Preparation of a Research Report Literature review

General Guidelines An outline is extremely important –Involves identification and ordering of major topics. –Headings followed by subheadings. –Much easier to reorganize an outline than a narrative.

General Guidelines Analyze each reference in terms of your outline. –Determine under which sub-heading each reference belongs. –Each reference may be under more than one sub-heading.

General Guidelines Opinion pieces or reports may only be included in the introduction. Formal research studies only within the Review of Related Literature.

General Guidelines Analyze references under each sub- heading. –If three references say essentially the same thing: Do not fully describe each one. Make a summary statement, and cite three sources (i.e. pg. 54).

General Guidelines Give meaningful overview of past research. Organize and summarize in a meaningful way. Discuss references least related to your precise problem first. Discuss most relevant references last.

General Guidelines Analyze contradictory studies. –Remove your own bias. –Try to explain why two different studies arrived at two separate conclusions.

General Guidelines Conclude Literature Review with a brief summary of the literature and its implications. –Clearly indicates the logic you have followed. –Enhances your implications and tentative conclusions.

Moving forward Putting the pieces together

General Guidelines Use a highlighting pen. Look for progress, not perfection. Keep ideas flowing: –You can edit, revise and –Find documentation later.

General Guidelines Literature review requires technical writing. –Facts must be fully documented. –Source of research study must be cited. If general terms are important to your topic: –You must define it in relation to your problem. –i.e. Achievement – What do you mean by it?

General Guidelines Organize content logically. Direct your writing to a particular audience. –Has basic understanding of topic. –Needs more insight to fully understand. Limit big/difficult words, avoid jargon.

General Guidelines Start each major section with a brief overview of the section. –i.e. “In this section, three main issues are examined. The first is…” End each major section with a summary of the main ideas.

Headings Look at various studies you have collected View: –Headings used –Sections discussed –Types of results commonly reported ; and Determine a similar format for your review

General Information A research report is written in the past tense. Provide accurate descriptions for the reader. Relate aspects of the study that accurately reflects what was done and what was found.

General Rules for Writing Abbreviations and contractions are discouraged. –APA should be American Psychological Association. –Couldn’t should be could not.

General Rules for Writing Research report should be written in a clear, simple, and straightforward style. Proof read at least twice.

General Rules for Writing Correct spelling and punctuation are expected. Pronouns such as “I” are avoided.

General Rules for Writing Authors of cited references are usually referred to by last name only in the main body of the report.

General Rules for Writing If the first word of a sentence is a number, or if the number us nine or less, numbers are usually expressed as words. Otherwise, numbers are expressed as Arabic numerals.

Format and Style Use the APA style handouts/on line sources. Clear, straightforward, simple, and scholarly style.

Sections of the Report Title page / Table of contents Introduction section –Overview/description of the Problem Review of the Related Literature References