Literature Review

1. Step 2: Reviewing the literature
• Essential preliminary task in order to acquaint yourself
with the available body of knowledge in your area of
interest.
• Literature review is integral part of entire research
process and makes valuable contribution to every
operational step.
• Reviewing literature can be time-consuming, daunting
and frustrating, but is also rewarding. Its functions are:
– Bring clarity and focus to your research problem;
– Improve your methodology;
– Broaden your knowledge;
– Contextualise your findings.

2. Procedure for reviewing the literature
1. Search for existing literature in your area of
study;
2. Review the literature selected;
3. Develop a theoretical framework;
4. Develop a conceptual framework.

3. Review of Literature
Critically review the literature on the problem under study:
• Any such work done by other in the past.
• State whether you want to confirm the findings.
• Challenge the conclusion.
• Extend the work further.
• Bridge some gaps in the existing knowledge.

4. Use of literature review
• It prevents you from duplicating work that has
been done before.
• It increases your knowledge on the problem
you want to study and this may assist you in
refining your "statement of the problem".
• It gives you confidence why your particular
research project is needed.
• To be familiar with different research methods

5. References that are identified
• Should first be skimmed or read
• Then summaries of the important
information in each of the references
may be recorded on separate index cards
• These should then be classified so that
the information can easily be retrieved

6. The index cards should contain
• Key words
• A summary of the contents of books or
articles which is relevant to your study
• A brief analysis of the content, with comments
such as: how information from that particular
study could be used in your own study
• Information obtained from key persons could
also be summarized on the index card

7. Reviewing literature should answer:
• How much is known?
• What is not known?
• What should be done based on what is
lacking?

8. • Overall, the literature review should be adequate,
relevant and critical.
• While reviewing a literature give emphasis to
both positive and negative findings and avoid any
distortion of information to suit your own study
objectives.
• Finally, after an exhaustive literature review,
summarize the findings and write a coherent
discussion by indicating the research gap which
supports the undertaking of your study.
Summary