Review of Leterature
STUDY SKILLS BROCHURE SLC/06/2006
CRICOS Registered Provider: The Flinders University of South Australia
CRICOS Provider Number: 00114A
WRITING A LITERATURE
REVIEW
1. WHAT IS A LITERATURE REVIEW?
A literature review is an evaluative comparison of various pieces of research. It is not just a set of summaries or a descriptive list of material. It shows the reader what previous research has been done in your field, critiques previous methodology, and evaluates prior studies to show an information gap which your own research will fill. The information which follows is particularly relevant to a thesis literature review, but can be applied to shorter reviews and thesis proposals.
2. WHY DO A LITERATURE REVIEW?
There are many reasons why you should write a literature review. Swales and Feak (1994, pp. 180 – 181) suggest the following (using the word 'citation ' to mean 'reference to another author '):
1. Citations recognise and acknowledge the intellectual property rights of authors. They are a matter of ethics and a defence against plagiarism. (General theory)
2. Citations are used to show respect to previous scholars. (General theory)
3. Citations operate a kind of mutual reward system. Writers ‘pay’ other authors in citations.
(Ravetz 1971)
4. Citations are tools of persuasion; writers use citations to give their statements greater authority. (Gilbert 1977)
5. Citations are used to demonstrate familiarity with the field. (Bavelas 1978)
6. Citations are used to create a research space. (Swales 1990)
Here are some more reasons for writing a review:
• to avoid making the same mistakes as other people
• to carry on from where others have reached
• to increase your breadth of knowledge in your subject area
• to identify key works, information and needs in your area
• to identify and learn terminology
• to position your own work in context
• to identify opposing views
• to demonstrate that you can access research in the field
• to identify
CRICOS Registered Provider: The Flinders University of South Australia
CRICOS Provider Number: 00114A
WRITING A LITERATURE
REVIEW
1. WHAT IS A LITERATURE REVIEW?
A literature review is an evaluative comparison of various pieces of research. It is not just a set of summaries or a descriptive list of material. It shows the reader what previous research has been done in your field, critiques previous methodology, and evaluates prior studies to show an information gap which your own research will fill. The information which follows is particularly relevant to a thesis literature review, but can be applied to shorter reviews and thesis proposals.
2. WHY DO A LITERATURE REVIEW?
There are many reasons why you should write a literature review. Swales and Feak (1994, pp. 180 – 181) suggest the following (using the word 'citation ' to mean 'reference to another author '):
1. Citations recognise and acknowledge the intellectual property rights of authors. They are a matter of ethics and a defence against plagiarism. (General theory)
2. Citations are used to show respect to previous scholars. (General theory)
3. Citations operate a kind of mutual reward system. Writers ‘pay’ other authors in citations.
(Ravetz 1971)
4. Citations are tools of persuasion; writers use citations to give their statements greater authority. (Gilbert 1977)
5. Citations are used to demonstrate familiarity with the field. (Bavelas 1978)
6. Citations are used to create a research space. (Swales 1990)
Here are some more reasons for writing a review:
• to avoid making the same mistakes as other people
• to carry on from where others have reached
• to increase your breadth of knowledge in your subject area
• to identify key works, information and needs in your area
• to identify and learn terminology
• to position your own work in context
• to identify opposing views
• to demonstrate that you can access research in the field
• to identify
Citations: are used to create a research space. (Swales 1990) Here are some more reasons for writing a review: (Based on Monash University 1994-2004) 4