FINAL PROJECT (CE3216) The Literature Review Dr Deepak T.J. SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

What is a Literature Review? “A study of all available published information relevant to a given problem”

In carrying out a literature review you will need to answer a number of questions: What are you researching and why are you researching this topic? What has been done before? What is current thinking? Who said what and when? What data can you find that is relevant? What data can you find that supports your theory or opposes your theory? What does your work mean?

What sources are available? Textbooks and Reference Books Journals Paper Reports Conference Proceedings Databases The Internet Trade Literature

How do I get started? Start with general references (e.g. text books) and..... work towards more specific references (e.g. detailed journal papers) Make use of publications by industry-affiliated research organisations, e.g. CIRIA, TRL, BRE and also British Standards List all your references as you find them and keep your records up to date

How do I get started? Work in “waves” – find some information, stop and read it, work out what is most relevant for the next stage, then go and find this and repeat the process

Keywords A keyword is an important element in being able to carry out a search The keyword will either be a single word or a group of words used to summarise the subject Keywords are sometimes obvious and sometimes not so obvious It may be necessary to try a number of different keywords in order to find the most effective one(s) to use in your search

Hints for Database Searches Sometimes you will find yourself getting results that are not useful or are unreliable. This is particularly true when you are searching the Internet. In all cases you will need to:

Hints for Database Searches Check the Date. Is it up to date? This is particularly important for web sites! Check whether the results are relevant and, if not, try to find out why not and adjust your search accordingly Check whether the author(s) are well known – are they well known in their field or has the information been provided by somebody that no- one has ever heard of? Check the information source (this should be evaluated on the same basis as for the author)

Some Direct Comments on articles on the Internet There is a lot of useful information posted on the internet, but: You MUST understand that there is no formal quality control on articles posted on the Internet Consequently, the accuracy of information posted on the internet is NOT guaranteed

Some Direct Comments on articles on the Internet There is a lot of useful information posted on the internet, but: For example, Wikipedia is a well known on-line source, but works by allowing readers to add information on-line in real time. This information is only checked (if it is checked) at a later date, so depending on when you log on, you may be reading information that has not been checked by anyone.

Some Direct Comments on articles on the Internet There is a lot of useful information posted on the internet, but: Wikipedia is NOT reliable If you doubt whether Wikipedia is reliable, have a look at either of the following: tmlhttp:// tml

Adjusting a Database or Web Search If you obtain too many results: Adjust the search term Group different terms together The way in which you do this will depend on the specific search engine, but you would for example expect to get different results for each of the following: i.Composite Beams ii.Composite + Beams iii.“Composite Beams” Search only one field – e.g. “Author” or “Title” or limit the dates on the search e.g. after 1999

Adjusting a Database or Web Search If you obtain too few results: Adjust the search term e.g. add new terms Try a search that uses “OR” Remove any restrictions on your search Try another Database

Developing a Logical Method for your Search You must try to follow a logical procedure in you search as this will help you to find the most relevant references A number of different methods are available. For example: Seek as many good up to date articles as you can. Use these to identify key articles or authors and try to trace all of their most recent papers

Developing a Logical Method for your Search You must try to follow a logical procedure in you search as this will help you to find the most relevant references A number of different methods are available. For example: Identify key research groups working in your area of interest and try to find the books, papers and reports that they have published most recently. i.e. if you are interested in highway design, you should look at TRL publications

Developing a Logical Method for your Search You must try to follow a logical procedure in you search as this will help you to find the most relevant references A number of different methods are available. For example: Identify the key journals and/or conferences relevant to your area of interest. So, if you are interested in foundations, you should be looking at issues of “Ground Engineering”

Critical Analysis Once you have obtained some data, you will need to carry out a critical review of this. In this context, being critical does not mean that you should dismiss the information as being worthless, but neither should you accept everything that is said out of hand A critical review should be objective and constructive

Critical Analysis Once you have obtained some data, you will need to carry out a critical review of this. There are times when you will find that different sources contradict each other. In this case, when you present your review, you will have to decide which one you agree with and you will need to back this up with a reasoned argument

Critical Analysis – Assessing the worth of the sources Put the following information sources in order of how reliable you think they might be, in each case giving the reasons why: Textbooks and Reference Books Journals or Periodicals Reports Conference Proceedings Databases The Internet Trade Literature

Critical Analysis – Assessing the worth of the sources One possible rating of reliability, with 1 as the most reliable, 7 as the least: Journals or Periodicals Conference Proceedings Reports (Depending on the report) Textbooks and Reference Books Databases (Depending on the database) Trade Literature The Internet

Making a Start Often, the most difficult part of the literature review is knowing where to begin. Your project supervisor should be able to provide you with one or more references to give you a starting point. As noted above, British Standards are also extremely helpful. Other organisations’ publications that may be worth looking at may include: a)CIRIA (The Construction Industry Research and Information Association) b)TRL (The Transport Research Laboratory) c)BRE (The Building Research Establishment)

Writing up the Literature Review There will be a number of requirements that will need to be met in writing up any Literature Review. These will typically be as follows: To summarise the existing state of knowledge (Including relevant information only) To synthesize (i.e. bring together) the information in the different references To analyse what has been said in the references – to point out the strengths and weaknesses of other peoples’ arguments To provide a summary of how this information relates to your current research topic or project

Summarising the Search Process Summarising the process, your literature review should include the following steps: 1.Collect as many relevant references as possible (working from the general to the specific) 2.Catalogue the references 3.Read the references and review them critically 4.On the basis of the findings from Step 3, re- focus the search and if necessary repeat steps 1 through 3

Summarising the Search Process Summarising the process, your literature review should include the following steps: 5.Once you are satisfied that you have collected all the necessary and/or available data, the collection process is complete 6.Summarise your findings in the form of a constructive critique of the references you’ve used 7.Ensure that all the articles used are properly referenced

An Example of Literature Survey How many of you have laptop?

An Example of Literature Survey Subject: Embedded Retaining Walls

Step 1: British Standards (BSI) Step 2: UEL Catalogue Step 3: Review BS 8002 Step 4: Find out if there is a more recent reference that is relevant Step 5: Carry out an Internet search to assess the likely results Step 6: Check other databases listed on UEL Learning Services

BS EN :2007 Eurocode 3. Design of steel structures. Piling Current₤80.00₤ BS 8002:1994 Code of practice for earth retaining structures Current₤94.00₤ BS 6031:1981Code of practice for earthworks Confirmed, Current ₤71.00₤142.00