1. The Literature Review 3 edition
Six Steps To Success
Lawrence A. Machi
Brenda T. McEvoy

2. 1 Step One: Select a Topic
Personal Interest to Formal Research Topic

3. Session Overview
Four tasks are required to create the research topic statement. They are (1) identifying a subject for study, (2) translating this personal interest or concern into a research query, (3) connecting the research query to the appropriate academic discipline, and (4) writing the preliminary topic statement. These tasks are the subject of this chapter. Figure 1.1 illustrates this process.

4. TASK 1. IDENTIFYING A SUBJECT FOR STUDY
A subject for study should ignite curiosity, engage emotions, and challenge thinking.
Personal reflection and introspection will uncover potential interests.
Most applied research in the social sciences begins by selecting an every­day problem, interest, or concern for further study.
A hasty choice can have catastrophic consequences.
Professional experience
Suggestions from experts
Academic journals
Topical debates within your profession
Examining academic theory in your field
The 5 source areas to search for a subject of study.
Page reference: 19-20
After speaking to the slide contents discuss researcher bias.
Researchers have opinions about the problems they select, as well as viewpoints about them. These preconceptions and personal attachments are both strengths and weaknesses in a research effort. Personal attachment to an interest provides the passion and dedica­tion necessary for conducting good research, which is a plus. However, personal attachment can also carry bias and opinion, causing researchers to jump to premature conclusions and conduct bad research.
While bias and opinion can never be removed completely, they must be recog­nized and controlled. Discuss the concept of reflexivity.

5. TASK 2. TRANSLATING THE PERSONAL INTEREST OR CONCERN INTO A RESEARCH QUERY
The research interest is defined by its wording and key ideas
Interests tend to be first stated in a vague and generalized way.
Interest statements need to be precisely defined.
Develop exact definitions for each of the key ideas of the interest statement.
Activity 1. Focusing a Research Interest
Narrow the interest to one clearly defined subject.
Determine your unit of analysis.
Activity 2. Limiting the Interest
Choose the perspective or vantage point.
Choice of perspective depends on the subject of study and the unit of analysis chosen.
Link the subject and unit of analysis to the appropriate academic dis­cipline.
Activity 3. Selecting a Perspective
Reflect on the revised interest statement and academic discipline to which it is connected.
Develop a clear and concise written interest statement.
Why does this statement lead to an important contribution to the field or to the theory?
Does it still hold your interest?
Activity 4. Reflection: The Key to Interest Selection and Developing the Research Query Statement
Page reference: 22 – 27
The initial statement of the research problem in most cases has been framed from the researcher’s personal perspective. Oft times, it is expressed in general terms using everyday terminology and definition. Without giving careful consideration to reframing and refining this interest into a concise statement, clearly defining key elements of the enquiry, and using the terminology from the appropriate academic discipline, the literature review will be difficult, if not impossible, to complete.
Three refinements of the original personal statement of interest can be done to reframe the personal interest statement into a preliminary topic statement. (Activities 1-3) See above.
Activity 4. Reflection becomes the first major decision point for the researcher. After reframing the personal interest, the researcher should now step back and ask, “Given the preliminary topic statement I have crafted, do I have the prerequisite knowledge, and passion to take this on? Do I really want to research this topic?

6. Page reference: 27-30
The researcher has reframed the interest statement moving from general to specific terminology and identifying a well-defined research subject. An appropriate academic disciple has been identified, which addresses the question’s content area.
Using personal “everyday” language to form a preliminary topic statement will invariably lead to an ill-defined literature search. To avoid this mistake, one important task still remains, linking to the terminology of the discipline.
The activities above will accomplish this task.
Use a subject-area thesaurus to find the synonyms linking appropriate academic terminology to the keywords of the interest statement.
The subject-area dictionary provides a different reference point. Using the results of the thesaurus search, consult these specialized dictionaries to determine if the definition of the terms selected fits your needs. These references provide the language familiarity and phrasing necessary to transform the terms of the interest statement into a viable preliminary topic statement.
Subject-area handbooks discuss the theories relating to the topics of their academic field. They provide a great head start in determining the boundaries for the literature search and in creating an overview of the academic discourse about the subject.
Subject-area handbooks can be organized in three ways: chronologically by theory, theo­ries can be organized topically, or organized around current discussions in the field.
DO NOT USE the standard general dictionaries or thesauri for these activities.
Show how these activities can be accomplished using a library's virtual portal.

7. The Basic Rules for Library Use
Consult with the research librarian early and often.
Develop a positive working relationship .
The research librarian is a mentor and a guide.
Know your librarian
Have a clear plan and purpose for every library visit.
Know what you are looking for and where to get it.
Have strategy for your library research.
Have a schedule of work and specific outcomes .
Before ending the session, plan the next steps.
Be purposeful
Develop and organize your cataloging and documenting tools first.
Use cataloging tools to codify the library materials for easy reference and identification.
Use documentation tools to store notes, quotes, and abstracts on the library material you are collecting.
Build a system for information collection, documentation, and retrieval.
Preparation equals efficiency
Page reference: 30 – 32
Speak to the slide contents.
Make specific reference to cataloging and documenting software.
Use a cataloging system to codify the library materials you have for easy reference and identification. Cataloging tools range from simple 3x5 index cards to research soft­ware tools.
RefWorks is available on most university Web sites, or you can purchase software such as EndNote or Citation.
Documentation tools provide the filing system for the library data collected for study.
Store notes about a subject, quotes and abstracts, further references to explore, subject maps, or a list of tasks to be completed next.
Have various levels of sophistication, the simplest being a notebook or notepad. The more complex and inte­grated ones are software such as EndNote, Citation, Microsoft OneNote, ISI ResearchSoft Reference Manager, or RefWorks.
Take the time before you begin researching to build an organiza­tional system that fits your learning style and will aid you through the entire literature review.

8. TASK 4. WRITE THE PRELIMINARY RESEARCH TOPIC STATEMENT
1. Conduct a first conversation with a research librarian. 2.
Define the key terms of the interest statement. 3.
Translate the key terms and core ideas of the interest statement. 4.
Rewrite the interest statement into a preliminary topic statement.
Page reference: 32-33
Review the four activities. See Exercise 1.6.

9. Page reference: page 33
Speak to the slide.

10. Step 1. Select a Topic Let’s check our understanding
Task 1. Identify a Subject for Study
Task 2. Translate the Personal Interest or Concern Into a Research Query
Activity 1. Focus a Research Interest
Activity 2. Limit the Interest
Activity 3. Select a Perspective
Activity 4. Reflect and Develop the Query Statement
Task 3. Link the Research Query to the Appropriate Discipline
Activity 1. Become Familiar With the Academic Terminology Concerning the Study Topic
Activity 2. Gain Entry to the Literature Concerning the Subject of the Study
Activity 3. Consult With a Research Librarian
Task 4. Write the Preliminary Research Topic Statement
Let’s check our understanding
Page reference: page 16
Speak to slide. Review the tasks and activities of this step.