RRL

• A review of related literature are sometimes called literature review
• Review of related literature is a critical account of information found in the academic literature related to one’s research
• literature means the set of key academic works used in the review
• Related literature is often from journalist or any officials whereas the opinions and facts presented matters and can affect the masses’ opinion and thinking.
• Related Studies are from researchers or from official public offices, and thesis from different universities and libraries.
• A literature review provides an overview of what has been written about a specific topic.
• The review of literature includes practically all the information and data which are authorities and relevant to the topic of the study.
• Why do a Literature Review?

  ·        To indicate the research that has been conducted in the area before.

  ·        To demonstrate that you’re aware of important and recent studies in your study area.

  ·        To ensure that you haven’t missed literature detailing a novel way for you to conduct your study, or pointing you to a data-collection tool that is most appropriate for your study.

  ·        To explain the theoretical background to your proposed research topic.

  ·        To demonstrate your ability too critically analyze the literature in your study area.
• Why do a Literature Review?

  •   To indicate the research that has been conducted in the area before.     To demonstrate that you’re aware of important and recent studies in your study area.

  ·        To ensure that you haven’t missed literature detailing a novel way for you to conduct your study, or pointing you to a data-collection tool that is most appropriate for your study.

  ·        To explain the theoretical background to your proposed research topic.

  ·        To demonstrate your ability too critically analyze the literature in your study area.
• Purposes of Literature Review

  ·        Helps map and define research topic;

  ·        Highlights scope and boundaries;

  ·        Shows where the study fits into the broad picture;

  ·        Shares studies closely resembling proposed study;

  ·        Provides evidence that a research  topic is building onto an established body of knowledge

  ·        Presents a balance view of the research area one is examining; and

  ·        Justifies and makes case for one’s research within or among the existing scholarship
• Characteristics of a Good Literature

  a.      Summative and Critical Account

  b.      Clear and Logical Arguments

  c.      Theory and Related Concepts

  d.      Appropriate and updated References
• A good literature review is summative and critical report of the academic literature relevant to one’s research. It is summative because it provides an overview of key materials written about one’s research or any aspects of it.  
• Clear and Logical Arguments

  -A good literature review is clearly written arguments central of one’s research. However, a literature review is not only about reading and understanding the situation of one’s research by formulating a clear perspective and argument about one’s study. Student researchers should only use relevant and updated literature to substantiate these arguments.
• c.      Theory and Related Concepts

  -A good literature review is providing student researchers with a theory (or theories) and concepts that are useful, relevant, and central to one’s research topic.
• d.      Appropriate and updated References

  -A good literature review should also demonstrate suitable and updated citations. It is ethical practice among researchers to acknowledge properly the works of others.
• Reviewing the Source of the Published Text

  1. First, check the qualifications of the authors such as, academic degrees, institutional affiliation, or previous publications.

  2. Second, look for the date of publication.

  3. Third, check whether materials are the first edition or not.

  4. Fourth, well-known publishers are generally of good quality.

  5. Fifth, academic journals are acceptable sources of relevant literature compared to popular or non-academic journals.
• When assessing the source of a publication the following items could be used as guide:

  • author’s credentials
  • date of Publication
  • edition or revision
  • the publisher’s reputation
  • the quality of the journal
• Books- a collection of books that provides information about a certain topic.
• Newspaper- a periodical publication containing news, events, interview, and opinion article.
• Computer - a collection of electronic materials that provides information about a certain
• Magazines - a popular work published periodically (weekly, monthly, etc.) focusing on a specific subject of interest.
• Journal - a scholarly work published periodically containing highly classified research.
• Film- a motion picture or movie. Can be fictional, documentary or even YOUTUBE Videos.

   
• Ways of citing related literature

  1.      By author or writer

                   Example: According to Felipe (2015)……………………...

  2.      By topic

                  Example: It has been found out that………(Felipe, 2015)

  3.      By Chronology-According to the year, the literatures were written, usually from earliest to the latest
• BOOKS

  Last Name, First name (year). Book Title. Subtitle, (edition) Place: Publisher
• WEBSITES

  For a passing reference to a website in-text, the URL is sufficient, no reference list is needed.
• WEBSITES

  Author, (date). Title of document [(formal description)]. Retrieved from http://xxxxxxxxxxxxx
• To synthesize is to draw conclusions about the findings in related literature reviewed so that you can identify how the literature addresses your research question.
•        A synthesis is a discussion that draws on one or more sources
• Synthesis refers to the bringing together of materials from different sources, and the creation of an integrated whole.
•    Explanatory synthesis- it helps the readers to understand the topic. Its primary aim is to present the facts in a reasonably objective manner.
• Argument synthesis- its purpose is for you to present your own point of view with the support of relevant facts drawn from services and presented in a logical manner.
• Primary Sources - publication in which the researchers report the result of their studies. findings are communicated by the authors directly to the readers. Most materials that fall under this type are journals which are usually published monthly, quarterly, and bi-annually.
• Secondary Sourcespublications in which authors describe the work of others (Fraenkel & Wallen, 2008). Textbook is a familiar example of this type.
• Documents these include written or printed materials that have been produced in some form or another such as annual reports, books, artwork, cartoons, circulars, records, diaries, notebooks, etc.
• 1.      Numerical Records- they may be considered as a separate type of source in and of themselves or as a subcategory of documents. (example: test scores, attendance figures, census reports, school budgets, and the like).
• Oral Statements these may include stories, myths, tales, legends, chants, songs, and other forms of oral expressions.
• Relics these are formal types of historical sources. A relic is any object where physical or visual characteristics can provide some information about the past. (examples: furniture, artwork, clothing, buildings or equipment).
• Techniques for Writing a Synthesis

  1.      Summary

  2.      Example or Illustration

  3.      Two (or more) Reasons

  4.      Comparison and Contrast
• Summary- it is the simplest way of organizing a synthesis.