Week 3 - Literature Review in Primary Research Methods

A literature review is best described as:

• 1. A list of relevant articles and other published material you have read about your topic, describing the content of each source

• 1. An internet search for articles describing research relevant to your topic criticising the methodology and reliability of the findings

• 1. An evaluative overview of what is known about a topic, based on published research and theoretical accounts, which serves as a basis for future research or policy decisions

• 1. An essay looking at the theoretical background to your research study

A literature review is

• 1. conducted after you have decided upon your research question

• 1. helps in the formulation of your research aim and research question

• 1. is the last thing to be written in your research report

• is not part of a research proposal

Which is the most reliable source of information for your literature review

• 1. A TV documentary

• 1. A newspaper article

• 1. A peer reviewed research article

• 1. A relevant chapter from a textbook

Critical analysis means

• 1. Subjecting the literature to a process of interrogation in order to assess the relevance, authenticity and reliability of the literature together with the summarising of common thematic areas of discussion

• 1. An evaluation of past research being critical of the methodology used and describing how your methodology will be an improvement

• 1. An analysis of theoretical approaches showing how they are no longer valid according to our current state of knowledge

• 1. Looking at the way articles are structured, pointing out logical inconsistencies

Which is not a reason for accurate referencing in your literature review?

• 1. Accurate referencing is needed so that tutors can follow up your sources and check that you have reported them accurately

• 1. Accurate referencing is needed so that researchers who read your work are alerted to source that might be helpful for them

• 1. Referencing shows that you go to the library when not in lectures

• 1. Accurate referencing is required because it is an academic convention

What are the purposes of the introduction in a literature review which is part of a research project?

• to restate the research aim or researach question

• to emphasise the timeliness or signifiance of the study

• to highlight a gap in the literature

• to point out the role of the researcher

A great shortcut to look for the sources for your study is

• a bookstore.

• a newspaper.

• a magazine

• references of selected literature

If you are studying a specialized topic, like 'Common symptoms of mentally ill children', but search for something broad, like 'Psychology of children', you are likely to find

• 2. A large amount of relevant articles.

• 2. A small amount of relevant articles.

• 2. A large amount of non-relevant articles.

• 1. A small amount of non-relevant articles.

Your literature review is a list of all the work published on your topic and who argues what.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

A literature review is not just a list of all the work published on a topic and who argues what. It involves critically analysing and synthesising the existing literature to identify the trends gaps, patterns in your research. A liturature review also includes a summary and evaluation of the key arguments, theories, and methodologies used by different authors. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

There are different ways to organise your literature review. Tick all which apply.

• Chronologically

• Thematically

• Methodologically

• Theoretically

• Anyway that makes sense to me; it's my work!