes or identify trends, including relevant
theory. You are not trying to list all the materialtheory. You are not trying to list all the material
published, but to synthesize and evaluate it according topublished, but to synthesize and evaluate it according to
the guiding concept of your thesis or research question.the guiding concept of your thesis or research question.
15. Now you can start writingNow you can start writing
DECIDE ON A TOPICDECIDE ON A TOPIC
NARROW YOUR TOPICNARROW YOUR TOPIC
CREATE AN INTRODUCTION FOR YOUR LITERATURE REVIEWCREATE AN INTRODUCTION FOR YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW
ORGANIZE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPERORGANIZE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER
Scan each article to get an overview of each one.Scan each article to get an overview of each one.
Group the articles by categories.Group the articles by categories.
Read each article carefully, taking notes on each one.Read each article carefully, taking notes on each one.
WRITE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER WRITE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER
Make the structure and organization of your write-up explicit.Make the structure and organization of your write-up explicit.
Integrate the studies you summarize in your paper.Integrate the studies you summarize in your paper.
At the end of each section wrap up studies in a paragraph that tells the reader howAt the end of each section wrap up studies in a paragraph that tells the reader how
the studies relate and address your topic.the studies relate and address your topic.
Make sure you take note of key terms and definitions.Make sure you take note of key terms and definitions.
Identify landmark studies in your write-upIdentify landmark studies in your write-up
Identify major trends across the studies you are reading.Identify major trends across the studies you are reading.
WRAP THE PAPER UPWRAP THE PAPER UP
Present your conclusionsPresent your conclusions..
Present implications.Present implications.
Present suggestions for future researchPresent suggestions for future research. .
16. Quoting reference into your writingQuoting reference into your writing
Quoting: (Author, Year)Quoting: (Author, Year)
Quoting: Author (Year)Quoting: Author (Year)
Quoting: (Author1 and Author2, Year)Quoting: (Author1 and Author2, Year)
Quoting: Author1 and Author2 (Year)Quoting: Author1 and Author2 (Year)
Quoting: (Author1 et al., Year)Quoting: (Author1 et al., Year)
Quoting: Author1 et al. (Year)Quoting: Author1 et al. (Year)
Quoting: (Author, Year1, Year2, Year3, Year4)Quoting: (Author, Year1, Year2, Year3, Year4)
Quoting: (Author1, Year1 and Author2, Year2)Quoting: (Author1, Year1 and Author2, Year2)
Quoting: (Author1, Year1; Author2, Year2; andQuoting: (Author1, Year1; Author2, Year2; and
Author3, Year3)Author3, Year3)
17. Quoting reference into your writingQuoting reference into your writing
Ground motion was first incorporated into slope stabilityGround motion was first incorporated into slope stability
analyses to study the effects from earthquakes (Sarma 1973).analyses to study the effects from earthquakes (Sarma 1973).
This paper will not go much into the matters on pseudo-staticThis paper will not go much into the matters on pseudo-static
and permanent displacement concepts as discussed by Newmarkand permanent displacement concepts as discussed by Newmark
(1965), Chang et al. (1983), Lin and Whitman (1986), Kobayashi(1965), Chang et al. (1983), Lin and Whitman (1986), Kobayashi
et al. (1990), Yegian et al. (1991), Leshchinsky and San (1994),et al. (1990), Yegian et al. (1991), Leshchinsky and San (1994),
and Kramer and Smith (1997). Instead, it will refer to works byand Kramer and Smith (1997). Instead, it will refer to works by
Sarma (1973, 1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974),Sarma (1973, 1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974),
Kjartannsson (1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988),Kjartannsson (1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988),
Kavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and the authorsKavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and the authors
own earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamat and Chitomboown earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamat and Chitombo
2003), on how ground accelerations were computed into forces2003), on how ground accelerations were computed into forces
that were used in the pseudo-static or permanent displacementthat were used in the pseudo-static or permanent displacement
ideas.ideas.
18. Quoting reference into your writingQuoting reference into your writing
This discussion highlights the relevance of Sarma’sThis discussion highlights the relevance of Sarma’s
method on the emerging interest in the country in somemethod on the emerging interest in the country in some
areas of earthquake engineering (Adnan et al., 2005).areas of earthquake engineering (Adnan et al., 2005).
