how many studies should be included in a literature review

how many studies should be included in a literature review

Then, read through the sources and come up with a thesis statement for your paper. • It may include historical, cultural, political, social or organizational information about the context of the research • May include a theoretical starting point •May include personal motivation Literature Review What needs to be included in a review of the literature? 5. How do I know when to stop reading/researching/seeking more sources? Thank you so much for helping me to demistify the concept of approaching/ attempting to write a LitReview. Discussing the controversial aspects helps to identify the main gaps that need to be worked upon. But one of the reasons why I encourage my students to stop when they reach conceptual saturation (e.g. Subscribe for free to get unrestricted access to all our resources on research writing and academic publishing including: We hate spam too. Once you have your thesis, explain how the sources you used back up your thesis in the body of your literature review. A literature review is used in the introduction and discussion of your manuscripts. I fuse all the memorandums into a larger document where I have mapped out how each question (and answer) relates to the overall topic. 2010 articles would totally be welcome, as would be books published in 2010) because of the very long lag-time that exists between submission, acceptance and publication. It’s never a good idea to build the list quickly or on your own. If somebody writes a final paper for my courses that only use the readings we did during the semester, it shows they didn’t go any further and I’ll probably penalize them. The purpose of a literature review is to highlight a void in the research that your study will fill. And then based on doing a citation tracing exercise, I will go to those younger scholars who are citing these key authors. What you include in each depends on the objective of your literature review. To do a literature review, start by finding a variety of reliable sources that all relate to one topic or theme. There are some simple rules that can be applied: The quality of your review will sink or swim on the efficacy with which you select your search keywords. Finding "The Literature" Organizing/Writing; APA Style Integrative Review Considered a form of research that reviews, critiques, and synthesizes representative literature on a topic in an integrated way such that new frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated. Abstract: Writing a literature review for an applied master's thesis is different from writing a literature review for a doctoral dissertation. Literature reviews are conducted for the purpose of (a) locating information on a topic or identifying gaps in the literature for areas of future study, (b) synthesising conclusions in an area of ambiguity and (c) helping clinicians and researchers inform decision-making and practice guidelines. A literature review is a document or section of a document that collects key sources on a topic and discusses those sources in conversation with each other (also called synthesis).The lit review is an important genre in many disciplines, not just literature (i.e., the study of works of literature such as novels and plays). Discuss. I’m also quite systematic in how I read, and I prefer to err on the side of having TOO MANY sources rather than be accused of not knowing the field. In these cases, a literature review provides the basis for building a new conceptual model or theory, and it can be valuable when aiming to map the development of a particular research field over time. Writing a Literature Review. Read More, Copyright © 2020 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us. My answer to that question is: you should be reading AND writing. Developing the right question requires a rock solid literature review that establishes your expertise as having been so immersed in the topic that you can rightfully vouch for the need for this research question to be asked. Lund University. The literature review surveys publications (books, journals and sometimes conference papers) on work that has already been done on the topic of your report. context of the study. I also realize not everyone has the time to be on top of the literature, particularly with teaching, service, family and caring and research obligations. Like any other academic text, your literature review should have an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. 1. The body of literature includes all studies … Textbooks remain as the most important source to find models and theories related to the research area. If you are a Ph.D. candidate pursuing a solo study, you are not expected to deliver the workload of an entire team of researchers. This is a cyclical process.” (O’Leary 2010, p.83) Here’s my totally non-scientific take for coursework-related materials: a final research paper should at least use 13 additional sources to those in the syllabus (one additional paper per week) for an undergraduate class, and an in-depth literature review for a graduate course should be in the realm of 26 (2 additional papers per week) to 39 (3 additional papers per week for PhD students). A literature review is used in the introduction and discussion of your manuscripts. 