Subject Guides: GCETE: Graduate Certificate in Education (Tertiary Education): Refreshing your literature review skills

Refreshing your literature review skills

What is a literature review?

For some participants, it may have been some time since they conducted a literature review. So for those of you may be a little rusty or who'd like a few refresher tips, check out the following resources.

Below is a great video that explores the following:

What is a literature review?
Why do a literature review
- understand the background of your topic
- what has already been done related to your topic
- how this research has helped informed you about your topic
- how your topic can contricute to the research in your discipline
Types of literature review
Where to begin
- Finding literature
- Reviewing literature
- Integrate and synthesis your findings into something new
Your review structure

North Carolina State University Libraries. (July, 2009). Literature reviews: An overview for graduate students. [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2d7y_r65HU

Writing literature reviews

When reading and reviewing literature, consider the following questions:

Abstract/Introduction - Make sure the article is relevant to your topic.
Methodology - What type of methodology was used? Is it relevant to the research questions? Is it similar or different to other studies on this topic? Consider why.
Sample group - Who were the target audience? What age/gender/race - is that relevant? What was the sample size - is this relevant? What was the process of selection or exclusion - is this relevant? Is it similar or different to other studies on this topic? Consider why.
Data collection - How was it done? What was the process of data analysis? Is it similar or different to other studies on this topic? Consider why.
Findings or outcomes - Is it similar or different to other studies on this topic? Consider why.
Gaps - Are there any gaps in the study identified by the author? By you? Is this relevant to the findings or outcomes? Consider why.
Limitations - Are there any limitations in the study identified by the author? By you? Is this relevant to the findings or outcomes? Consider why.
Recommendations - Are there any recommendations made by the author for future studies on this topic? By you?

Also consider looking at the resources on the student study skills website on literature reviews

Summary

Reviewing literature can feel like a tedious process to undertake, but the benefits are enormous. Imagine undertaking a research project only to find that others have already explored it before you. Or that you have missed an opportunity to really address a gap in the current research.. When undertaking a research project, reviewing the literature around your topic can help you refine your ideas from a broad idea into something more specific.

For those interesting in further resources around reviewing literature, feel free to look at the following: