SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE

How to Write a Literature Review

WHAT A LIT REVIEW IS NOT

WHAT A LIT REVIEW IS

• Broad survey of sources on a particular topic

• Synthesis of those sources in terms of relationship to topic

• Analysis of those sources by points of comparison/contrast & evaluation

• Presentation of Sources in order to demonstrate which aspects require further research

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Researchers have conducted studies about siblings of special needs and autistic children because this group is vulnerable to adjustment difficulties (Cuskelly, 1999). In fact, specialists have compared the sibling-autism relationship to the MR relationship. They have also studied the importance of the family, and particularly the mother, in this relationship. In addition, Kaminsky and Dewey (2001) found that the autism-sibling relationship is characterized by less intimacy and pro-social behavior. This study likewise reports that these relationships were marked by fewer instances of quarreling. While this phenomenon may occur because of the unique situation of the autism-sibling relationship, less fighting is also a positive illustration of a relationship marked by more admiration. Furthermore, Rivers and Stoneman (2003) define this relationship as asymmetrical. These results are also similar to the MR-sibling relationship, as reported by Knott, et al. (1995). Rivers and Stoneman (2003) reveal, too, that parents worry about the autism-sibling relationship in their families. The importance of the family’s influence on the autism-sibling relationship is very useful for this research study and thus, will be discussed in the conclusion of the literature review.

~Ellen Geib, CU Writing Center Tutor, 2010-11

HOW DID SHE DO THAT?

Conduct in-depth research

Organize your sources by sub-topics: One sub-topic/paragraph

In the first sentence of each paragraph, transition from the previous paragraph; then compose a topic sentence for the paragraph

Sum up each source in terms of what research shows

Discuss both the similarities and the differences between those sources

Evaluate the sources’ contributions to your (future)

At the end of each paragraph, make a synthesis statement

HOW TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B

Or: How do I write this thing?

INVEST IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Examine a wide array of resources for ideas on topic selection:

Textbooks

Titles and abstracts of other articles

Broad theories (as areas for exploration)

Delimitations (to find a niche)

RESEARCH STRATEGIES

Use RefWorks to help you keep your research organized.

Be professional in your selection of sources: Peer-reviewed articles are a BIG deal.

Databases are an enormous resource for a literature review assignment.

PsychARTICLES, PsychINFO, ERIC, etc.Abstract databases are helpful; if used, be sure to order articles. You can’t cite from mere abstracts in your paper. You must read and cite the entire article.Remember to use your database’s thesaurus to explore more options for research.Use every search tool available to you. Google Scholar can be useful, if and only if your professor allows Internet research.

A NOTE ON NOTE TAKING. . .

Paraphrase carefully• Avoid plagiarism!• Must translate original source into your own words & sentence

syntax• Use appropriate documentation style per assignment (APA, MLA,

Turabian, etc.)

Paraphrase accurately• Double check with original source• Fix whatever you’ve misrepresented or taken out of context

Paraphrase far more than you quote (quote only once or twice)

EVALUATING RESEARCH

Ensure your information is both accurate and unbiased.

Some Internet sources can be very up-to-date and therefore can be especially useful if statistics are required. (FedStats.gov, state government Web sites, etc.)

Be guarded against any research that claims to “prove” an idea. Unequivocal results are rare.

Consider each study’s methods, measurements, and significance to evaluate whether you should use it.

Finally, use caution when you encounter research studies--especially qualitative research studies--that attempt to show causality.

Sources that don’t relate to one another in terms of theme/topic, methodology, etc.

Sources that aren’t peer-reviewed

Sources that may be too obscure

Do more research to find sources you can compare & contrast

Do more research to find sources that are significant and peer-reviewed

EVALUATING RESEARCH

Eliminate Irrelevant Sources Add Relevant Sources

WRITE YOUR THESIS

Argue for a particular evaluation of the research or perspective on the research in one sentence near the end of your introduction

Examples:• The current trend in treatment for congestive heart

failure combines surgery and medicine.• More and more cultural studies scholars accept popular

media as a subject worthy of academic consideration.• Source of examples:

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/specific-writing-assignments/literature-reviews

TIME TO ORGANIZE

Begin grouping your sources by topic, delimitation, and chronology. Make piles on a large table. Literally. Pay extremely good attention to key definitions as you do your research.

Establish which studies are going to be most important for your review; take more thorough notes on these studies.

TIME TO ORGANIZEBreak the “string of pearls”: This is not

an annotated bibliography.Follow Your ThesisOrganize material so it fits a logical

structure (3 basic choices):• Chronology of publications or trend(s) or• Methodology of research studies or• Themes discovered in research

Put the piles of raw research into the organizational structure you’ve chosen to use.

Create a topic outline before you begin drafting.

Remember as you outline: Logical cohesion and flow are vital!

START WRITING

Write Introduction: Identify the topic

Establish the topic’s importance

Define any crucial terms

Engage in any theoretical discussions that are necessary for the logic of your literature review

Follow your topic outline as you write.

Develop and maintain a logical progression (think: giant funnel). This paper is not a (glorified) list.

WRITE THE THINGCompare/Contrast studies,

noting consistencies in and relationships between the literature.

Evaluate which studies are stronger than others and why .

Specify the implications of your information and any suggestions for further research.

FLUENT WRITING

Every paragraph should flow from & connect back to the thesis

Each paragraph should flow from & develop its topic sentence

Use transitions!

WHAT DO ES IT LO OK L IKE AGAIN ?

Researchers have conducted studies about siblings of special needs and autistic children because this group is vulnerable to adjustment difficulties (Cuskelly, 1999). In fact, specialists have compared the sibling-autism relationship to the MR relationship. They have also studied the importance of the family, and particularly the mother, in this relationship. In addition, Kaminsky and Dewey (2001) found that the autism-sibling relationship is characterized by less intimacy and pro-social behavior. This study likewise reports that these relationships were marked by fewer instances of quarreling. While this phenomenon may occur because of the unique situation of the autism-sibling relationship, less fighting is also a positive illustration of a relationship marked by more admiration. Furthermore, Rivers and Stoneman (2003) define this relationship as asymmetrical. These results are also similar to the MR-sibling relationship, as reported by Knott, et al. (1995). Rivers and Stoneman (2003) reveal, too, that parents worry about the autism-sibling relationship in their families. The importance of the family’s influence on the autism-sibling relationship is very useful for this research study and thus, will be discussed in the conclusion of the literature review.

~Ellen Geib, CU Writing Center Tutor, 2010-11

YOUR TURN TO TRY!

Write a sample body paragraph for your literature review

END WELL

Conclusion• Specifically identify the study that will

follow (i.e., your original study!) as a result of this literature review.

• Specifically identify the study that should follow (i.e., the original study that some researcher should do) as a result of this literature review.

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Workshop Power Point Presentations: http://www.cedarville.edu/Offices/Writing-Center/Workshop-Information.aspx