CRODeL/Research process/Literature searches and reviews
By the end of this topic, you will be able to carry out a critical literature review.
Literature searches and reviews form a core part of ODeL research practice. On accessing literature, you may have to re-work your problem statement (so, don't worry if this happens - it's part of the research process). Literature also aids with identifying your frameworks, theoretical focus and methodologies.
To get started, watch the video below by Dr Lydia Mbati on conducting a critical literature review. Once complete, navigate to the resources and click upon the first resource - Literature review: An overview for graduate students. Thereafter, engage with the content in the remainder of the resources. Another resource, Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation (Boote & Beile, 2005), provides a useful rubric to evaluate your review once complete.
You'll need approximately 2 hours to engage with the content in this topic.
- Literature reviews: An overview for graduate students (External website - NC State University)
- Literature search essentials (External website - University of Missouri)
- Writing a literature review (External website - San Jose State University)
- Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation
Activity 2.3.1 <Gather>: Browse the online libraries and gather recent, peer-reviewed journal articles which relate to your research topic.
Activity 2.3.2 <Review and write>: Draft a literature review on your problem statement in approximately 1000 words. Complete this crucial activity in your draft. Once complete, use the rubric in Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation to evaluate your review.
