Chapter 2 Literature Review Lecture 4, Week 4

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
WEEK 3-5 LECTURE REVIEW LECTURE NOTE

A GENERAL COURSE FOR 400 LEVEL MAAUN STUDENTS
Prepared by: Scientist Saidu Yusuf, BMLS MSc PH.
Outline
• Introduction
• Learning Objective
• What is a literature review
• Source of Literatures
• Steps in Conducting a literature review
• Writing the literature review
• Common Challenge
• Tips for success
• Conclusion
• References
Introduction
A literature review is a systematic evaluation and synthesis of existing academic work on a given topic. It aims
to summarize, analyse, and contextualize prior studies, helping to establish a foundation for new research.
• Key Functions:
• Shows Knowledge Progression: Outlines how the field has developed over time.
• Identifies Gaps: Highlights areas lacking research or requiring further exploration.
• Demonstrates Relevance: Situates your research within the broader academic

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, students will:
1. Understand what a literature review entails and why it matters.
2. Differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.
3. Learn effective strategies to locate, assess, and synthesize research.
4. Develop a well-organized, critical literature review.
5. Identify and avoid common pitfalls in the process

What is a literature review
• Definition:
A systematic overview and analysis of published materials relevant to a particular field or research question.
• Purpose:
• Contextualization: Links your study to existing knowledge.
• Gap Identification: Unveils unresolved questions or underexplored issues.
• Framework Establishment: Identifies relevant theories or conceptual models.
• Credibility Demonstration: Shows mastery of the field through thorough exploration.
• Originality Assurance: Avoids redundancy by addressing unique questions.

Sources of Literature
• Categories of Sources:
1. Primary Sources:
o Definition: Original research or firsthand evidence.
o Examples: Journal articles, research studies, conference papers, theses.
2. Secondary Sources:
o Definition: Analyses or interpretations of primary sources.
o Examples: Review articles, meta-analyses, textbooks, commentaries.
3. Tertiary Sources:
o Definition: Compilations or summaries of primary and secondary sources.
o Examples: Encyclopedias, handbooks, databases.

Sources of Literature
1-Tips for Selecting Reliable Sources:
• Use peer-reviewed journals for academic rigor.
• Focus on recent publications unless examining historical developments.
• Cross-check findings using multiple databases (e.g., JSTOR, Scopus).

Steps in conducting a literature review
Steps in Conducting a Literature Review
• Step 1: Identify Keywords
• Extract keywords from the research question.
• Include synonyms and related terms.

• Example: For "renewable energy adoption," keywords may include "solar power," "clean energy," "sustainability.“
• 2-Search for Literature
• Use reliable databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar.
• Employ Boolean operators:

o AND: Narrows search (e.g., "climate change AND agriculture").
o OR: Expands search (e.g., "renewable OR sustainable energy").
o NOT: Excludes terms (e.g., "wind energy NOT offshore").
Steps in conducting a literature review
• Step 3: Evaluate Sources

• Assess author credentials, publication outlet, relevance, and timeliness.
• Step 4: Organize Literature
• Group studies by themes, methods, or chronology.
• Use tools like matrices or concept maps for clarity.
• Step 5: Write the Review
• Introduction: Define purpose and scope.
• Body: Discuss findings organized by themes.
• Conclusion: Summarize insights, gaps, and the role of your research.