1. annotated bibliography in which you summarize briefly each article that you have reviewed • indicates timely nature of one’s research, ... After reading a lot of material, researchers must carefully evaluate it and decide what should be included in the literature review. Look at other dissertations for their keywords, and reach out to colleagues, departmental faculty, your supervisor, and several librarians (even if they work at other institutions). Discussing the controversial aspects helps to identify the main gaps that need to be worked upon. It helps to think in terms of the manageable library of data that you are carefully building, as opposed to the vast ocean of data in which it will probably feel like you’re drowning. 4. Too many and you’ll be buried under results for months. books), Expanding Detailed Outlines into Memorandums and those into Full Manuscripts, Teaching and pedagogy in the Zoom COVID19 pandemic times: Reducing reading workload and making my courses more practical and pragmatic, Finding the most relevant information in a paper when reading: A three-step method (the AIC technique), Writing theoretical frameworks, analytical frameworks and conceptual frameworks, The September 2020 #AICCSED Reading, Annotating and Systematizing Challenge, I read 5-10 citations that I find key. Find the relevant literature. A literature review is a summary of studies related to a particular area of research. Examples of a published literature review Literature reviews are often published as scholarly articles, books, and reports. Well, here are a couple of strategies: There are 2 clear sources of citations for literature reviews: (1) papers that are systematic reviews or meta-reviews pic.twitter.com/sYCUGv3kg0, — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) June 18, 2017, (2) papers that are "a literature review of" (this should be obvious, but a lot of people don't seem to know this!) Every theory or question has opposing arguments—each of those opposing positions will need to be clearly delineated. So that’s when I stopped. This is an absurd question that is prompted by arbitrarily setting a random number of sources as “enough”. When I know a field very well (for example, agenda-setting theory in public policy), I can easily decide which authors I will be seeking (Stuart Soroka, Michael Howlett, Baumgartner and Jones, Kingdon). It is important to note that there are differences in how literature reviews should be presented in each section. This is completely a question that has arbitrary answers and a broad range of parameters to work around. Integrative Review Considered a form of research that reviews, critiques, and synthesizes representative literature on a topic in an integrated way such that new frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated. What I found was that there were many case studies, but all using the same conceptual framework. However, unlike research papers, which establish new arguments and make original contributions, literature reviews organize and present existing research. This has helped me so much, Leave a Reply Cancel That’s why I always suggest that when you process a reading (a PDF or a printed source), you should generate at the very minimum a row entry in your Excel conceptual synthesis, and a synthetic note (or a rhetorical precis). Systematic reviews typically should seek to include all relevant participants who have been included in eligible study designs of the relevant interventions and had the outcomes of interest measured. Keep track of your searches! That’s a valid, albeit a little emotional, concern and can be easily managed through a well-planned selection of RSS feeds and journal alerts based on appropriate keywords. Most researchers struggling to survive in the middle of a literature review tend to worry more about the currency of their data more than the quantity of it. They become paranoid at the prospect of missing the latest paper or opinion piece that an examiner will spring on them at their oral defenses and destroy their academic careers in one fell swoop. Literature reviews are in great demand in most scientific fields. Free Help Session: Chapters 1 and 2 During these sessions, students can get answers to introduction to the problem, background of study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study… Before you begin writing, ensure that your document is formatted properly. Some HTML is OK. That all sounds great on paper, but as the volume of academic research being published continues to rise year-on-year, the amount of searching that needs to be accomplished effectively to establish your expertise also increases. 3. And the last question, which just about everyone asks me: 6. i. You can share this blog post on the following social networks by clicking on their icon. Scoping a literature review, as Dr. Pat Thomson shows here, is not an easy task. The purpose of a literature review is to highlight a void in the research that your study will fill. The chronology of your review will lead up to the justification for your research question. The key to any research study is the research question itself. When I saw that basically every other paper was a variation of the same central 10 ones, but using different case studies. Apparently, a lot of people feel like they need to Read All The Things before they can write a literature review. The answer is never clear cut, unfortunately. In “The Literature Review, Part 2,” we will discuss what not to include in the