Information Security
Informing Science Journal
Volume 9, 2006
A Systems Approach to Conduct an Effective Literature Review in Support of Information Systems Research
Yair Levy and Timothy J. Ellis Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA levyy@nova.edu ellist@nova.edu
Abstract
This paper introduces a framework for conducting and writing an effective literature review. The target audience for the framework includes information systems (IS) doctoral students, novice IS researchers, and other IS researchers who are constantly struggling with the development of an effective literature-based foundation for a proposed research. The proposed framework follows the systematic data processing approach comprised of three major stages: 1) inputs (literature gathering and screening), 2) processing (following Bloom’s Taxonomy), and 3) outputs (writing the literature review). This paper provides the rationale for developing a solid literature review including detailed instructions on how to conduct each stage of the process proposed. The paper concludes by providing arguments for the value of an effective literature review to IS research. Keywords: Literature review, effective literature review, literature search, literature categorization, literature classification, literature analysis, literature synthesis, doctoral education.
Introduction
A methodological review of past literature is a crucial endeavor for any academic research (Webster & Watson, 2002, pp. 48-49). The need to uncover what is already known in the body of knowledge prior to initiating any research study should not be underestimated (Hart, 1998). Some fields of studies, such as engineering, have chronically suffered from a lack of proper literature reviews, which has hindered theoretical and conceptual progress (D. Shaw, 1995). Webster and Watson (2002) also criticized the Information Systems (IS) field for having very few theories and outlets for quality
Volume 9, 2006
A Systems Approach to Conduct an Effective Literature Review in Support of Information Systems Research
Yair Levy and Timothy J. Ellis Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA levyy@nova.edu ellist@nova.edu
Abstract
This paper introduces a framework for conducting and writing an effective literature review. The target audience for the framework includes information systems (IS) doctoral students, novice IS researchers, and other IS researchers who are constantly struggling with the development of an effective literature-based foundation for a proposed research. The proposed framework follows the systematic data processing approach comprised of three major stages: 1) inputs (literature gathering and screening), 2) processing (following Bloom’s Taxonomy), and 3) outputs (writing the literature review). This paper provides the rationale for developing a solid literature review including detailed instructions on how to conduct each stage of the process proposed. The paper concludes by providing arguments for the value of an effective literature review to IS research. Keywords: Literature review, effective literature review, literature search, literature categorization, literature classification, literature analysis, literature synthesis, doctoral education.
Introduction
A methodological review of past literature is a crucial endeavor for any academic research (Webster & Watson, 2002, pp. 48-49). The need to uncover what is already known in the body of knowledge prior to initiating any research study should not be underestimated (Hart, 1998). Some fields of studies, such as engineering, have chronically suffered from a lack of proper literature reviews, which has hindered theoretical and conceptual progress (D. Shaw, 1995). Webster and Watson (2002) also criticized the Information Systems (IS) field for having very few theories and outlets for quality
Citations: Literature Review: Outputs Hart (1998) noted that the “literature review as a piece of academic writing must be clear, have a logical structure and show that you have acquired a sufficient range of skills and capabilities at the appropriate level” (p Writing Arguments and Argumentation Theory Toulmin (1958) proposed a model for argumentation that is being used in the legal environment for the development of arguments toward case presentations in courts (Walton, 2006) Figure 18: Williams and Colomb (2003, p. 42)’s argument model 201 Writing the Literature Review Most novice researchers find it difficult to write the literature review itself and blame it mainly on a list of myths (Troyka, 1993)