How to Write Your Literature Review (Macmillan Study Skills)

Description

This engaging guide by bestselling author Bryan Greetham takes students step-by-step through the process of writing a literature review, and equips them with practical strategies to help them navigate each stage. Each bite-sized chapter focuses on a specific aspect of the process, from generating ideas and pinning down the research problem through to searching for sources, citing references and planning, writing and editing the review. Chapters feature examples and exercises to help students apply ideas to their own work. Whether your students are writing a stand-alone review or one that is part of a dissertation or thesis, this guide is their essential companion. Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Why are literature reviews necessary? Integrated literature reviews The most common problems Why this book Thinking skills Writing How to manage your work Managing your time Timeline Part 1: Types of Literature Reviews Chapter 1: Stand-alone Literature Reviews 1: Non-systematic Stand-alone reviews Systematic stand-alone reviews Systematic stand-alone reviews – scientific Non-systematic stand-alone reviews Writing a non-systematic stand-alone review – the steps 1 Formulate the research question 2 Screening – the inclusion and exclusion criteria 3 Searching the literature 4 Synthesising Structure Chapter 2: Stand-alone Literature Reviews 2: Systematic How to do a systematic review – the seven steps 1 The research question 2 Planning your search 3 Searching and screening 4 Deciding what sources to use 4.1 Extracting the data 4.2 Assessing the quality 5 Planning your review – synthesis Quantitative synthesis – meta-analysis Qualitative synthesis – narrative synthesis The steps 6 Writing the first draft 7 Editing Structure Chapter 3: Literature Reviews for Dissertations and Theses Integrated reviews Gaps Originality Generating your own ideas Writing a literature review for a dissertation or thesis – the steps 1 Generating your own ideas 2 Finding a research question 3 Searching the literature 4 Processing the ideas 5 Planning your review 6 Writing the first draft 7 Editing Getting the structure right Part 2: Searching Your Sources Chapter 4: How to Generate Your Own Ideas The problem is the problem The questioning approach – trigger questions Compiling a checklist The power of questions Perspectives and levels A powerful ideas generator Question: How will local people be affected? Perspectives Levels Possible research projects Chapter 5: Finding a Research Question Finding an argument The research question 1 Ontological assumptions 2 Epistemological assumptions Knowing what to look for in the literature An iterative process Searching the literature The title Treasure hunting Mapping out the territory 1. What has been done before? 2. What information is available? 3. What gaps are there in the research? Stand-alone reviews Reviews for dissertations and theses Chapter 6: How to Search Retrieval system 1 Impromptu moments 2 While you’re searching The snowball effect Sources 1 Books 2 Journal articles 3 Published literature reviews 4 Grey literature 5 Websites 6 Hand searching journals Efficient searching 1 Don’t confuse the search with the review 2 Be clear about what you’re looking for 3 Don’t get bogged down 4 Don’t get diverted into irrelevant areas The steps 1 Search the library catalogues 2 Check there’s enough up-to-date material Web updates Libraries and librarians Keeping records Recording your searches Chapter 7: Searching the Internet 1 General search engines Google tools 2 Specialised databases 3 Open access sources 4 University libraries 5 Expert advice Search parameters Boolean operators How reliable are your sources? 1 What are the author’s credentials? Is he or she well-respected in the field? 2 How accurate is the document? 3 How up-to-date is the document? 4 Who publishes it? 5 Can you detect bias? 6 Are there reliable signs of the quality of the document? 7 What do others say about the page and the site? Part 3: Processing Ideas Chapter 8: Critically Evaluating Your Sources 1: The Arguments Surface-level processing Deep-level processing Common problems Critically evaluating the literature Analysing and synthesising ideas Arguments – are they valid? 1 Components 2 Connections Check the qualifiers Distributing terms in an argument Converting claims Affirming and denying Fallacies 1. Denying the antecedent 2. Affirming the consequent Necessary and sufficient conditions Chapter 9: Critically Evaluating Your Sources 2: The Evidence and Language Evidence 1 Does the author have enough reliable evidence? Untypical examples and insufficient or weighted evidence 2 Does the author represent the evidence accurately? 3 Does the author draw reliable inferences from it? Analogies Oversimplifying 1 Stereotypes 2 The straw man 3 Special pleading 4 The fallacy of false dilemma Invalid causal inferences 1 The post hoc fallacy 2 Cause/correlation 3 Multiple and underlying causes 4 Does the author draw relevant inferences from the evidence? Language 1 Is the author’s meaning clear? Jargon Loaded language Begging the question 2 Does the author use words consistently? The fallacy of equivocation Chapter 10: Analysing Concepts 1: Finding Connections Between Ideas What are concepts? Concepts – the driving force within your research Words are just the vehicle for the concept Creating and analysing concepts Open and closed concepts 1 Closed concepts 2 Open concepts Step 1: Gather your typical examples 1. How do I use the concept? 2. What sort of thing am I referring to? 3. How does it differ from similar things? Step 2: Analyse your examples Original ideas – new ways of tackling a problem Chapter 11: Analysing Concepts 2: Adapting Structures of Ideas The four strategies Strategy 1: Change the structure 1 Split it up 2 Rearrange it 3 Reinterpret it Strategy 2: Approach it from a different direction 1 Turn it upside down 2 Inside out 3 Back to front Strategy 3: Start from a different point Strategy 4: Create a new structure 1 Combine structures 2 Change the basic concepts Chapter 12: Synthesis: Creating Patterns and Finding Gaps Common problems A practical method 1 Connect 2 Insight 3 Hypothesis 4 Test 5 Adapt Managing ideas Part 4: Organising Your Work Chapter 13: Managing Your Time Being in control Early warning checks Motivation The steps 1 A typical week 2 Planning your timetable 3 The time available for the review 4 Listing the tasks 5 Allocating hours to each task 6 Stage deadlines Sessions with supervisors 7 Keeping to your schedule Writing 8 Constant checks Maintaining control Chapter 14: Managing Your Material 1 Keeping a record of your searches Flowchart Reference management software 2 Recording your ideas 1 Notebook 2 Journal 3 Card index 4 Slip notes 5 Project box Resolving an inherent contradiction Chapter 15: Reading 1 Reading only what we have to Reliability The author The source Relevance Reading purposefully 2 Reading in the most efficient way Books Journal articles Using our reading skills flexibly Processing ideas – reading actively Writing in response to what you read Multiple readings Reading for comprehension Reading for analysis and structure Reading for criticism and evaluation Chapter 16: Note-Taking Flexibility Note-taking strategies 1 Linear notes 2 Matrixes Electronic forms of note-taking 3 Time lines 4 Pattern notes Working faster and more creatively Part 5: Planning Your Review Chapter 17: Deciding Which Sources to Use Synopsis – creating ‘background’ 1 No link between the review and your research project 2 The struggle to decide what’s relevant 3 Managing the material and your time How to decide what sources are relevant Stand-alone reviews Reviews for dissertations and theses How to choose 1 Abilities – how am I going to use it? Integrating your sources into your review 1 Synthesising the ideas 2 Analysing the implications of sources 3 Critically evaluating sources 2 Content – how is it useful? Using the criteria Chapter 18: Planning the Review The benefits of planning 1 Reduces stress and confusion 2 Thinking about the details 3 Confidence Planning the different types of review Stand-alone reviews Integrated reviews Reviews for empirical dissertations and theses Planning your review 1 The context 2 Your own contribution 3 From the general to the specific texts 4 Filling it out 5 Direct lead The structure 1 The introduction 2 Methodology 3 Findings 1 Thematic 2 Chronological 4 Discussion and conclusion 5 References Chapter 19: Integrating Your Review with Other Chapters New ideas and publications Rewriting the plan 1 Defending a position 2 Over theorising Tying the review in with other chapters Theoretical, text-based dissertations and theses Empirical dissertations and theses 1 Introduction 2 Methodology 3 Research findings 4 The discussion 5 The conclusion The effects of integrating your review Making the ideas your own Part 6: Writing Your Review Chapter 20: Discussing the Literature Research: assessing your ability to think Discussing your sources An argument can be a mixture of fact, value and concept. So we have to be able to analyse it and identify what it is before we can decide how to critically evaluate it. The author may have presented the argument as exclusively about facts, whereas i Verifiable value judgements No objective criterion Similarities and dissimilarities Chapter 21: The First Draft 1 Writing Write early in your notebook and journal Start your first draft early Write freely Your own voice 2 A clear rationale that makes coherent sense Transitions Logical indicators Section transitions Integrated reviews Chapter 22: Finding Your Own Voice The anonymous reader Asserting your own voice Meaning is what your words actually forbid Objectivity Avoiding potential problems Writing as lightly as you can Chapter 23: Style: Simplicity and Economy Sentences Punctuation Words Settling for ‘near enough’ Rely on strong nouns and verbs to carry your meaning Verbs Nouns Replace prepositional phrases with prepositions Complex and technical subjects Jargon immunises ideas from criticism and evaluation Chapter 24: Finding the Right Words Practical solutions De-cluttering Strong nouns and verbs Qualifiers Transitions Compound transitions Part 7: Using Your Sources Chapter 25: Plagiarism Why do we need to avoid it? What is plagiarism exactly? How can we distinguish between what needs to be cited and what doesn’t? Distinctive contribution Common knowledge The six-point code Avoiding plagiarism Record borrowed material in a different way or place Record the details of sources prominently Chapter 26: Citing Your Sources Conventions Three elements Extracts The marker and the details Footnote system The Harvard system – the Author-Date system Using your sources Synthesising sources Bibliographies Listing the sources – the formats Electronic references Software PART 8: Editing Chapter 27: Revision 1: Structure Revising for your reader Shifting our focus from the writer to the editor Revise with a purpose Structure The steps The connections between our paragraphs The structure within paragraphs The final check Chapter 28: Revision 2: Content The steps 1 Spelling Confusions Mistakes Getting it right 2 Grammar 3 Words and sentences 4 De-cluttering Strong nouns and verbs The active voice 5 Reading it out aloud Changing the pace The final checks Loose ends Up-to-date literature Citations and plagiarism Word count Conclusion Thinking for yourself The significance of the review A passion for ideas Bibliography Index