This document summarizes Chapter 3 of a textbook on literature searches. It outlines the objectives of reviewing literature, which are to understand previous research, see new insights, and justify how a new study fits within a field. The steps of literature searching are defined as identifying key terms, finding secondary sources using those terms, reviewing sources for relevance, and evaluating each source. Finally, the procedures for reviewing literature are described as searching existing works, critically analyzing relevant literature, developing a theoretical framework from themes and gaps found, and creating a conceptual framework focused on part of the theoretical framework.

1. Chapter Three
Literature Search
Lectured by Mr. Samath Houy
Tel: 012 211 345
Email: houysamath@sru.edu.kh
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2. Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
Identify the reasons for literature review.
Describe the steps in Literature Search.
Develop the procedure for reviewing the literature.
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3. Literature Reviews
 Literature reviews are a systematic scrutiny of all printed
materials relating earlier research results.
 Reading the literature can provide insights that the
researcher may not have thought about.
 The literature review tells the reader how the planned
research project fits into implications for a field of
knowledge.
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4. Reasons for Literature
Review
Literature
Search
Literature search for
gathering information
on topic
Literature search to
understand
management dilemma
Literature search to
justify the relevance of
the topic
Literature search for
sampling and research
design
Literature search for
sample questions
Literature search for
solution ideas
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5. Steps in Literature Search

Define the problem or questions.

Consult encyclopedia, dictionaries, text books to identify
key terms or events relevant to the problem.

Apply these key terms or events in searching the web
and bibliographies to identify secondary sources.

Review specific secondary sources for relevance.

Evaluate the value of each source and its contents.
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6. Procedure for reviewing the
literature
 The literature review should be focused around
your research problem.
 It is a process, beginning before a specific
research problem has been formulated and
continuing until the report is finished.
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7. Procedure for reviewing the
literature
 There are four steps involved in conducting a
literature review
– Search for existing literature in your area of study
– Review the literature selected
– Develop a theoretical framework
– Develop a conceptual framework
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8. Procedure for reviewing the
literature
1. Search for existing literature
Prepare the bibliography from the books and journals
This can be done by:
– locating the hard copied of the books, journals
– looking at abstract or citation indices
– searching electric databases
– using the internet
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9. Procedure for reviewing the
literature
2. Reviewing the literature selected
This requires critical reading the select books and journal articles
collected.
This would provide you:
– knowledge relevant to your theoretical framework,
– the methodologies adopted and the criticism for them,
– differences in opinion among researcher,
– understanding about the gaps that exist in the body of
knowledge.
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10. Procedure for reviewing the
literature
3. Develop a theoretical framework
This can be done based on:
– the main themes and theories,
– agreement and disagreements and the
unanswered questions,
– gaps that you find in the reading of previous
publications.
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11. Procedure for reviewing the
literature
4. Develop a conceptual framework
This stems from the theoretical framework and
usually concentrates on one section of that
theoretical framework.
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End of Chapter 02