1. Challenges and Solutions: The Ever Daunting Literature Review Created by Kacy Lundstrom Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University Content adapted with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

2. Questions that Guide the Process Graphic taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

3. The Challenges Synthesis Reading Critically Scope Under-researched work Under-developed work Situating your own research

4. Challenge: Synthesis The reader needs to understand the context into which your work fits – Thematic line of argument driven by the priorities of the research in question – Trends in the topic’s treatment identified, e.g. By geography By sector By key researchers Over time (Not author-by-author, format-by-format, simple chronological description) – Strong links provided across published work, as relevant to the main themes of your study Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

5. Solution 1 Do the hard work of evaluating the existing literature – Assess the value of the literature reviewed at a number of levels individual papers (material that is “significant”) collections of material, e.g. by defined groupings such as sector – Emphasize limitations of existing knowledge Identifying gaps in the literature to promote the value of your research Confirm that your work is worthwhile, timely, and that the investment in your PhD study (time and money) has been put to good use Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

6. Solution 2 Frame the synthesis – Introduction What will be found here Its scope Why its inclusion is necessary as a preface to the discussion of your full research study – Conclusion Statement of the strongest messages of the chapter Implications made clear, particularly on the value of the PhD study as a whole Clear links to the next chapter Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

7. Challenge: Reading Critically When reading academic work you are evaluating the level of argument presented Look out for – Claims/conclusions – Reasons/interpretations of data that lead to the above – Evidence on which above is built – Any qualifications for the claims/conclusions Just as the content of this slide (from the workshop on Critical Reading) applies to your efforts to read critically, it sets the standard for the presentation of your own line of argument. Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

8. Solution Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University Anticipate reader’s questions, do not leave your work open to questions such as: “What is your point here?” “What makes you think so?” “What is your evidence?” “So what?” Anticipate reader’s questions, do not leave your work open to questions such as: “What is your point here?” “What makes you think so?” “What is your evidence?” “So what?”

9. Challenge: Scope I don’t know exactly what I am going to research because I have not yet read the relevant literature, Indeed everything seems relevant! I don’t know whether what I am reading is really relevant because I have not yet decided exactly what it is I am going to research. Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

10. Solution 1 Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

11. Solution 2 Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

12. Solution 3 Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

13. Solution 4 Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

14. Challenge: Avoiding Under-researched work Antecedents of problems often lie with poor literature searching, and/or lack of skills in critical reading Inappropriate source material covered Key texts missing from the analysis, often at the expense of less valuable material Recent material missing from the analysis – new papers, updated versions of conference papers now as peer- reviewed journal articles Over-reliance on secondary citing Bias in treatment of the topic due to lack of immersion in (or engagement with) the literature of the domain, ignorance (deliberate or not) of conflicting views Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

15. Solutions Ensure that your literature searching technique is thorough by, for example, taking advantage of all the fee-based search services that your university subscribes too (as well as Google Scholar) and using social media as a source of current awareness Conceive literature searching as an on-going process Use human agents for identifying relevant new material: your subject librarian, your supervisor, your peers, authors already identified as relevant Annotate your literature review so that you know which sources to recheck for updated versions Wherever possible, seek out and use the original sources Be thorough in your treatment. Discuss conflicting views with others, e.g. supervisor, contacts at conferences, peers online Content taken with permission from “iDocQ breakout session” handout created by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

16. Challenge: Avoiding under-developed work Lack of analysis – Material is simply summarised – Material has not been fitted to the needs of the study Over-use of quotations, obviously paraphrased sections of others’ work – student hands over power of authority Driven by simple author-by-author, format-by-format or chronological journey through publications, rather than a strong line of argument related to the research aims – you should be building an argument, not cataloguing a library – Treatment does not hold together as a “story” Reads like a set of “facts” Purpose of chapter unclear in introduction Value of chapter unclear in conclusion – Work at this level often looks more like a business report: short sections, bulleted lists, structure evident through multiple headings Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

17. Solution Remember the “So what?” factor Resist the temptation to work with photocopies/PDFs of source material next to you. Instead develop your line of argument from fully digested (and well referenced) notes derived from the source material Use quotations only for instances where what is said is expressed in a particularly interesting way, or when the originator of the quotation is of particular interest Build a line of argument that is yours as relevant to your study (and not author-by-author, not source format-by-format, not a simple chronological treatment) Remember that you are building an argument (not cataloguing a library) Provide a strong introduction, sign-posting, and conclusion that tie the contents of the literature review to the research aims, and emphasise its purpose and value Avoid short sections, bullet lists and multiple headings: the structure of your work should be evident through the line of argument presented Content taken with permission from “iDocQ breakout session” handout created by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

18. Challenge: Situating your own research – Do your findings confirm those of others? – Does your work extend that of others? – Does your work provide new meaning to the work of others? – Does your work break new ground? – Does your work raise issues about the methodological choices made in previous studies? – Does your work challenge existing theoretical approaches to your subject? Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University

19. End Strong “On the basis of everything that you have just read there is absolutely no question that the past 3 years of my life have been extremely worthwhile dedicated to the pursuit of this fabulous study. And, guess what lucky reader? In the next chapter you will learn all about how I planned and executed my empirical research!” Content taken with permission from “Writing a literature review” by Dr. Hazel Hall, Napier University