iqts24_

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Session 2:

literature Reviews

It can be argued that traditional schools were ‘created in the image of industrialism […based] on the principles of the assembly line and the efficient division of labor’. Author: Ken Robinson Book Title: The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything Year: 2010 Publisher: Penguin (London) Page: 230 How should this citiation be correctly referenced using Harvard?

Referencing

Aims & objectives

Aim:To understand the process of a literature review. Objectives: Identify the function of a literature review Explore the key features of an effective literature review Apply the process to a research project

What is the key purpose of reviewing literature? What steps are needed to review literature effectively?

REVIEWing Literature

There are three main steps in the process of reviewing literature:

• Search for relevant literature
• Evaluate sources
• Identify themes, debates and gaps

REVIEWing Literature

Reviewing literature allows you to situate your research writing within existing knowledge. It will give you a chance to:

• Develop insight around your research objectives
• Demonstrate your familiarity with the topic and scholarly context
• Develop a theoretical framework for your writing
• Position yourself in relation to other researchers and theorists
• Show how your writing addresses a gap or contributes to a debate

why is reviewing literature important?

Start by creating a list of keywords related to your research topic. Your literature research should clearly relate to your research objectives. Include each of the key concepts or variables you are interested in. Your key words will be informed by your title, writing objectives and subheadings (refer to your writing plan / mind map) You can add to this list if you discover new keywords in the process of your literature search. Task: Make a list of keywords

Make a list of keywords

Use your keywords to begin searching for sources. Some databases to search for journals, books and articles include: CCCU library catalogue Google Scholar JSTOR

Search for relevant sources

For each publication, ask yourself:

• What question or problem is the author addressing?
• What are the key concepts and how are they defined?
• What are the key theories, models and methods?
• What are the results and conclusions of the study?
• How does the publication relate to other literature in the field? Does it confirm, add to, or challenge established knowledge?
• How does the publication contribute to your understanding of the topic? What are its key insights and arguments?
• What are the publication's strengths and weaknesses?

Evaluate and select sources

Make sure the sources you use are credible, and make sure you read any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research. You can find out how many times an article has been cited on Google Scholar – a high citation count means the article has been influential in the field.

Evaluate and select sources

As you read, you should also begin the writing process. Take notes that you can later incorporate into your text. It’s important to keep track of your sources with references to avoid plagiarism. It is important to make an annotated bibliography, where you compile full reference information. This helps you remember what you read and saves time later in the process.

Take notes and cite your sources

Based on your reading and notes, look for:

• Trends and patterns (in theory, method or results)
• Themes: what questions or concepts recur across the literature?
• Debates, conflicts and contradictions: where do sources agree or disagree?
• Pivotal publications: are there any influential theories or studies that inform your topic?
• Gaps: what is missing from the literature? Are there weaknesses that need to be addressed?

Identify themes, debates and gaps

Critical thinking is a higher order cognitive skill We ALL think and problem solve, however we do not always do so in a logical order that others can follow. Critical thinking in writing requires you to present logical steps that show a reader how you got to a point or perspective. What steps do you think critical thinking involves?

What is critical thinking?

A common and simplistic view of critical analysis is that it involves identifying issues or flaws with a theory or idea, in other words, being NEGATIVE. However, being critical involves a number of other skills...

Steps of critical thinking

Arguing against some ideas and in support of others.Interpreting information to find its significance. Seeing links between ideas. Identifying strengths, weaknesses of studies, theories and their contribution. Questioning or challenging given terms and definitions. (Continued...)

Steps of critical thinking

Considering possibilities and examining alternative arguments. Speculating to explain problems and imagining possible strategies or to explore other possibilities.

Steps of critical thinking

• Improved attention to detail and observation
• Improved ability to question: you shouldn’t believe everything you read or hear, and nobody has to believe what you say
• More focused reading: improved ability to identify the key points or the message rather than becoming distracted by details
• Knowledge of how to get to your own point across more easily
• Identifying trends and patterns
• Looking at the same information from several points of view
• Objectivity
• Considering implications and consequences

the benefits of being critical

Following a triple perspective involves:

• Evaluating each piece of information separately (e.g. potential bias, quality of a study/theory/idea, any potential limitations)

• Comparing each source/idea to others you have read (do these agree or disagree? If yes/no, what does that mean? Are they offering a new perspective altogether?)

• Relating each source to your research as a whole: your question/title/the issues you are addressing (how does that idea/theory/point of view you have read contribute to answering your research question and objectives?)

The triple Perspective

See if you can identify the differences between being descriptive and analytical. Click on the form here.

Task: descriptive or analytical?

The critical reading framework provides a guide to interrogating literature in a critical manner. Click on the page icon here.

critical reading framework

1. Tick each element of critical reading in the list that you habitually use when reading academic literature. 2. Tick each element of self-critical writing that you habitually use in your academic writing. 3. Add up the number of ticks for each column. Click on the page icon here.

Linking your critical reading with your critical writing

One area that is often overlooked when developing critical thinking skills is identifying the language that will be able to show, within an academic context, that you are trying to present a critical perspective. The University of Manchester has put together a bank of typical phrases that tend to be used in academic work to express critical thinking skills. Click on the page icon here.

Language for critical analysis

To add to the Padlet wall here. 1) Identify key research objectives to address your research topic. 2) Using this session as a guide, identify relevant literature that addresses your key research objectives and themes. Make a list. 3) Critically analyse 1 piece of research literature and explain its relevant to your research project. How does it address your research theme / objectives? What are its key arguments and assertions? What are its strengths and limitations?

Tasks: