Research Methods Session 2 Literature Review · • For example, consider the research topic ‘Why...
Transcript of Research Methods Session 2 Literature Review · • For example, consider the research topic ‘Why...
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
1
Research Methods Session 2: Literature Review
Lecturer/Convenor:
Richard Boateng, PhD.
Email:
Office: UGBS RT18 (rooftop)
Selecting A Topic &
Literature Review - Part One
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
2
Class Website
• www.vivaafrica.info
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
6
Session Objectives
• Before starting any research, the researcher
needs determine the topic or issue to study.
• However, the question is how does the
researcher select a research topic or issue? Can
every topic be researched? What is
researchable and what is not researchable?
• This session seeks discuss how to select a
research topic and start a review on the topic.
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
7
What Can Be Researched
The right topic to be researched often depends on
a number of factors. First, let’s consider topics to
avoid:
1. Common/over-used topics
2. Topics related to religion/controversy
3. General/ broad topics
4. Topics that are Too Narrow
5. Controversial Politics related topics
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
8
Common/over-used topics
• A number of research areas are very common and have
been reused several times by numerous other students.
Most importantly, try to be original. You can pick an over-
used topic but you can place it in another context or
sector.
• For example, if internet banking in Ghana has been
well-researched, you may consider a topic on
internet banking among rural banks in Ghana.
Selecting A Topic
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
9
Topics related to religion,politics/controversy
• Controversies have the propensity to arouse
emotions in people, usually because the
surrounding issues are highly subjective.
• Select this topic – if required by programme of
study.
• Most importantly – you want to make sure you
can complete the research on time and with
relevant and appropriate data!
Selecting A Topic
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
10
General/Too broad topics
• Some topics are too broad and general in scope,
and thus should be avoided.
• A research on service marketing is too broad,
however, service marketing in the insurance
industry may be more appropriate.
Selecting A Topic
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
11
Too narrow topics
• Picking a topic that is too narrow should be avoided,
because it will be near impossible to find enough
information to conduct the research.
• For example, consider the research topic ‘Why John
broke up with Sarah’. This topic are too narrow and
focused on a single event.
• if this topic is changed to: ‘Determinants of break-ups
in relationships among undergraduate students’ –
the topic will become more researchable.
Selecting A Topic
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
12
What can influence choice of topic
Selecting A Topic
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
13
What can influence choice of topic
Selecting A Topic
YOU the researcher values, belief, interests,
relevance, and personal experiences can
influence the choice of a research topic
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
14
What can influence choice of topic
Selecting A Topic
SUPERVISOR Find out the research interests of the
potential supervisors; have a discussion
with them; read their publications
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
15
What can influence choice of topic
Selecting A Topic
Data Source researchers are sometimes restricted to particular
topics because of access to or lack of access to
data in the specific field of study or time availability
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
16
What can influence choice of topic
Selecting A Topic
Current Trends researchers can select a topic based on how
important a particular issue is perceived to be to
society at that point in time
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
17
What can influence choice of topic
Selecting A Topic
Sponsor researchers can also restricted by the sponsor or
funding agency. Most funding agencies have
specific topics of interests which are based on their
goals and objectives.
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
18
What can influence choice of topic
Selecting A Topic
Research Gaps areas of study where there are reasonable gaps in
the existing literature. The potential contribution to
literature lies in the research gap.
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
19
Selecting A Topic
Research Gap - Explained
• Answers the questions:
– Why should I read your work?
– Are you just duplicating previous research?
– What is the potential contribution of this research?
– Is there any value or something new to be learnt or
discovered, described or explained?
Critical Component of the research problem – and through
which research objectives and questions emerge
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
20
Selecting A Topic
Research Gap - How
• By Reviewing Existing Literature:
1. Establish the field: Identify the broad problem and state its
importance
2. Summarize previous research: State what is significant in
what has already been written.
3. Create a research space: Describe the gaps and select the
gap you propose to fill in the existing research literature. This
then creates an opportunity for you to make a contribution to
the research in the area.
4. Introduce your research project: Establish your research
thesis or questions.
Proposed by Swales (1981), quoted in Bruce (1995) as cited by Collins, E. (2000) Research Gaps, Academic Writer 2000, Retrieved from:
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/academicwriter/Evidence/Secondary%20Sources/researchgaps.htm, on June 25, 2012
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
21
Research Gap Sample
Research Gap - Issue
While there has been some research on the general
impact of female unemployment (Coyle,1984;
Popay,1985), little has been written about the
effects of pit closure on women's lives.
Research Gap identified: The effects of pit closure [in
coal mining] on women's lives.
Proposed by Swales (1981), quoted in Bruce (1995) as cited by Collins, E. (2000) Research Gaps, Academic Writer 2000, Retrieved from:
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/academicwriter/Evidence/Secondary%20Sources/researchgaps.htm, on June 25, 2012
complement
Gap
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
22
In education in general, evaluation has played a vital role for more
than one hundred years (Madaus et al, 1983). In English Language
Teaching also, evaluation has been a major concern for over twenty
years (Strevens, 1976; Stern, 1983; Lynch, 1996). In contrast, it is
only recently (Star, 1994; Gardner & Miller, 1999) that attention
has been paid to the evaluation of learning outcomes in self-
access centres. However, if we are to argue that such centres provide
an effective and efficient alternative to other existing modes of
language learning, it remains a matter of serious concern that there
is no research-based model designed for their evaluation.
This paper will suggest four key issues which need to be addressed when
considering the development of such an evaluation model…
Research Gap – Theory/Model
Proposed by Swales (1981), quoted in Bruce (1995) as cited by Collins, E. (2000) Research Gaps, Academic Writer 2000, Retrieved from:
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/academicwriter/Evidence/Secondary%20Sources/researchgaps.htm, on June 25, 2012
Research Gap identified: A research-based model for the evaluation
of self-access language learning centres.
Research Gap Sample
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
23
Research Gap Sample
Research Gap - Method
There have been a number of valuable studies of self-
employment using cross-section data (Rees and Shah,
1986; Blanchflower and Oswald, 1993; Taylor, 1996), all of
which present evidence on a number of employment and
personal characteristics on the sector. However, none of
these studies provides a picture of the changes over
the last decade or forecasts the trends in self-
employment as the recession of 1990 took hold.
Research Gap identified: The need for a study of the
changes in self-employment over the last decade. Proposed by Swales (1981), quoted in Bruce (1995) as cited by Collins, E. (2000) Research Gaps, Academic Writer 2000, Retrieved from:
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/academicwriter/Evidence/Secondary%20Sources/researchgaps.htm, on June 25, 2012
complement
Gap
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
24
Research Gap Sample
Research Gap - Method
Proposed by Swales (1981), quoted in Bruce (1995) as cited by Collins, E. (2000) Research Gaps, Academic Writer 2000, Retrieved from:
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/academicwriter/Evidence/Secondary%20Sources/researchgaps.htm, on June 25, 2012
Extant literature has fairly covered studies on the mobile phone’s
usage and mobiles for development in sub-Saharan Africa. The
studies include mobile phones and fisherman and farmers in Ghana
(Boadi et al., 2007); mobile phone sharing practices in Ghana (Sey, 2009);
mobile phones and development in Nigeria (Heeks and Jagun, 2007;
Jagun et al., 2008); mobile payments in Uganda (Duncombe, 2009) and
mobile phone ownership and social capital in Tanzania and South Africa
(Goodman, 2005).
Despite these studies, there is a call for more studies to test earlier
findings in different contexts and in different micro-economic
activities in order to contribute to better understanding of the impact of
mobile phones in developing economies.
complement
Gap
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
25
Research Gap Sample
Research Gap - Identify
• A paragraph on the motivating issue
• The Gaps
1. Missing issues in literature
2. Limited discussion in literature
3. Conflicts in theoretical approach
4. Missing theoretical model
5. Conflicts/ in empirical methods (data collection and
context)
6. Mixed previous empirical results
7. Less contextual evaluation or geographic representation
8. Complex (limited previous results, conflicts,
absence, mixed views)
Proposed by Swales (1981), quoted in Bruce (1995) as cited by Collins, E. (2000) Research Gaps, Academic Writer 2000, Retrieved from:
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/academicwriter/Evidence/Secondary%20Sources/researchgaps.htm, on June 25, 2012
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
26
Research Gap Sample
Research Gap - Identify
• Academic Journal Articles
– Gaps are usually presented in the introduction of the journal
articles
These gaps focus on why it is important to read that journal
article. It establishes the gaps in the previous research and
points out the focus of the journal article.
