Reviewing the literature

Reasons for reviewing the literature

To conduct a preliminary search of existing
material

To organise valuable ideas and findings

To identify other research that may be in
progress

To generate research ideas

To develop a critical perspective

The most important skills are

The capacity to evaluate what you read
The capacity to relate what you read to other
information
Why am I reading this?
What is the author trying to do in writing this?
How convincing is this?
What use can I make of this reading?

Wallace and Wray (2006)


You will need to

Include key academic theories

Demonstrate current knowledge of the area

Use clear referencing for the reader to find
the original cited publications

Acknowledge the research of others

The key to a critical literature
review
Demonstrate that you have read, understood and
evaluated your material

Link the different ideas to form a cohesive and
coherent argument

Make clear connections to your research
objectives and the subsequent empirical material

Saunders et al. (2009)

Defining the parameters of your
search
For most research questions and objectives you will have a
good idea of which subject matter is going to be relevant.
You will, however, be less clear about the parameters
within which you need to search. In particular, you need to
be clear about the following (Bell 2005):
Language of publication (e.g. English);
Subject area (e.g. accountancy);
Business sector (e.g. manufacturing);
Geographical area (e.g. Europe);
Publication period (e.g. the last 10 years);
Literature type (e.g. refereed journals and books).

Generating your keywords

After re-reading your lecture notes and textbooks
and undertaking this limited reading you will have
a list of subjects that appear relevant to your
research project. You now need to define
precisely what is relevant to your research in
terms of key words. The identification of
keywords or research 'terms is the most
important part of planning your search for
relevant literature (Bell 2005). Key words are the
basic terms that describe your research
questions(s) and objectives, and will be used to
search the tertiary literature.
Evaluating the literature
Define the scope of your review

Assess relevance and value

Assess sufficiency

Record

Biographic details

Brief summary of content

Supplementary information

Sharp et al. (2002)


Hypotheses Development
Once we have identified the important variables
in a situation and established the relationships
among them through logical reasoning in the
theoretical framework, we are in a position to
test whether the relationships hold true. By
testing these relationships scientifically through
appropriate statistical analysis, or through
negative case analysis in qualitative research.
Formulating such testable statements is called
hypotheses development.
Definition of Hypothesis
A hypothesis can be defined as a logically
conjectured relationship between two or
more variables expressed in the form of a
testable statement. Relationships are
conjectured on the basis of the network of
associations established in the theoretical
framework formulated for the research study.
Statement of Hypotheses: Formats
If Then statements:
A hypothesis can also test whether there are
differences between two groups (or among
several groups) with respect to any variable or
variables. To examine whether or not the
conjectured relationships or differences exist,
these hypotheses can be set either as
propositions or in the form of if-then statements.
Example: If Employees who are more healthy,
then they will take sick leave less frequently.

Directional and Non-directional
Hypotheses
If, in stating the relationship between two
variables or comparing two groups, terms
such as positive, negative, more than, less
than, and the like are used, then these
hypotheses are because the direction of the
relationship between the variables is
indicated.
Example: Stress is significantly and positively
associated with job satisfaction
Theoretical Framework
A theoretical framework is a conceptual model of how one
theorizes or makes logical sense of the relationships among the
several factors that have been identified as important to the
problem.
The Theoretical framework discusses the interrelationships among
the variables that are deemed to be integral to the dynamics of the
situation being investigated. Developing such a conceptual
framework helps us postulate or hypothesizes and test certain
relationships and thus to improve our understanding of the
dynamics of the situation.
From the theoretical framework, then, testable hypotheses can be
developed to examine whether the theory formulated is valid or
not. The hypothesized relationships can thereafter be tested
through appropriate statistical analysis.

Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework is the foundation on which the entire research
project is based. It is a logically developed, described, and elaborated network
of associations among the variables deemed relevant to the problem situation
and identified through such processes as interviews, observation, and
literature survey. Experience and intuition also guide in developing the
theoretical framework.
There are five basic features that should be incorporated in any theoretical
framework:
1. The variables considered relevant to the study should be clearly
identified and labeled in the discussions.
2. The discussions should state how two or more variables are related to
one another.
3. If the nature and direction of the relationships can be theorized on the
basis of the findings of previous research, then there should be an
indication in the discussions.
4. There should be a clear explanation of why we would expect these
relationships to exist.
5. A schematic diagram of the of the theoretical framework should be
given so that the reader can see and easily comprehend the theorized
relationships.