Writing the literature review
Structure of a Literature Review:
1. Introduction:
o State objectives and scope of the review.
o Provide a brief overview of key topics.
2. Body:
o Organize findings thematically or chronologically.
o Example Themes:
▪ "Evolution of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine"
▪ "Barriers to AI Adoption in Clinical Practices"
3. Synthesis of Findings:
o Compare and contrast studies.
o Highlight connections, disagreements, and gaps.
4. Conclusion:
o Summarize major takeaways.
o Identify unanswered questions and justify your research focus.
Common Challenges
Challenge 1: Finding Relevant Literature
• Solution: Broaden your search terms, consult a librarian, and use advanced search filters.
Challenge 2: Overwhelming Amount of Data
• Solution: Focus on key sources that directly address your research question.
Challenge 3: Plagiarism Risks
• Solution: Always paraphrase and cite appropriately. Use tools like Turnitin to check for plagiarism.
Challenge 4: Lack of Critical Analysis
• Solution: Go beyond summarizing studies; evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, and relevance.
Tips for Success
• Tips for Success
1. Read Actively: Take notes, highlight key ideas, and question assumptions.
2. Use Citation Managers: Tools like Zotero or EndNote streamline referencing.
3. Review Multiple Perspectives: Incorporate diverse viewpoints for a balanced analysis.

Conclusion
• Conclusion
• A well-executed literature review is more than a summary—it is an argument for your research's relevance
and significance. By understanding the past, you create a solid foundation for advancing knowledge
Reference
1. Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2016). The craft of research (4th ed.). University of Chicago Press.
o Relevance: Provides guidance on structuring and writing literature reviews and synthesizing academic literature.
2. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
o Relevance: Explains the theoretical frameworks and importance of contextualizing research within existing literature.
3. Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
o Relevance: Focuses on the purpose of literature reviews, identifying research gaps, and practical strategies for synthesizing literature.
4. Fink, A. (2019). Conducting research literature reviews: From the internet to paper (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
o Relevance: Provides insights into finding and evaluating academic sources, search strategies, and avoiding common pitfalls in literature reviews.
5. Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2021). The literature review: Six steps to success (4th ed.). Corwin Press.
o Relevance: Covers the step-by-step process of conducting and writing literature reviews, including structuring and organizing findings.
6. Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a methodology for developing evidence-informed management knowledge by means of
systematic review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
o Relevance: Explains systematic approaches to conducting literature reviews.

THANK YOU ALL

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

WEEK 3-5 LECTURE REVIEW LECTURE NOTE

• Identifies Gaps: Highlights areas lacking research or requiring further exploration.

• Demonstrates Relevance: Situates your research within the broader academic

1. Understand what a literature review entails and why it matters.

2. Differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.

3. Learn effective strategies to locate, assess, and synthesize research.

4. Develop a well-organized, critical literature review.

5. Identify and avoid common pitfalls in the process

• Contextualization: Links your study to existing knowledge.

• Gap Identification: Unveils unresolved questions or underexplored issues.

• Framework Establishment: Identifies relevant theories or conceptual models.

• Credibility Demonstration: Shows mastery of the field through thorough exploration.

• Originality Assurance: Avoids redundancy by addressing unique questions.

o Definition: Original research or firsthand evidence.

o Examples: Journal articles, research studies, conference papers, theses.

o Definition: Analyses or interpretations of primary sources.

o Examples: Review articles, meta-analyses, textbooks, commentaries.

o Definition: Compilations or summaries of primary and secondary sources.

o Examples: Encyclopedias, handbooks, databases.

• Use peer-reviewed journals for academic rigor.

• Focus on recent publications unless examining historical developments.

• Cross-check findings using multiple databases (e.g., JSTOR, Scopus).

• Step 1: Identify Keywords

• Extract keywords from the research question.

• Include synonyms and related terms.

• Employ Boolean operators:

• Step 3: Evaluate Sources

• Step 4: Organize Literature

• Group studies by themes, methods, or chronology.

• Use tools like matrices or concept maps for clarity.

• Step 5: Write the Review

• Introduction: Define purpose and scope.

• Body: Discuss findings organized by themes.

• Conclusion: Summarize insights, gaps, and the role of your research.

Challenge 2: Overwhelming Amount of Data

Challenge 3: Plagiarism Risks

Challenge 4: Lack of Critical Analysis

2. Use Citation Managers: Tools like Zotero or EndNote streamline referencing.

3. Review Multiple Perspectives: Incorporate diverse viewpoints for a balanced analysis.

o Relevance: Explains systematic approaches to conducting literature reviews.

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