Review of Literature

Dr. N. Audinarayana
Professor & Head.
Dept. of Sociology & Population Studies
Director, School of Social Science
Bharathiar University
Coimbatore – 641 046
E-Mail: audinarayana.bu@gmail.com
 The Purpose of Review
 To gain background knowledge of the research
topic
 To identify the concepts relating to it and
potential relationships between them
 To formulate researchable hypotheses
 To identify appropriate methodology, research
design, methods, measuring of concepts and
techniques of analysis
 To identify data sources used by other
researchers, and
 To learn how others structured their reports.
What to Review and for What Purpose
The review of literature is not mere
reading for reading sake; it is also not a
causal reading like reading of a story or
novel.
It is focused and directed towards
specific purposes. It is also selective.
The literature review starts with the
selection of a problem for research
continue through the various stages of
the research process and ends with
report writing.
 Sources of Literature
Subject Catalogues of Libraries
Documentation Service
- Social Science Documentation Centre
of ICSSR
- National Documentation Centre for
Mass Communication
- Centre for Economics and Social
Studies

From these centres codified information on

any topic / Xerox copies of pages can be
obtained on payment of nominal fee.
 Sources of Literature
Bibliographies
– Indian National Bibliography
– The Library Congress Accession List,
South Asia
– Asian Social Science Bibliography
 Sources of Literature
List of Books & Publishers’ Bulletins
All leading publishers bring out
periodical bulletins and list of books
published and forthcoming books.

Book review of Columns of News

Papers / Magazines /Journals

Journals: Various subject Journals

 Sources of Literature
Government Reports
Statistical Abstracts – India, States
Govt. of India Publications –
Ministries, Censuses, etc.

Research Abstracts
ICSSR Research Abstracts for Various
Subjects
Indian Dissertation Abstract:
Dissertation Abstract International
 Sources of Literature
Information on Research Done

Bibliography of Doctoral Dissertations

accepted by Indian Universities
(Social Sciences and Humanities)

Doctorates in Social Sciences Awarded

by Indian Universities

American Doctoral Dissertations

 Things to be looked into:
- Theoretical Developments
- Methodological Developments
- Empirical Support

 Proper Planning
 Note Taking, and
 Preparation of Bibliography Cards