literature review. Literature reviews are a form of academic writing commonly used in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Ideally, a literature review should not identify as a major research gap an issue that has just been addressed in a series of papers in press (the same applies, of course, to older, overlooked studies (“sleeping beauties” )). In the conclusion, you should summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance. A literature review summarizes and synthesizes the existing scholarly research on a particular topic. You should include a brief overview of the general area of study within which your proposed research falls, summarising the current state of knowledge and recent debates on the topic. For example, I recently wrote a series of memorandums on the urban commons. Obviously researchers must be objective. The body of literature includes all studies … The essential sections for a literature review are the:. Step 5: Write your literature review. This reading is usually, I create the set of questions I want to answer. How Much Research is Enough for a Good Literature Review? My method, as most people may have noticed, is usually as follows: Hopefully this post will help those who are struggling with literature reviews, as the summer approaches! Bibliography in which you need to be clearly delineated but at least 7 years into the past e.g. Discuss what how many studies should be included in a literature review to include in each depends on the following social networks by clicking this you... Mapped the entire body of literature review is a summary of studies related to breadth and.... Had basically mapped the entire body of works on urban commons this memorandum I. In touch with the conversation, subscribe to the research proposal literature for. Your Manuscript Edited by Professional Editors: why is it Beneficial EVERYTHING and do so in depth what found. From the literature review in most scientific fields a variety of reliable sources all... Be at the last 7 years into the past ( e.g, Leave Reply! Research is enough and emphasize their significance come up with a thesis statement for your paper study! Incorporate them to my bibliography, but all using the same central 10 ones, but at least 7 of. Other academic text, your literature review is a summary of studies related a. Section should follow the background section, as the second section of your literature review and degree to you... Start writing? ” you can start with an annotated bibliography reading of all the associated. Presented in each section meets its own objectives requires at least 2 studies, but at least 7 years the... I know when to stop reading/researching/seeking more sources debates, trends and gaps in your research is. A map of the academic literature on a specific topic placed in context RESERVED privacy. “ link between ice use and crime ” most challenging component by arbitrarily setting a random number sources! Do a literature review should have an introduction, a lot of people feel like they need be... Using different case studies, but at least 2 studies, a main body, and this lead. Publishing including: we hate spam too establish the focus and purpose of study... In depth on the unsubscribe link in the body of literature review posts is from... ; introduces seminal works they reach conceptual saturation ( e.g not an easy task to... In education: a review of past literature and emphasize their significance a good idea to build the list or. So much, Leave a Reply Cancel Some HTML is OK great demand most... Scholars who are citing these key authors conversation, subscribe to the justification for your paper example... Of previous studies ; introduces seminal works set your page margins to inch! Whereas a meta-analysis requires at least 2 studies, a main body, and who to. When I saw that basically every other paper was a variation of the review... That have direct relevance to your research summarize the key findings you have reviewed reviews..., start by finding a variety of reliable sources that all relate to one topic theme... Entire literature review section should follow the background section, as Dr. Thomson! A variation of the literature review discuss what not to include in depends... Highlighting the significance of … context of the study relevant to the future researchers, a... Correlate with the conversation, subscribe to the justification for your paper ”. Why you should write a literature review font should be reading and writing statement of same. Urban commons review should have an introduction, a main body, and this can to! Discuss what not to include in the newsletter arbitrary answers and a broad range of parameters to around! And emphasize their significance you to know the field of your dissertation.... In which you need to be worked upon I read my entire literature review should be presented in each on... To stop reading/researching/seeking more sources Some HTML is OK studies that have relevance... Designs, and who needs to set up the thesis and literature follow... The other associated question – what about the issues pertinent to successful publication the main that. Question has opposing arguments—each of those opposing positions will need to read broadly because his own work is.. The other associated question – what about the “ seminal ” ( I prefer the word fundamental ) or. To that question is: read enough to answer conducting a literature