– Future Research Directions or Gaps for Future Research
Usually the conclusion of an academic journal article focuses on
discussing the implications of the findings of the research and
also point out gaps for future research. This is important for
researchers to find out the gaps pointed out by previous
researchers.
Proposed by Swales (1981), quoted in Bruce (1995) as cited by Collins, E. (2000) Research Gaps, Academic Writer 2000, Retrieved from:
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/academicwriter/Evidence/Secondary%20Sources/researchgaps.htm, on June 25, 2012
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
27
6 Steps to Selecting A Topic
1. Identify broad topic and academic discipline
2. Determine the scope
3. Brainstorm issues, puzzles and questions
4. Map and structure the issues
5. Conduct a reconnaissance
6. Frame your research issues
Selecting A Topic
Source: Fisher (2010)
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
28
Identify broad topic and academic discipline
Decline in employee
productivity
How can our company
improve the productivity of
its employee?
Selecting A Topic
Business
Problem
Research
Problem
Employee productivity
in organizations
What factors influence
employee productivity?
What are the characteristics
of productive employees?
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
29
Determine the Scope
1. Studying one part of an organization
2. Comparing several parts or functions of an
organization
3. Studying one organization
4. Comparing two or more organization
5. Studying a sector/industry
Selecting A Topic
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
30
Brainstorm issues and questions
1. Conduct a preliminary literature review
2. Identify the issues discussed
3. Identify the methods used
(quantitative/qualitative and mixed)
4. Identify the regions/countries studied
5. Identify the gaps for future research
Selecting A Topic
Source: Fisher (2010)
Map and Structure the issues
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
31
Conduct a reconnaissance
1. Write up the Research Problem
2. Point out the research gaps – issues, model,
and methods (data collection and contex)
3. Discuss with others – especially supervisor
4. Decide on the key research gap(s) of interest
Selecting A Topic
Source: Fisher (2010)
Frame your research question
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
32
LITERATURE REVIEW – PART ONE
How to identify and locate literature
Learn about scholary journals
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
33
What is the Literature Review?
A literature review IS:
1. A synthesis of available resources and
materials with a strong relation to the topic in
question, accompanied by a description AND a
critical evaluation and comparative analysis
of each work
2. Focused on a particular question or area of
research
Olivares, O. (2004) Researching and Writing Literature Reviews, A guide for graduate students in the social sciences at
the University of Arizona, Social Sciences Team Librarian, University of Arizona Libraries. Available:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/tutorials/litreviews/ [February 2012]
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
34
Why do a literature review?
The literature review is not a chore to be finished quickly so that you can get on to the meat of your project, or a university department-imposed hoop to jump through before you can get on with the writing of your thesis or dissertation.
It is the very basis of your argument. It places your research in context within your discipline and demonstrates how your research improves your discipline. In other words, the literature review is the meat of your project.
1. So that your research will have a strong theoretical base on which to stand.
Olivares, O. (2004) Researching and Writing Literature Reviews, A guide for graduate students in the social sciences at
the University of Arizona, Social Sciences Team Librarian, University of Arizona Libraries. Available:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/tutorials/litreviews/ [February 2012]
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
35
a) To prove that there are gaps in knowledge in your field that merit a closer investigation
b) To demonstrate that your work will improve your field in some way, filling in gaps and adding to knowledge in and understanding of your field
c) To prove that your work hasn’t been previously contributed and it is indeed original
d) For purely practical considerations: a good literature review demonstrates that you’ve read extensively in your field, that you have a thorough comprehension of your field and that you are capable of intelligently ad knowledgeably critiquing others’ work
Why do a literature review?
2. To justify your research
Olivares, O. (2004) Researching and Writing Literature Reviews, A guide for graduate students in the social sciences at
the University of Arizona, Social Sciences Team Librarian, University of Arizona Libraries. Available:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/tutorials/litreviews/ [February 2012]
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
36
a) To educate yourself on the primary theoretical approaches to your discipline, as well as the primary actors:
– Who are the most important scholars in your discipline?
– What questions have they asked and answered?
– What controversies remain within the discipline?
b) To provide yourself with an intellectual, historical and context within which to frame your research and writing.
c) To illustrate how your field has been previously studied, and flaws/gaps/ problems with previous research
Why do a literature review?