This discussion will refer to works by Sarma (1973,This discussion will refer to works by Sarma (1973,
1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974), Kjartannsson1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974), Kjartannsson
(1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988),(1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988),
Kavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and theKavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and the
authors own earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamatauthors own earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamat
and Chitombo 2003), on how ground accelerationsand Chitombo 2003), on how ground accelerations
were computed into forces that were used in thewere computed into forces that were used in the
pseudo-static or permanent displacement ideas.pseudo-static or permanent displacement ideas.
19. Quoting “actual script” into yourQuoting “actual script” into your
writingwriting
Dowding (1996) writes “….too little experienceDowding (1996) writes “….too little experience
from ….earthquake engineering has spilled intofrom ….earthquake engineering has spilled into
….blasting vibrations”.….blasting vibrations”.
20. Quoting “actual script” into yourQuoting “actual script” into your
writingwriting
The trend as indicated in Fig. 1 is currently happening.The trend as indicated in Fig. 1 is currently happening.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
East
West
North
Fig. 1 – Growth in Waste Recycling Activity. (After Aziz, 2004)Fig. 1 – Growth in Waste Recycling Activity. (After Aziz, 2004)
21. Listing your referenceListing your reference
Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name ofAuthor, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name of
Journal/Bulletin. Vol. No. pp.Journal/Bulletin. Vol. No. pp.
Author1, Author2, Author3, Author4, Year. Title ofAuthor1, Author2, Author3, Author4, Year. Title of
Paper/Article. Name of Journal. Vol. No. pp.Paper/Article. Name of Journal. Vol. No. pp.
Author, Year. Title of Book. Publisher. Place. pp.Author, Year. Title of Book. Publisher. Place. pp.
Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name ofAuthor, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name of
Proceeding of Conference. Place. pp.Proceeding of Conference. Place. pp.
Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name of Report.Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name of Report.
Name of Organization. Place. pp.Name of Organization. Place. pp.
Http://www1.eng.usm.my/awam/servisHttp://www1.eng.usm.my/awam/servis
22. What is PlagiarismWhat is Plagiarism
Rewriting someone else’s script without quotingRewriting someone else’s script without quoting
the source.the source.
Rewriting someone else’s script as if it is yourRewriting someone else’s script as if it is your
ownown
Cutting and Pasting internet materialsCutting and Pasting internet materials
Publishing someone else’s result withoutPublishing someone else’s result without
permissionpermission
Reproducing someone else’s figure or tableReproducing someone else’s figure or table
without quoting source (as after Author, year)without quoting source (as after Author, year)
23. References
Benos, D., Reich, M. “Benos, D., Reich, M. “Peer review and publication in APS journalsPeer review and publication in APS journals.”.”
http://www.the-aps.org/careers/careers1/EBSymposia/Benos2003.ppthttp://www.the-aps.org/careers/careers1/EBSymposia/Benos2003.ppt
Day, RA. “Day, RA. “How to write and publish a scientific paperHow to write and publish a scientific paper,” 5,” 5thth
edition, Oryx Press, 1998.edition, Oryx Press, 1998.
Fischer BA, Zigmond MJ. “Fischer BA, Zigmond MJ. “Components of a research articleComponents of a research article.”.” survival@pitt.edusurvival@pitt.edu
Hall, JE.Hall, JE. “Writing research papers (and getting them published)”“Writing research papers (and getting them published)”
http://dor.umc.edu/ARCHIVES/GMarshallPublishingarticle.ppthttp://dor.umc.edu/ARCHIVES/GMarshallPublishingarticle.ppt
Machi, Lawrence A. and Brenda T. McEvoy. 2008.Machi, Lawrence A. and Brenda T. McEvoy. 2008. The Literature Review: Six Steps toThe Literature Review: Six Steps to
Success.Success. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Marshal GS. “Marshal GS. “Writing a peer reviewed articleWriting a peer reviewed article.”.”
http://dor.umc.edu/ARCHIVES/GMarshallPublishingarticle.ppthttp://dor.umc.edu/ARCHIVES/GMarshallPublishingarticle.ppt
Pan, M. Ling. 2008.Pan, M. Ling. 2008. Preparing Literature Reviews: Qualitative and QuantitativePreparing Literature Reviews: Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches.Approaches. 33rdrd
Ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.Ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.
