Reviewing the literature András István Kun

An 8 step model of research processes 0. Identify broad area of research discipline, school Formulating the research problem (specification) Conceptualising valid, workable, managable Constructing an instrument for data collection Selecting a sample (sampling) Writing a research proposal ‘Final’ research questions Collecting data Processing data Writing a report

Cyclic (‘never-ending’) process of research Inductive Deductive Data analysis Empirical data Concepts theory Research question Where is the place of literature reviewing?

Functions of reviewing literature Knowledge basis Theoretical background Help to find a research problem: What is known and what is unknown How can you contribute to the existing knowledge body of your profession Finding the appropriate hyptheses (abduction) Help to find out what methodology to use Formal hypotheses, research techniqe, sampling… Enables you to contextualize your findings

Paradox of literature review You read to know, but You have to know what to read (and you have to have some knowledge to understand) Solution: iterative process of research reviewing

Improving methodology What are the accepted methodologies Methodological problems and solutions

Knowledge basis To some extent it is needed to show the context of your research and your findings Obligatory chapter of Master and PhD theses

5 steps of reviewing literature Search for existing literature in your of study; Review the literature selected; Develop a theoretical framework; Develop a conceptual framework; Writing up the literature reviewed.

Main sources Books Journals Grey literature Statistical data

Books Availability Libraries Bookshops Bibliographies (!) Internet: computer catalogs (keywords, subject) Advantages: greater likelihood of importance, relevance, quality Disadvantages: not up to date, price, avaliability, quality-control (bibliography!) They serve best as starters

Journals Advantages: up-to-date (depends on the journal), area-specific journals Disadvantages: need more knowledge to understand They serve best for focused study Availability: Libraries Electronic databases (!) Internet

Gray literature Grey literature (or gray literature) is a term used variably by the intelligence community, librarians, and medical and research professionals to refer to a body of materials that cannot be found easily through conventional channels such as publishers, "but which is frequently original and usually recent„ Working papers Theses Company documents Magazines etc.

Quality in research Whowhat can be qualified? Researcher Article Journal Institution Publisher …

Quality in research (Scientometrics) The most accepted field of qualification is based on journals. Academic journals Referred journals Peer reviewing Journal qualification systems Based on citation (aim: measuring impact) Rankings Impact factors Hirsch index (h-index), half-life, immediacy „Page rank”, altmetric score…

An example: ABDC journal quality list http://www.abdc.edu.au/ In 2007, ABDC established an ABDC Journal Quality List to overcome the regional and discipline bias of international lists.  Reviewed in 2013 and 2009. The next major review will be in the second half of 2017. In 2016: interim review:  1) new journals started since 1 January 2011; 2) removal of predatory open access journals; 3) change of Field of Research (FoR) grouping; and 4) incorrect factual details - to produce a revised 2016 list. 

ABDC journal quality list The ABDC Journal Quality List 2013 comprises 2,767 different journal titles, divided into four categories of quality, A*: 6.9%; A: 20.8%; B: 28.4%; and C: 43.9% journals.  In each Field of Research (FoR) group, journals deemed NOT to reach the quality threshold level are not listed. 

The Scientific Information (ISI) impact factor (Thomson Reuters) From 1975 The journal must be indexed in the Journal Citation Reports Calculation: IF for year X = A / B. A = citations on the citable articles of the journal in years (X-1) and (X-2). B = total number of the citable articles n a journal in years (X-1) és (X-2). IF for year X is published in year (X+1). The sum of the IFs can be used as a quality measure of authors, too.

Highest IF journals by some areas Economics: JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC LITERATURE, IF: 6.614 General management: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW, IF: 7.288 Accounting, finance: JOURNAL OF FINANCE, IF: 5.290 JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING & ECONOMICS, IF: 3.535 Logistics: TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART B: METHODOLOGICAL, IF: 3.769 SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT - AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, IF: 2.731 http://www.lib.unideb.hu/hu/adatbazis?b=i > Impact Factor Social Sciences Edition Agribusiness Impact Factor: 0.738

Where to start your search You can search for: Title Author Keyword JEL classification

Where to start your search Electronic databases: lib.unideb.hu (meta search engines) www.jstor.org search.epnet.com (EBSCO database) http://www.nber.com/ http://econpapers.repec.org/ University pages Pages of libraries Library…

Where to start your search „Social media” for researchers: academia.edu researchaget.net ssrn.com scholar.google.hu tudoster.idea.unideb.hu/en

„Publish or Perish” You are a good researcher if you can prove it through qualified publications. The role of citations. Its adverse effects. The journey of a manuscript to become an article.

Other current trends Open Access movement Predatory journals

Referencing Why? The role of references in research. When? How? Systems of referencing. Author-date sytems: Harvard, APA Numeric systems: in the text or in the list Plagiarism

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