3. As an exercise in long essay development
Olivares, O. (2004) Researching and Writing Literature Reviews, A guide for graduate students in the social sciences at
the University of Arizona, Social Sciences Team Librarian, University of Arizona Libraries. Available:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/tutorials/litreviews/ [February 2012]
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
37
A good literature review will help you do the
following :
– Narrow your research focus;
– Pose questions that might not have
previously occurred to you; and
– Build a knowledge base for future
Olivares, O. (2004) Researching and Writing Literature Reviews, A guide for graduate students in the social sciences at
the University of Arizona, Social Sciences Team Librarian, University of Arizona Libraries. Available:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/tutorials/litreviews/ [February 2012]
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
38
The LR stages are :
1. Select and refine a topic
2. Identify and Locate literature
3. Ensure Relevance
4. Record and Retrieve
5. Review and Summarize
6. Write
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
39
Identify Literature
• Where to Find Research Literature
– Periodicals
– Scholarly journals
– Books
– Dissertations
– Government documents
– Policy reports and presented papers
– Existing Statistics and Industry reports
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
40
Scholarly Journals @ UG
• http://library.ug.edu.gh/screens/balme/
oncampus.html
Or
• http://tinyurl.com/ugjournals
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
41
• EBSCOhost
• Emerald
• JSTOR
• Palgrave Macmillan Journals
• Sage Journals Online
• ScienceDirect
• Wiley – Blackwell
Scholarly Journals @ UG
http://tinyurl.com/ugjournals
Password may be needed
when accessed outside the
university network
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
42
• African Journals Online (AJOL)
• Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
• Google Scholar (Multidisciplinary)
• Topics in Development
• World Bank Databases
Scholarly Journals @ UG
http://tinyurl.com/ugjournals
FREE
(almost)
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
43
Scholarly Journal
1. Emerald
- www.emeraldinsight.com
username: uofghana
password: emerald
2. EBSCOhost
- http://search.epnet.com/
username: s5210036
password: password
4
Password may be needed
when accessed outside the
university network
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
44
Identify and Locate
1. Go to the journal database
2. Use the search box
– Basic Search
– Advanced Search
3. Type in your research topic
4. Review results
– Check Relevance
– Refine search parameters
5. Record and Retrieve
6. Review and Summarize
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
45 6
Record and Retrieve
• Save the document onto your PC
• Categorize the documents
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
46 6
Read, Review and Summarize
Article Summary (one page)
1. Article Reference:
Author lastname, Other initials (year of publication) Title of the journal
article, Name of the Journal, Volume/Number, page range.
2. Research Problem/Research Question
3. Research Frameworks Used
4. Research Methods
5. Results/Findings and Discussions
6. Conclusions
7. Gaps for Future Research
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
47
Practice Assignment
• Go to www.emeraldinsight.com
• Enter the username and password
• Search for this paper and download
• Summarize the paper using outline on
previous slide
“Mobile phones and micro-trading
activities”
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
48
Presenting Assignment
• Cover Page
– Name, Index Number, Course Code
• Summary of Paper
– “Mobile phones and micro-trading activities”
• An Experience of Using Emerald and Ebscohost
– Select a topic
– Search in each database
– Ensure Relevance by narrowing the search results
– Discuss Results
– Identify one highly relevant paper from each database
– Develop a new title for your topic of interest
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com
49
References
• Babbie, E.R. (2005) The Basics of Social Research [With CDROM and Infotrac],
Wadsworth –Thomson Publishing, Belmont, CA.
• Babbie, E.R. (2011) The Basics of Social Research [With CDROM and Infotrac],
Wadsworth –Thomson Publishing, Belmont, CA. – ISBN – 0495812242
• Olivares, O. (2004) Researching and Writing Literature Reviews, A guide for graduate
students in the social sciences at the University of Arizona, Social Sciences Team
Librarian, University of Arizona Libraries. Available:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/tutorials/litreviews/ [February 2012]
• Neuman, W.L. (2011) Basics of Social Research: Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches, 2/E, Pearson Education – ISBN ISBN-10: 0205484379 | ISBN-13:
9780205484379
• Santoy, J. (2007) Using Research in Academic Writing, Available:
http://www.literaturereviewof.com/identifying-gaps[February 2012]
Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com