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1. Running head: Role of Literature Review in the Research Process 1
David W. Hankins
TUI University
Role of Literature Review in the Research Process
MAE 504 Module 3 Session Long Project
Dr. Anna Lint

2. Running head: Role of Literature Review in the Research Process 2
Matrix
Experiment
al Research
Correlational
Study
Survey
Research
Grounded
Theory
Ethnogra
phy
Case
Study
Narrative
Research
Mixed
Method
Action
Research
Type of
Research
basic
research
applied
research
basic
research
applied
research
applied
research
basic
researc
h
applied
research
applied
research
basic
research
Purpose Exploratory Speculative Evaluativ
e
Explanator
y
Descripti
ve
Explor
atory
Descriptiv
e
Explorat
ory
Explorato
ry
Example of
Research
Problem
What is it? Why is it so? Why it
happens
this way?
It happens
because of
this but
what is
the back
grounding
theory?
Why is it
so
consideri
ng the
local
peculiarit
ies?
What
had
happe
ned?
How
people
influence
the
situation?
Combin
ations of
the
previous
ly
mention
ed
It
happens
because
of this so
let us
check
why
Type of
Research
Questions
Descriptive Relational Causal Relational Relationa
l
Descri
ptive
Descriptiv
e
Relation
al
Causal
Type of
Variables
independen
t and
dependent
independent
and
dependent
depende
nt
independe
nt and
dependent
independ
ent and
depende
nt
depen
dent
independ
ent and
dependen
t
indepen
dent
and
depend
ent
independ
ent
Role of
Literature
Review
Prior Prior Prior Prior Minor Minor Minor Prior Prior
Sample
Population
Data
Collection
Data
Analysis
Evaluation
of Findings

3. Running head: Role of Literature Review in the Research Process 3
Role of Literature Review in the Research Process
Any research is conducted to achieve certain objectives and purposes. Some
conducted studies are unique and have experimental nature. However, most of such activities
are based on the previous studies and researches, conducted before. Therefore, a background
has to be explored and evaluated before conducting any research. This process is called
literature review. The paper is aimed to evaluate the purpose of literature review in
qualitative and quantitative studies. In addition, it identifies the type of research in which
literature review plays a bigger role and describes why this is so.
According to Lie (2000), “A literature review is the effective evaluation of selected
documents on a research topic. A review may form an essential part of the research process
or may constitute a research project in itself.” The major purpose of any literature review is to
determine what has already been done in the area related to the topic of the research. Among
other purposes the following ones can be outlined: to determine the research strategies, data
collection approaches, and other peculiarities, related to the specific area; to avoid issues of
the similar studies; to benefit from the experience of other researchers; to eliminate the
mistakes in the researches; etc. A good literature review provides a researchers with the
clearly identifies scope of the future study and points out the methods and tools to be used in
the further research.
The review of literature has different purposes for different types of researches. Thus,
quantitative research presupposes examination and evaluation of facts, empirical, statistical
data and other similar findings. It means that it should be compared and contrasted with
previous researches in this area. Therefore, quantitative research requires through and deep
exploration of the available materials regarding the subject of the research and related
information.

4. Running head: Role of Literature Review in the Research Process 4
The literature review, in this case, must be utterly detailed and well-organized, wide
and clearly presented. Such approach will provide readers with necessary background of the
previous researches and will guarantee the clarity of understanding while reading the
concluding sections with findings, evaluation, recommendations, and conclusions.
Qualitative research is different in its nature. The purpose of the literature review is
different as well. Thus, it has to demonstrate the underlying assumptions that are behind the
central research questions. It also has to provide an opportunity for the researcher new to the
subject to convince the reader about the competence of the researcher in the conducted study.
In addition, literature review in a qualitative research provides the background to identify any
gaps and issues that could be present in the related literature and provide the rationale of the
future research.
Considering the above-said, qualitative and quantitative researches require different
approaches to the process of the literature review development. The purposes are rather
similar but the importance of the literature review in both cases is not. Quantitative research
must have a quality, thorough literature review to be based on something so the researchers
could conclude something definite and give clear recommendations for further research in
this area. It means that the importance of the literature review for the quantitative research is
rather substantial.
On the other hand, qualitative research does not require such a serious background to
be conducted. It does not mean that literature review is not necessary. However, it is less
important and should not as exhaustive as in case of quantitative research. Thus, according to
Uark.libguides.com (2012), the literature review for qualitative research is usually “limited;
may not be exhaustive”, while the literature review for quantitative research is “extensive;
may significantly influence a particular study.”

5. Running head: Role of Literature Review in the Research Process 5
References
Lie, K. (2000). Writing the Literature Review. Retrieved from:
http://www.ais.up.ac.za/med/tnm800/tnmwritingliteraturereviewlie.htm
Uark.libguides.com (2012). Qualitative or Quantitative? Retrieved from:
http://uark.libguides.com/content.php?pid=110370&sid=1384703