1. Literature Review

2. Theoretical framework & Conceptual Framework
Where we are now…
Observation/ Background survey
Broad area of research
Literature review
Problem definition
Problem statement
Research questions
Theoretical framework
& Conceptual Framework
Variables clearly identified
Hypothesis generation
Research design
Methods
Data collection
Analysis
Interpretation
Deduction
Hypothesis substantiated?
RQ answered?

3. Today’s objectives Describe what a literature review is
How to conduct a literature review
Using library databases

4. What is “literature”? Scholarly Journals ( TESOL Quarterly)
Professional Journals ( Educational Leadership, )
Monographs
Books; research reports; dissertations; other?
Media
Popular magazines (e.g. Dewan SIswa, Time)
Newspapers (e.g., Berita Harian; The STAR)
Remember – be critical…
question what you read

5. Literature review What is a literature review ?
Discussion of published information in a particular subject area
Can be a simple summary of the sources
Has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis

6. Literature review
SUMMARY - recap of the important information of the source
SYNTHESIS - a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information.
gives a new interpretation of old material
combine new with old interpretations
trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates
evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant.

7. Literature review
Refer Purposes

8. What you should do Generally Identify key terms Locate literature
Critically evaluate and select the literature
Organize the literature
Write a review

9. PREPARATION
Clarify your topic
Conceptual analysis
Identify keywords

10. PREPARATION

11. An evaluation of learning support needs of disabled students in UiTM
TOPIC
An evaluation of learning support needs of disabled students in UiTM

12. CONCEPTS?
Evaluation

13. CONCEPTS
What combination of concepts will other authors have researched & published?
Should you ignore any concepts for the literature review?

14. CONCEPTS Evaluation √ Learning Support needs√
Students - in this context ?
UMAP X

15. CONCEPTS

16. CONCEPTS
Learning support
evaluation

17. CONCEPTS
evaluation
Needs
Learning support

18. CONCEPTS
evaluation
Needs
Learning support

19. CONCEPTS
evaluation
Learning support
Needs
special needs

20. Mapping out Build family tree Look for research done in the area
Identify variables
Identify context/ setting
Identify theories
Look for research done in the area
Categorize
Defining
Historical
Justification
Methods
Scope
Context

21. Try one : Virtual Learning Readiness of UiTM Postgrads
Variables
Theories
Setting/context

22. Analysing literature reviews
Exercise
Analysing literature reviews

23. Conducting a literature review
Start with a known item/ variable
Use simple “Google search”
Move on to annotated bibliography and dissertation abstracts
Search databases

24. Where to start looking Start with your (sub)discipline first
Has anyone in your field studied this problem?
E.g., Education? = ERIC database
Branch out to other disciplines – esp. if the topic is interdisciplinary
What has been done in other (related) fields?
E.g., Psychology (PsycINFO); Sociology (Sociological Abstracts); Cultural Theory…ETC.

25. Track your literature Keep a journal – jot notes as you read
Why is each item of interest to you? Where does the item “fit” in your research?
Provides background/definitional information?
Provides a good example to highlight your argument?
Jot examples of great quotes – including page #s
Remember – paraphrases must be cited as well
Make copies as you go
Difficult/time-consuming to go back
Be aware of copyright rules/restrictions!
Itemize everything – document full citation as you find relevant information

26. Review
“Re-views” – or looks again – at what others have done in a particular area of study (so may include research, opinion pieces, news articles, etc.)
Is analytical and comparative – not purely descriptive
Summarizing the articles is not enough – what does this mean to you? How does this connect with other things you’ve read?
Use the literature
to support/defend your argument
To identify concepts/issues previously found to be significant and/or insignificant – including points of controversy (“critical eye”)

27. The Lit Rev Bullseye Think of the literature search as a bullseye
Your problem is in the centre – has anyone studied this topic before?
Chances are – no hits!
Slowly move your search out & away from the problem – to find other relevant studies

28. Evaluating the relevance of the literature: Questions to ask
Topic relevance: Is the literature on the same topic as your proposed study?
Individual and site relevance: Does the literature examine the same individuals and sites you want to study?

29. Evaluating the relevance of the literature: Questions to ask
Problem relevance: Does the literature examine the same research problem as you propose in your study?
Accessibility relevance: Is the literature available in your library or can it be downloaded from a web site?

30. Construct a Literature Map
Identify key terms for the topic and put them at the top of the map
Sort studies into topical areas or “families of studies.”
Provide a label for each box which will become a heading for the review
Develop the map on as many levels as possible

31. Literature Map Study Abroad Programs U.S. Programs
The need for Teaching Programs
to be Culturally Responsive
Bennett, 1995; Eastman,
Smith, 1991; Grant 1994; Noel,1995
Study Abroad
Programs
U.S.
Programs
Personal insights
of Preservice Teachers
Friesen, Kang
McDongall, 1995;
Mahan, Stachowski, 1991
Possible
Improvements
Martin, Rohrlich ,
1991; Stachowski,
1991
Personal insights
of Preservice Teachers
Cockrell, Placier
Cockrell, Middleton
1999, Goodwin, 1997
Kea, Bacon, 1999
Attitude Toward
Study Abroad
King, Young ,1994
Need for further study:
Non-English Speaking Cultures
Question: Do short-term study
abroad programs in non-English
speaking cultures help create
cultural responsiveness in
preservice teachers?
Conventional
Programs
Colville-Hall
Macdonald, Smollen, 1995;
Vavrus, 1994
Predominantly English
Speaking Countries
Mahan, Stachowski, 1990;
Vall, Tennison, 1992
Cross-Cultural
Programs
Cooper, Beare
Thorman, 1990;
Larke, Wiseman,
Bradley, 1990

32. Homework?: Write a review
Find at least 5 articles related to your research problem
Read the abstract
Map out the literature
Summarize each study in an “abstract” that highlights important elements
Identify each article’s contribution to a study
Post your review online