Introduction to Research Methods

Literature Review

DOMINIC ACHARI

Dpt. Of Management Studies

Contact Information: dachari@[Link]

UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND

TECHNOLOGY
CH, PG, NG, RP, PE 352
 Meaning of Literature Review
Literature refers to the knowledge of a particular area of
investigation of any discipline which includes theoretical, practical
and its research studies.

The term ‘review’ means to organize the knowledge of the specific

area of research to evolve an edifice of knowledge to show that his
study would be an addition to this field.

The task of literature review is highly creative and tedious because

researcher has to synthesize the available knowledge of the field in a
unique way to provide the rationale for his study.

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 Meaning of Literature Review

According to W.R. Borg: “The literature in any field forms the

foundation upon which all future work will be built. If we fail to
build the foundation of knowledge provided by the review of
literature our work is likely to be shallow and naive and will often
duplicate work that has already been done better by some one else.”

According to John W. Best: “Practically all human knowledge can

be found in books and libraries. Unlike other animals that must start
a new with each generation, man builds upon the accumulated and
recorded knowledge of the past. His constant adding to the vast store
of knowledge makes possible progress in all areas of human
endeavour.”
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 Literature review has two phases

1. Includes identifying all the relevant published material in the

problem area and reading that part of it with which we are not
thoroughly familiar. We develop the foundation of ideas and
results on which our own study will be built.

2. It involves writing this foundation of ideas into a section of the

research report. This section is for the joint benefit of the
researchers and readers. For the researcher, it establishes the
background in the field. For the readers it provides a summary of
the thinking and research necessary for them to understand the
study.

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 Functions of Literature Review

It provides a theoretical background to your study.

It helps you establish the links between what you are
proposing to examine and what has already been studied.
It enables you to show how your findings have
contributed to the existing body of knowledge in your
profession.
It helps you to integrate your research findings into the
existing body of knowledge.

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 In relation to your own study, the literature
review can help in four ways.

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 1. Bringing clarity and focus to your research
problem
The literature review involves a paradox. On the one hand, you cannot
effectively undertake a literature search without some idea of the problem
you wish to investigate. On the other hand, the literature review can play an
extremely important role in shaping your research problem because the
process of reviewing the literature helps you to understand the subject area
better and thus helps you to conceptualise your research problem clearly and
precisely and makes it more relevant and pertinent to your field of enquiry.

When reviewing the literature you learn what aspects of your subject area
have been examined by others, what they have found out about these aspects,
what gaps they have identified and what suggestions they have made for
further research.

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 2. Improving your research methodology
Going through the literature acquaints you with the methodologies that
have been used by others to find answers to research questions similar to
the one you are investigating.

A literature review tells you if others have used procedures and methods
similar to the ones that you are proposing, which procedures and methods
have worked well for them and what problems they have faced with them.

By becoming aware of any problems and pitfalls, you will be better

positioned to select a methodology that is capable of providing valid
answers to your research question. This will increase your confidence in the
methodology you plan to use and will equip you to defend its use.

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3. Broadening your knowledge base in your research
area
The most important function of the literature review is to ensure you read
widely around the subject area in which you intend to conduct your research
study.

It is important that you know what other researchers have found in regard to
the same or similar questions, what theories have been put forward and what
gaps exist in the relevant body of knowledge. When you undertake a
research project you are expected to be an expert in your area of research.

A thorough literature review helps you to fulfil this expectation. Another

important reason for doing a literature review is that it helps you to
understand how the findings of your study fit into the existing body of
knowledge.

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 4. Enabling you to contextualise your findings

Obtaining answers to your research questions is comparatively easy: the

difficult part is examining how your findings fit into the existing body of
knowledge.
How do answers to your research questions compare with what others have
found?
What contribution have you been able to make to the existing body of
knowledge?
How are your findings different from those of others?
Undertaking a literature review will enable you to compare your findings
with those of others and answer these questions. It is important to place
your findings in the context of what is already known in your field of
enquiry.

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 How to Review the Literature

There are four steps involved in conducting a

literature review:
1. Searching for the existing literature in your area of
study.
2. Reviewing the selected literature.

3. Developing a theoretical framework.

4. Developing a conceptual framework.

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 1. Searching for the existing literature

To search effectively for the literature in your field of enquiry, it is

imperative that you have at least some idea of the broad subject area and
of the problem you wish to investigate, in order to set parameters for your
search.

Next, compile a bibliography for this broad area.

There are three sources that you can use to prepare a bibliography:
a) books;
b) Journals/ Conference papers
c) the Internet or website materials.

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 Books

Select 10–15 books that you think are appropriate for your topic, examine
the bibliography of each one. Go through the bibliographies carefully to
identify the books common to several of them. If a book has been
referenced by a number of authors, you should include it in your reading
list. Prepare a final list of books that you consider essential reading.

