chapter 3 copyright © allyn & bacon 2008 locating and reviewing related literature this...

Chapter 3

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Locating and Reviewing Related Literature

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Discussion Topics


General and specific purposes for reviewing the literature

Locating literatureSix steps for conducting a reviewCriteria for evaluating a review of the

literature

The Purposes of a Review


General purpose - to relate previous research to the current problem being investigatedProvide contextual understandingContribute to the overall evaluation of the

credibility of the researchIndicate whether the nature of the research

is targeted to the reader’s needs



Specific purposesRefine the problem

Identify specific ways in which others have defined the general problem

Identify delimitations related to the problem Identify operational definitions of the variables in the

problemDevelop the significance of the research

Establish the importance of the current study in the context of what is known at this time

Integrate the results of the study within the broader context of what is known at this time



Specific purposesIdentify specific methods for conducting the research

Identify appropriate sampling strategies and samples Identify appropriate instruments to measure important

variables Identify specific procedures to use in conducting the

research Identify appropriate designs to use when conducting the

researchIdentify contradictory findings

Uncover studies or theories that contradict one another Identify reasons for the contradictions



Specific purposesDevelop specific research hypotheses

Prior studies contribute to understanding likely outcomes of the current investigation

Prior studies identify relevant theories or the research related to them which can serve as the basis for specific hypotheses

Learn new informationRelevant information to the current studyNew information or ideas unrelated to the current study

but of interest to the researcher

Locating Resources


Library resourcesReference materialsJournal indicesComputer softwareStacks

Internet resources and access

Steps for Conducting a Review


Step 1 – Review secondary sourcesSecondary sources summarize, review, or discuss

original research of others to provide an overview of the topicTextbooks, scholarly books, and monographsEncyclopediasReviews, handbooks, and yearbooks Meta-analyses - quantitative syntheses of a number of

studies to arrive at an overall conclusion related to the topic being studied ERIC Meta-Analysis Digests in educational research Best Evidence Synthesis - a review of quantitative and

qualitative studies selected according to specified criteria



Step 1 – Select a Topic and Key TermsGeneral or specificIdentify key termsUtilize the ERIC Thesaurus for searchingIdentify other databases for your topicStart your search with general terms first



Step 2 – Identify Database and Access SoftwareIdentify the keyword descriptors using the

ERIC ThesaurusPsycINFO databaseFor psychological research consult the Thesaurus of

Psychological Index Terms available in most libraries or through the American Psychological Association (APA)



Step 3 – Conduct SearchEducational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

ERIC – a federally funded information network that is designed to provide access to education literature (www.eric.gov.ed)

Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE) - abstracts of articles compiled from approximately 1000 educational journals and periodicals

Resources in Education (RIE) - abstracts of research reports not published in journals (e.g., conference papers; project reports; federal, state, and local agency documents; etc.)



Step 3 – Conduct SearchEducation Index - bibliographic information for articles

from 300 educational periodicalsPsycINFO

PsycINFO is an online APA database of psychological literature available in most libraries or on a cost basis

Abstracts of articles from approximately 1800 journals as well as books, book chapters, dissertations, reports, and other documents

Educational emphasis is on human development, learning motivation, teaching methods, and teacher effects



Step 3 – Conduct SearchIn ERIC, use Advanced Search

Use the connector “and”Click on “More details”

In other databases, is the article from a peer-reviewed journal?



Step 4 – Identify the source as Primary or SecondaryPrimary sources are articles that report

original researchReferred journalsNon-referred journals

Computerized ERIC searches



Step 4 – Identify the Source as Primary or SecondarySecondary sources are those that summarize

or discuss original researchBooksEncyclopediasReviews



Step 5 – Summarize and analyze the primary source informationTake notes using index cards

Identify bibliographic informationSummarize the research problem Identify all variables, subjects, and instrumentsDescribe the proceduresSummarize the results and conclusionsRecord important quotes, weaknesses of the study,

relevance to the current problem, etc.Code each article with your overall judgment of itNote the major focus of each article



Step 6 – Organize the reviewQuantitative reviews

Group studies by topicWrite the review in three sections

Provide a brief summary of the major articles Analyze the studies Integrate in the discussion how the reviewed studies are

relevant to the current researchAvoid long quotationsEstablish the length of the review depending on the type

of study, the intent to publish the research, and the topic



Step 6 – Organize the reviewQualitative reviews

The purpose of a qualitative review is to introduce the purpose and the very general questions of the study Provides direction Does not limit, constrain, or predict results of the study (i.e., a

discovery orientation) Allows participant’s views to emerge

Begins with an initial, preliminary reviewContinues with supplemental reviews as the study

progresses Provides understanding of the results Provides meaningful analogies, scholarly language, for

synthesizing, or additional conceptual frameworks within which the results become meaningful

Evaluation Criteria


Does the review cover previous research adequately?

Does the review cover the actual findings from other studies?

Is the review current?Does the review summarize and analyze

previous studies?Is the review organized logically by topic, not

author?

Evaluation Criteria


Does the review briefly summarize minor studies and discuss major studies in detail?

Is the review of major studies related explicitly to the current research problem?

Does the review provide a logical basis for the hypothesis?

Does the review establish a theoretical framework for the study?

Does the review help to establish the significance of the research?

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