Topic 3: Literature Searches and Literature Reviews

Specific Learning Outcome
By the end of this topic, you will be able to carry out a critical literature review.

Introduction
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.

Guidance
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.

Time needed
You'll need approximately 2 hours to engage with the content in this topic.

Resources

 * Conducting a critical literature review (Video – 7m46s) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVlUNMtimQs
 * 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

Learning Activities
Activity 2.3.1 : Browse the UNISA Library and gather peer-reviewed journal articles which relate to your research topic. A link to the UNISA Library and e-journals are provided for your reference.

Activity 2.3.2 : Using an appropriate word processing software (for e.g. Microsoft Word), draft a literature review on your problem statement in approximately 1000 words.

Once you have completed the two learning activities, kindly move onto Topic 4: Ethical Research Processes.