Literature review

 As stated by the website (Canberra.edu.au, 2012), is a explanation of a literature significant to a certain topic, it commonly writen as a thesis proposal. The key reason or the purpose of a literature review is to show the research that was done on a certain area (Taylor, 2002).

According to the website (The Writing Center, 2013), a literature review is gathering information on a certain area or topic that is published within specified time period.  It could also be combination of summary and synthesis, where a summary is a review of significant information of a source and a synthesis is a reallocation of that information.

Purposes of Literature Review

The purposes of a literature review are stated below: -

Ø  To demonstrate your scholarly ability to identify relevant information and to outline existing knowledge (The Learning Centre UNSW, 2013).

Ø  To recognize models and case studies of the relevant topic (Literature review, 2013).

Ø  Place each work in the context of its contribution to the understanding of the research problem being studied (USC libraries, 2013).

Ø  To resolve conflicts amongst seemingly contradictory previous studies (USC libraries, 2013).

Ø  To produce a rationale or justification for your study (The Learning Centre UNSW, 2013).

Ø  To evaluate and synthesis the information in line with the concepts that you have set yourself for the research (The Learning Centre UNSW, 2013).

Ø  To identify the 'gap' in the research that your study is attempting to address, positioning your work in the context of previous research and creating a 'research space' for your work (The Learning Centre UNSW, 2013).

Types of Literature Review

According to USC libraries website (2013) there are 6 types of literature reviews, they are:

Ø  Argumentative review

Ø  Integrative review

Ø  Historical review

Ø  Methodological review

Ø  Systematic review

Ø  Theoretical review

Steps to prepare a literature review

As stated by the website of (University of Canberra.edu, 2013) and (Concordia Libraries.ca, 2013) the steps that are used to prepare a literature review are as follows.

1.      The literature search

An overview of the subject, issue or theory under consideration, along with the objectives of the literature review

2.      Noting the bibliographical details

Division of works under review into categories (e.g. those in support of a particular position, those against, and those offering alternative theses entirely)

3.      Finding the literature

Explanation of how each work is similar to and how it varies from the others

4.      Reading the literature

Conclusions as to which pieces are best considered in their argument, are most convincing of their opinions, and make the greatest contribution to the understanding and development of their area of research

5.      Writing the review

 

Reference

Canberra.edu.au (2012) Writing a Literature Review : Academic Skills Centre : University of Canberra, [Online], Available: http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/literature [14 Jan 2013].

Concordia Libraries.ca (2013) How to write a literature review, [Online], Available: http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/litreview.php [13 Jan 2013].

Literature review (2013) Literature review, [Online], Available: https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/2_assessmenttasks/assess_tuts/lit_review_LL/purpose.html [12 Jan 2013].

Taylor, D. (2002) The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It, [Online], Available: http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/literature-review [12 Jan 2013].

The Learning Centre UNSW (2013) Getting Started on your Literature Review : Academic Skills Resources, The Learning Centre UNSW, [Online], Available: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/litrev.html [11 Jan 2013].

The Writing Center (2013) Literature Reviews, [Online], Available: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/literature-reviews/ [10 Jan 2013].

University of Canberra.edu (2013) Writing a Literature Review , [Online], Available: http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/literature [13 Jan 2013].

USC libraries (2013) he Literature Review - Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper - LibGuides at University of Southern California, [Online], Available: http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=615851 [11 Jan 2013].