Chapter 6 Working with Literature Zina OLeary

I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow. Woodrow Wilson Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

The Importance of Reading for Research Reading is an essential part of the research process. The quest to add to a body of knowledge demands engagement with topical, methodological and theoretical literature. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

The Importance of Reading Reading can: generate ideas help form significant questions theoretically inform your study help develop your rationale develop appropriate design inform your literature review. Every stage of the research process demands literary engagement. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Literature Types Finding relevant literature can be made easier if you are able to readily access and draw on a wide variety of resources, such as: reference materials books journals gray literature official publications archives. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Sourcing Readings When sourcing your readings you should call on: librarians supervisors other researchers. Their expertise, in conjunction with the development of your own search skills, should aid you in navigating your way through reading. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Honing Your Search Skills The ever increasing availability of literature requires students to develop proficient search skills. Working with key words is the most common way to navigate the internet and relevant databases. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Intersecting Areas of Literature Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Managing Literature Managing the literature requires skills that allow you to: quickly assess relevance systematically organize references keep diligent and relevant notes. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Annotating Sources Annotating your sources provides you with a record of relevant literature. It should include: the citation articulation of the author and audience a short summary critical commentary notes on relevance that remind you of the significance, accuracy and quality of the sources cited. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours. John Locke Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

The Formal Literature Review Most find writing a literature review a difficult task that takes patience, practice, drafts, and redrafts. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

The Formal Literature Review The formal literature review is a very specific piece of writing designed to: inform your readers of your topic establish your credibility as a researcher argue the need for, and relevance of, your work. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Reviewing the Literature vs. The Literature Review Reasons for Reviewing the Literature Purposes of the Literature Review Informing yourself of what is happening in the field Informing your audience of what is happening in the field Gaining a level of topical and methodological knowledge and expertise Establishing your credibility as a knowledgeable and capable researcher Finding potential gaps in the literature that may point to potential research questions Arguing the relevance and the significance of your research question(s) Critically evaluating common/ typical methods Providing the context for your own methodological approach Facilitating the development of your own methodological approaches Arguing the relevance and appropriateness of your approach Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Writing your Literature Review A good literature review is an argument that is more purposeful than a simple review of relevant literature. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Writing your Literature Review Writing a good review requires you to: read a few good reviews write critical annotations develop a structure write purposefully use the literature to back up your arguments review and write throughout the research process get feedback and be prepared to redraft. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage