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Doing Your Literature Review
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Doing Your Literature Review
Traditional and Systematic Techniques

First Edition


February 2011 | 192 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
The literature review is a compulsory part of research and, increasingly, may form the whole of a student research project. This highly accessible book guides students through the production of either a traditional or a systematic literature review, clearly explaining the difference between the two types of review, the advantages and disadvantages of both, and the skills needed. It gives practical advice on reading and organising relevant literature and critically assessing the reviewed field.

Contents include:
  •  using libraries and the internet
  •  note making
  •  presentation
  •  critical analysis
  •  referencing, plagiarism and copyright.

This book will be relevant to students from any discipline. It includes contributions from two lecturers who have many years experience of teaching research methods and the supervision of postgraduate research dissertations and a librarian, each offering expert advice on either the creation and assessment of literature reviews or the process of searching for information. The book also highlights the increasing importance for many disciplines of the systematic review methodology and discusses some of the specific challenges which it brings.

 

Jill K. Jesson has worked with multi-disciplinary research teams within the Aston School of Pharmacy, Aston Business School and with M-E-L Research, an independent public services research consultancy. She has now left Aston University and is working as a Consultant.

 

Lydia Matheson is an Information Specialist working for Library & Information Services at Aston University.

 

Fiona M. Lacey is an academic pharmacist, a member of the pharmacy practice teaching group in the School of Pharmacy, and Associate Dean in the School of Life and Health Sciences at Aston.

 
Introduction
Who is this book for?

 
How is this book different?

 
The rationale and history behind the contributions from a researcher and from an information specialist

 
Features of the book

 
Layout of the book

 
 
PART ONE: GETTING INFORMATION
 
Preliminaries
What is a literature review?

 
Terminology used in this book

 
Different styles of review

 
Two styles or approaches

 
A critical approach

 
Knowledge and literature

 
Why and when will you need to review the literature?

 
The research question and the literature review

 
What is appropriate literature?

 
Choosing which style of review: a traditional narrative review or a systematic review

 
Project management

 
 
Searching for Information
Introduction

 
Develop online searches by identifying key words and creating a search record

 
The range of information sources available for complex searches.

 
What do you need from a resource to make it appropriate for locating journal articles for your review?

 
 
Reading Skills
Introduction

 
Be analytical in your reading

 
Where to start

 
Reading techniques - scan, skim and understand

 
Reading different types of material

 
Grey literature: non academic sources and policy reports

 
Recording and note making

 
 
From Making Notes to Writing
Introduction

 
Note-making

 
From notes to writing

 
Writing - critical writing and types of argument

 
Making a value judgment and bias

 
 
PART TWO: USING INFORMATION
 
The Traditional Review
Overview of the debate

 
Types of review: critical, conceptual state of the art, expert and scoping

 
Draw up an analytical framework - how to sort the material

 
Moving to analysis and synthesis

 
The presentation of your review

 
Summarizing the gap - dare to have an opinion.

 
 
Writing up Your Review
Overview

 
A short summary

 
A self-standing review

 
Abstract, executive summary and annotated bibliography

 
Writing the review

 
Key words or phrases to help you move from stage 1 to stage 2

 
The 'so what' question, originality and making a value judgment

 
 
The Systematic Review
Overview

 
Definitions

 
Development of the review protocol

 
Formulating the review question

 
Documenting your progress

 
Locating studies and sources of information

 
Selecting studies: inclusion and exclusion criteria

 
Appraisal - assessing the quality of research

 
Data extraction

 
Synthesis, drawing conclusions, what the review shows

 
Evolving formats of systematic review

 
 
Meta- Analysis
Overview

 
What is meta-analysis?

 
Can I use meta-analysis to summarise the results of my systematic review?

 
Undertaking your meta-analysis

 
Displaying the results of a meta-analysis

 
Is your meta-analysis free from bias?

 
Performing a sensitivity analysis

 
 
Referencing and Plagiarism
Introduction

 
Why is referencing important?

 
What do you need to reference?

 
How many references should I provide?

 
When and how to reference

 
Referencing systems

 
Where to find citation information you need

 
Plagiarism

 
Copyright

 
Conclusion

 
Summary

 
 
Appendices
Appendix 1: Further reading

 
Appendix 2: Critical review checklist

 
Appendix 3: Systematic review online resources

 
Appendix 4: Resources for meta-analysis

 
 
Glossary

A very good book that breaks down this important academic skill into manageable pieces

Mr Joel Harris
Sports Therapy, University of Hertfordshire
October 30, 2014

Well written, concise and highly informative text. From straightforward definitions through to contemporary methods.

Mr Bob Milward
Economics, Business & International Business, University of Central Lancashire
October 1, 2014

This is a practical guide for both beginners and those with some experience in research. It helps in doing literature review in a more systematic way. Chapter two especially exposed the students to the wide range of resources from which they can obtain literature for review. The step by-step guide in chapter 5 and 6 were very good in sharpening their skills in reviewing literature. The systematic review bit was more introductory and it brought in meta-analysis. I would have loved to see some introduction to thematic and narrative analysis along meta-analysis. I do recommend this book for use by undergraduate and graduate students and course tutors.

Ms Lucy Dora Akello
Faculty of Education, Uganda Martyrs University
October 14, 2015

A clear text which could be a useful addition to reading for all levels of students undertaking research.

Ms Deb Hearle
Department of Occupational Therapy, Cardiff Univ.
July 22, 2014

A very good book with some very useful examples of literature review content. Possibly more suited to postgraduate study than undergraduate.

Mr Peter Wisener
Hospitality Tourism and Sport, North West Institute
July 1, 2014

A good level of detail for those students new to the literature review.

Mr Ian Watson
School of Computing, Engineering & IS, Northumbria University
June 11, 2014

An excellent text. This is a must read for students undertaking research methods modules across the full range of business management programmes, Lee & Lings provide an interactive text which brings research methods to life, covering the key aspects methodology and methods.

Mr Alan Johnston
York St John Business School, York St John University
February 8, 2014

This is a very useful book that is written in a user-friendly manner helpful for transition into post-graduate studies.

Mr Sarah Poore
School of Education, Brighton University
January 25, 2014

This is a real guide to carrying out literature reviews and differentiates between and tradition and systematic reviews

Mrs Jacqueline White
school of health, nursing & Midwifery -paisley Campus, University of the West of Scotland
January 19, 2014

Dissertation study support module benefits from this text.

Dr Natalia Vershinina
Department of Strategic Management and Marketing, De Montfort University
November 21, 2013

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


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