CHAPTER 2 (REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE)

Review of the Related Literature: 

Review of the Related Literature Organizing & Writing a Literature Review

The Literature Review is…: 

The Literature Review is… A discussion of your knowledge about the topic under study A discussion of your knowledge that is supported by the research literature A foundation for the study

The Literature Review is not…: 

The Literature Review is not … A study-by-study, or article-by-article, description of studies previously done A re-statement of the studies previously done A brief overview of articles

Reviewing the Literature: 

Reviewing the Literature Begin with a search of the available literature Critically analyze each article (study) you select Organize the review with an outline Write the review Summarize the review Using the literature, present a rationale for your study

Critically Analyzing the Literature: 

Critically Analyzing the Literature Abstract the author’s description of the study related to your area of interest? conclusions relevant? Statement of the Problem restate the topic problem stated clearly? purpose? significance? Hypothesis or Research Question(s) Clearly stated? Relevant? Related to your area of interest? Assumptions Explicit assumptions? Implicit assumptions Similar to yours?

Critically Analyzing the Literature: 

Critically Analyzing the Literature Delimitations How was the study narrowed? Which considerations are relevant to your study? Definitions Key concepts & terms?

Critically Analyzing the Literature: 

Critically Analyzing the Literature Method research design? population & sample? measurement? procedures? Findings make sense? what do they say about your area of interest? Discussion Presented clearly? Meaningful interpretations? Implications discussed? Suggestions or recommendations? Limits to practical application? Conclusion What did you learn? Re-state your new knowledge

Organizing the Literature Search: the Tree Diagram: 

Organizing the Literature Search: the Tree Diagram subtopic Topic subtopic subtopic subtopic subtopic subtopic subtopic

Tree Diagram Example: 

Tree Diagram Example Home visits Academic achievement Homework assistance Home-school communication Parent involvement volunteerism barriers Teachers’ beliefs Involvement in decision making

Tree to Outline Format: Home Visits: 

Tree to Outline Format: Home Visits Home-school Communication Academic Achievement Parent Involvement Barriers to parent involvement Volunteerism Barriers to volunteerism Look! An example!

Writing the Literature Review: 

Writing the Literature Review Always begin with an introduction to the review & end with a summary Make the connection for the reader between the subtopics & the topic Use direct quotations infrequently Always cite your sources Present your knowledge on the topics & subtopics Summarize each subtopic Include a transition paragraph from one subtopic to the next

Slide 12: 

Reiterate the research problem Introduce the subtopics Introduction First Subtopic Discussion should include: How is the subtopic connected to the problem? Your knowledge, based on the literature you have studied Specify subtopics (if any) Summary & transition Second Subtopic Same as the first Effective organizational structures Service coordination practices Consultants’ professional support needs Example paragraph 1 “The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of poor coordination on the effective delivery of consultant services.” Example paragraph 2 Mission & Purpose Goals & objectives (planning) Task units So, given all that, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah, it is important to note the role of…” Effective Organizational Structures “In order for the coordination of services to be effective, an organizational structure must exist within which service units are organized and can operate. Yaddah, yaddah, yaddah…” “Long range strategic planning characterizes organizations with effective internal structures (Brown, 1997). Key to such an effort is the identification of…” Organizing the Literature Review

Writing: 

Writing Use APA style & format Have your work proofread before submitting Follow all format guidelines Must be a thorough review, reflected by the depth of the discussion Should begin prior to the implementation of the study