1. PURPOSE OF REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
To study the history of the problem
To delimit the research problem
To justify selection of the problem
To become familiar with the theoretical background of the problem
To seek new approaches
To help in selection of procedures
To assess the merits of previous studies
To avoid unintended duplication

2. ORGANIZING THE RELATED LITERATURE
Begin with the most recent studies in the field and then work backward through earlier volumes
Read the abstract or summary sections of a report first to determine whether it is relevant to your questions
Before taking notes, skim the report quickly to find those sections that are related to your question
Make notes directly on index cards, as they are easier to sort and organize than sheets of paper

3. Cont. Write out a complete bibliographic reference for each work
To facilitate sorting and organizing, do not put more than one reference on each card
Be sure to indicate which parts of the notes are direct quotations from the author and which are one’s own paraphrases
For on-line database search, keep the search materials in file

4. Common Mistakes Made In Reviewing
Research Literature
Carries out a hurried review of the
literature to get started on the research project
Relies too heavily upon secondary sources
Concentrates on research findings when reading
research articles, overlooks valuable information on
method and measures

5. Fails to define the topic limits of the review of literature
Copies bibliographic data incorrectly, unable to locate the references needed
Copies too much material on to note cards or computer files. Cannot separate important from unimportant information
Fail to use a number of relevant descriptors when conducting a computer search

6. HYPOTHESIS
A tentative proposition or statement of the researcher’s expectations relative to a relationship between variables within the problem
Presented only as a suggested solution to a problem or as an explanation of a phenomenon
Tested in a research
Most important when causal relationships between variables are investigated

7. PURPOSE OF HYPOTHESIS
Provides a tentative explanation of phenomena and facilitates the extension of knowledge in an area
Provides the investigator with a relational statement that is testable in a research
Provides direction to the research in terms of data needed and analysis to be conducted.

8. Provides a framework for reporting the conclusions of the study.
-A hypotheses should be consistent with the existing body of knowledge (should not contradict previously well-established theories and laws)
Hypotheses should be stated as simply and concisely as possible

9. TYPES OF HYPOTHESES Research hypotheses
Hypotheses developed from observation, the
related literature, and/ or a theory.
May be stated in a directional or non
directional form.
Null Hypotheses
Where statistical tests are to be performed,
the research hypotheses must be translated
into the null hypotheses.

10. EXAMPLES OF HYPOTHESES
There is a positive relationship between school organizational climate and teachers job satisfaction.
There is a significant difference in job satisfaction of teachers in fully residential and non residential schools.