CHAPTER 2 - B RRL

• Review of Related Literature and Studies (RRL)


  A summary of references containing reports of previous research studies about a topic related to the present research
• Functions of the RRL


  • Provides background knowledge and information about past research studies related to the intended/present investigation, preventing duplication of research undertakings
  • Presents research gaps and limitations from such past studies
  • Affords confidence and authority to the researchers
  • Provides information about methods used in similar studies (sampling techniques, variables considered, kinds of data gathered, type of analysis and interpretation)
• Functions of the RRL (continued)

  • Enumerates findings from previous studies
  • Provides ideas how implications may be drawn out from data analysis
  • Can shed light on the Theoretical Framework the researchers can use/used
  • Relate your study to the status quo (i.e. current situation) of the world
  • Avoids repetition of previous research studies
  • Recommends/reinforces the necessity of doing a research about the topic in concern
• Steps in Writing the RRL

  1. Have a clear understanding of the SOP/Research Questions

  2. Plan the manner of data collection - kind of qualitative research (phenomenological, ethnographical, historical, CDA, etc.)

  3. Do a literature search - Google Scholar, ERIC (eric.ed.gov), EBSCOHost (University Library; FREE ACCESS)

  4. Use a certain standard as to which reference is relevant or not - ROVER, and APRO

  5. Determine the methodological soundness of the references

  6. Summarize what you have gathered - select pattern of organization to use (Chronological, Conceptual, Stated Hypotheses)
• Content of the RRL

  • Introduction - Discuss briefly the problem, and significance of the study; Pattern of organization; Sources of references (print and/or online; local and/or foreign)
  • Body - The narrative of relevant ideas and findings found in the reports of other researchers that support the research problem; Must be arranged according to the pattern of organization mentioned in the Introductory Paragraph; Can be easily composed through the use of the Literature Matrix Collation
  • Synthesis - "tying together" the main ideas revealed in the Body; An overall picture of what was established up to the present, and perhaps how the RRL can support the development and conduct of the present study
  • Bibliography - A compilation of all bibliographic information of all references mentioned in the RRL; Done at the very end of the research paper, in its entirety
• The RRL is not just a mere listing and discussion of findings, but a "story" that will help the conduct of the research, and analysis and interpretation of data to be gathered.
• Literature Matrix Collation (LMC)


  A one-stop table containing summaries of the different references collected, in preparation of the construction of the RRL
• Steps in Writing the LMC

  1. Group references according to the pattern of organization to be used in writing the RRL

  2. Summarize said references by filling in the necessary information requested in the LMC

  3. Synthesize such summaries made in the LMC, and use them to compose the Body of the RRL