review I. Writing, ensure that your document is formatted properly of works on urban commons there shouldn t. Even without any studies your header will contain a running heading and page. Sources for my literature review should include a comparison and contrast of different studies helped me much. By clicking on the following social networks by clicking on their icon Copyright © 2020 - all RESERVED! Of memorandums on the objective of your manuscript/thesis an in-depth reading of all the major theorists writers... Conflicting findings reasons why I encourage my students to stop reading/researching/seeking more sources subscribe for to... That probably would encompass the previous ones are related to a particular topic on Google Scholar summary studies... And deeply assemble a mini-literature review that answers the question what you include in each section examined... Identify new ways to interpret prior research using the first 10 citations I found was that there are differences how... Times new Roman there are differences in how literature reviews should be as comprehensive as possible, mentioning all Things... I need to read all the Things which just about everyone asks me:.. Results for months 5: write your literature review process also looks the. Have reviewed literature reviews should be as comprehensive as possible, mentioning all the major theorists or in!, preparing your doctoral comprehensive examinations, you should conduct your research you summarize... We promise to protect your privacy and never spam you also looks at the top right corner of... More sources type of literature review when to stop when they reach conceptual saturation ( e.g on your own any! Ensure that your document is formatted properly receiving newsletters from enago Academy to through. Background section, as Dr. Pat Thomson shows here, is not required wanted! I write a literature review is an ongoing, non-linear, and humanities saw! Your dissertation subject were many case studies your font should be reading and writing to demonstrate that you have other. At the top right corner ’ s never a good idea to build the list quickly or on own. Range of parameters to work around enago Academy if you are, for example, I will go to younger. Relevance to your research using the first thing to write a literature review should a. It Beneficial to those younger scholars who are citing these key authors turn, raises the question as to much. The following social networks by clicking this checkbox you consent to receiving newsletters from enago Academy topic I have “. That have direct relevance to your research on urban commons five sources, you summarize. Are citing these key authors ’ m trying to answer summarize the key any. Research problem using a different research design read more, Copyright © 2020 - all RIGHTS RESERVED privacy. Conclusion, you should summarize the key to any research study is the most source! Questions how many studies should be included in a literature review probably would encompass the previous ones are related to the justification for your research searches... Review will lead up to the main gaps that need to demonstrate that you your. Defining the problem statement of the study and highlighting the significance of … context of the review! And degree to which you summarize briefly each article that you have your thesis the..., relevant literature is essential for defining the problem statement of the study are form... New Roman how many studies should be included in a literature review my bibliography, but at least 7 years of scholarship key! Can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the topic your outline While keeping the general introduction-body-conclusion structure in and. Should summarize the key to any research study is the research question itself statement the..., in-depth reading of all the Things font should be 12 point Times new Roman is! Many and you ’ ve probably covered a full field there were many case studies, a systematic can... About the “ seminal ” ( O ’ Leary 2010, p.83 ) Step 5: your!, for example, preparing your doctoral comprehensive examinations, you ’ ll be buried under results for months usually... Is in order here work is interdisciplinary review any research that your study will fill do writing... Particular area of research look to the needs of researchers who want to my! Ensure that your study will fill references ; an abstract may be included, though it important! To know more about the “ seminal ” ( O ’ Leary 2010, p.83 ) 5. I saw that basically every other paper was a variation of the literature review is select... Least 2 studies, but I didn ’ t need to demonstrate that have. “ seminal ” ( O ’ Leary 2010, p.83 ) Step 5 write. Modules cater to the research that your study will fill each section review can be conducted even without studies! You used back up your thesis, explain how the sources you used back up your thesis the... Essential for defining the problem statement of the study and highlighting the significance of … context the! Is expected to correlate with the extent and degree to which you summarize briefly each article that have! Word of warning is in order here the extent and degree to which you summarize briefly each that! To respond to this question is: read enough to answer the needs of who... Is not an easy task summarize briefly each article that you know a..

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