Having prepared your reading list, locate these books in your library or
borrow them from other sources. Examine their contents to double-check
that they really are relevant to your topic. If you find that a book is not
relevant to your research, delete it from your reading list. If you find that
something in a book’s contents is relevant to your topic, make an annotated
bibliography. An annotated bibliography contains a brief abstract of the
aspects covered in a book and your own notes of its relevance.
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 Journals
Identify any useful journals and articles, prepare a list of those you want to
examine, by journal. Select one of these journals and, starting with the latest
issue, examine its contents page to see if there is an article of relevance to
your research topic. If you feel that a particular article is of interest to you,
read its abstract. If you think you are likely to use it, depending upon your
financial resources, either photocopy it, or prepare a summary and record its
reference for later use.

Each of these indexing, abstracting and citation services is available in print,

or accessible through the Internet. In most libraries, information on books,
journals and abstracts is stored on computers. In each case the information is
classified by subject, author and title. You may also have the keywords
option (author/keyword; title/keyword; subject/keyword; expert/keyword; or
just keywords).
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 The Internet

An Internet search is carried out through search engines, of which there are many,
though the most commonly used are Google and Yahoo. Searching through the
Internet is very similar to the search for books and articles in a library using an
electronic catalogue, as it is based on the use of keywords.

An Internet search basically identifies all material in the database of a search

engine that contains the keywords you specify, either individually or in
combination. It is important that you choose words or combinations of words that
other people are likely to use.

According to Gilbert (2008), ‘Most search facilities use Boolean logic, which
allows three types of basic search “AND”, “OR” and “NOT”.’ With practice you
will become more efficient and effective in using keywords in combination with
AND, OR and NOT, and so learn to narrow your search to help you identify the
most relevant references.

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 2. Reviewing The Selected Literature

Now that you have identified several books and articles as useful, the next
step is to start reading them critically to pull together themes (heading) and
issues that are of relevance to your study. Use separate sheets of paper for
each theme or issue you identify as you go through selected books and
articles.

As you read further, go on slotting the information where it logically

belongs under the themes so far developed. Keep in mind that you may
need to add more themes as you go along.

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Research Methods 6/22/2025 Slide 17
 • Note whether the knowledge relevant to your
While going theoretical framework has been confirmed
beyond doubt.
through the • Note the theories put forward, the criticisms
literature you of these and their basis, the methodologies
adopted (study design, sample size and its
should characteristics, measurement procedures, etc.)
and the criticisms of them.
carefully and • Examine to what extent the findings can be
critically generalised to other situations.
• Notice where there are significant differences
examine it with of opinion among researchers and give your
respect to the opinion about the validity of these
differences.
following • Ascertain the areas in which little or nothing
aspects: is known – the gaps that exist in the body of
knowledge.

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 3. Developing a theoretical framework

As you start reading the literature, you will soon discover that the problem
you wish to investigate has its roots in a number of theories that have been
developed from different perspectives. The information obtained from
different books and journals now needs to be sorted under the main themes
and theories, highlighting agreements and disagreements among the authors
and identifying the unanswered questions or gaps. You will also realise that
the literature deals with a number of aspects that have a direct or indirect
bearing on your research topic. Use these aspects as a basis for developing
your theoretical framework.
Literature pertinent to your study may deal with two types of information:
1. universal;
2. more specific (i.e. local trends or a specific programme).
In writing about such information you should start with the general
information, gradually narrowing it down to the specific.
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 4. Developing a conceptual framework

The conceptual framework is the basis of your research problem. It stems

from the theoretical framework and usually focuses on the section(s) which
become the basis of your study.

Whereas the theoretical framework consists of the theories or issues in

which your study is embedded, the conceptual framework describes the
aspects you selected from the theoretical framework to become the basis of
your enquiry.

Hence the conceptual framework grows out of the theoretical framework

and relates to the specific research problem.

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 4. Developing a conceptual framework

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 Writing About The Literature Reviewed

Two of the broad functions of a literature review are

(1) to provide a theoretical background to your study and
(2) to enable you to contextualise your findings in relation to the existing
body of knowledge in addition to refining your methodology.

In order to fulfil the first purpose, you should identify and describe various
theories relevant to your field; and specify gaps in existing knowledge in the
area, recent advances in the area of study, current trends and so on. While
reading the literature for theoretical background of your study, you will
realise that certain themes have emerged.
List the main ones, converting them into subheadings. These subheadings
should be precise, descriptive of the theme in question and follow a logical
progression.
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 Writing About The Literature Reviewed

The second broad function of the literature review – contextualising the

findings of your study – requires you to compare very systematically your
findings with those made by others.

Quote from these studies to show how your findings contradict, confirm or
add to them. It places your findings in the context of what others have found
out providing complete reference in an acceptable format.

This function is undertaken, as mentioned earlier, when writing about your

findings, that is after analysis of your data.

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 Writing About The Literature Reviewed

The writeup must be accurately referenced using the Harvard Referencing

Style which is accepted by UMAT.

After an average of 50 words, there should be a unique reference provided.

Avoid using a single or same reference in your work or in a whole page.

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 Practical Class
How to search and
Review Literature.
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 Keywords

From research problem formulation class these are the keywords

generated: sodium, paint industry, evaporation, specific gravity
and crystallisation.

Search engine: google scholar,

Sage Publications: [Link]

Wiley Online Library: [Link]

Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineer
[Link]

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 To download a paper

1. Read through the abstract

2. Read through the conclusion
3. Download a paper (PDF)

Read each paper cover to cover and write your findings in a book.

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