1. Subject : Research
Methodology
Literature review
Group 5

2. Outline
1. Definition of literature review
2. Steps to take before beginning to write a
literature review
3. Researching for a literature review
4. Organization of a literature review
5. Writing recommendations

3. What is literature review?
Presenter: Minh Dang

4. What is literature?
A collection of all the scholarly writings on a topic

5. Literature Review
• A selection of available resources and
materials with a strong relation to the topic
including a description & a critical evaluation
and comparative analysis of each work.
– It focuses on those resources and materials that
are directly relevant to your topic, and as such, is
highly selective.

6. • Focused on a particular question or area of
research
– Not a widespread, comprehensive list of all
materials relating.
– Narrowly focused to concentrate only on truly
relevant materials

7. • A selection of available, relevant resources
and materials available in any formats.
– The material's relevance to your research question
is what's important, not the format.

8. Common mistakes of making
literature review
• Make a summary of available materials
without any critical description or component;
or an annotated bibliography.

9. Purpose of literature review
• To convey to readers what knowledge and
ideas have been established
• It gives us a solid overview of the research on
a topic
• Makes a case for further investigation and
research, highlighting gaps in knowledge and
asking questions that need to be answered

10. Format of literature review
• A literature review is a prose document
similar to a journal article or essay, not a list of
citations and descriptions

11. Types of literature review

12. Characteristics of literature review
• A Good Literature Review:
– Focused
– Logical
– Developed
– Integrative (consistent)
– Current (popular)

13. BEFORE WRITING
LITERATURE REVIEW
Presenter : Ngân Giang

14. Decide on your areas of research
Before you begin to search for articles or books,
decide beforehand what areas you are going to research.
Make sure that you only get articles and books in those areas,
even if you come across fascinating books in other areas.

15. Search for the literature
Cover a comprehensive search of specific reference books
and articles as well as useful sources online involve in your area.
Find relevant information in your books and articles to look for :
1. Claims, conclusions, and findings about the constructs you
are investigating
2. Definitions of terms
3. Disagreement about the constructs you are investigating
Set a specific time frame for how long you will search.

16. Narrow your topic
The narrower your topic, the easier you can get
a good survey of the material.

17. Consider whether your sources
are current
Some disciplines require that you use information
that is as current as possible.
E.g: In the sciences, treatments for medical problems are constantly
changing according to the latest studies.
In a review in the humanities, history, or social sciences,
a survey of the history, what is important is how perspectives
have changed through the years or within a certain time period.

18. Construct a working thesis statement
Use the focus you’ve found to construct a thesis statement.
Is a single declarative sentence that states
what you want your readers to know, To discover ideas
believe, or understand after having read and connections
your essay. between ideas that
you didn't recognize
before

19. RESEARCHING FOR A
LITERATURE REVIEW
CONSIDER HOW CURRENT YOUR SOURCES MUST BE
FIND A FOCUS
WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT
GATHER YOUR SOURCES
Presenter : Hữu Lộc

20. CONSIDER HOW CURRENT YOUR
SOURCES MUST BE
When researching subjects In other areas, such as the
that are constantly changing, history or the humanities, it may
be most important to show how
such as technology, science
the particular perspectives on
or medicine, having the most
the topic have changed or are
recent, cutting edge affected by other factors.
information is critical.

21. FIND A FOCUS
Look for themes or issues that tie together your
sources.
Do the authors share perspectives or are they
varied?
Are research results consistent or divergent?
Are there raging debates?
Does the research reveal certain trends or
directions?
Are there certain aspects or populations left out of
the research?
Selecting one of these themes will give a focus and
sense of organization to your lit review.

22. WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT
After you have settled on a focus for your lit
review, write a thesis statement that will provide
the perspective that your paper will take. For
example:
Over the years, dieting trends have come and gone out
of fashion. The latest seems to be a back-to-basics
approach that combines a balanced diet with regular
exercise.

23. GATHER YOUR SOURCES
If you intend to use journal articles, select the
journal index(es) that pertain to your subject
area (in the case above, health or nutrition). List
the keywords that best describe your topic;
generally, use nouns (such as diets and trends)
rather that verbs (such as effect or behave).
Over the years, dieting trends have come and gone out of
fashion. The latest seems to be a back-to-basics approach that
combines a balanced diet with regular exercise.

24. Begin by searching broadly, adding
keywords to narrow your topic. Ask
a Reference Librarian to suggest
search terms and for help selecting
and navigating databases.
When you find good sources,
consider “harvesting” additional
sources by examining the reference
lists of pertinent articles.

25. Scan the materials you have collected (in other
words, skim the abstracts, beginning and
conclusions) to decide which you think might be
most relevant.
Make a pile of the best, most important works,
and put the others aside (do not toss them out for
now – you never know what you may return to in
the future).
Once you have decided which are the best and
most important sources, read them more
carefully and take notes.
Keep all of your printouts until after your paper
is returned, just in case you need to refer to them.

26. RESEARCHING FOR A
LITERATURE REVIEW
CONSIDER HOW CURRENT YOUR SOURCES MUST BE
FIND A FOCUS
WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT
GATHER YOUR SOURCES

27. CONSIDER HOW CURRENT YOUR
SOURCES MUST BE
When researching subjects In other areas, such as the
that are constantly changing, history or the humanities, it may
be most important to show how
such as technology, science
the particular perspectives on
or medicine, having the most
the topic have changed or are
recent, cutting edge affected by other factors.
information is critical.

28. FIND A FOCUS
Look for themes or issues that tie together your
sources.
Do the authors share perspectives or are they
varied?
Are research results consistent or divergent?
Are there raging debates?
Does the research reveal certain trends or
directions?
Are there certain aspects or populations left out of
the research?
Selecting one of these themes will give a focus and
sense of organization to your lit review.

29. WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT
After you have settled on a focus for your lit
review, write a thesis statement that will provide
the perspective that your paper will take. For
example:
Over the years, dieting trends have come and gone out
of fashion. The latest seems to be a back-to-basics
approach that combines a balanced diet with regular
exercise.

30. GATHER YOUR SOURCES
If you intend to use journal articles, select the
journal index(es) that pertain to your subject
area (in the case above, health or nutrition). List
the keywords that best describe your topic;
generally, use nouns (such as diets and trends)
rather that verbs (such as effect or behave).
Over the years, dieting trends have come and gone out of
fashion. The latest seems to be a back-to-basics approach that
combines a balanced diet with regular exercise.

31. Begin by searching broadly, adding
keywords to narrow your topic. Ask
a Reference Librarian to suggest
search terms and for help selecting
and navigating databases.
When you find good sources,
consider “harvesting” additional
sources by examining the reference
lists of pertinent articles.

32. Scan the materials you have collected (in other
words, skim the abstracts, beginning and
conclusions) to decide which you think might be
most relevant.
Make a pile of the best, most important works,
and put the others aside (do not toss them out for
now – you never know what you may return to in
the future).
Once you have decided which are the best and
most important sources, read them more
carefully and take notes.
Keep all of your printouts until after your paper
is returned, just in case you need to refer to them.

33. Organization of a literature review
Presenter: M.Sang

34. Organization of a literature review
Similar to other papers you have written, your literature review should also contain
three basic parts:
• An introduction, giving the reader a quick idea of your topic and the central theme
or organizational pattern you will follow.
Gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature review, such as the central theme
or organizational pattern.
• The body, which contains your discussion of sources.
• Conclusions/Recommendations: Discuss what you have drawn from reviewing
literature so far. Where might the discussion proceed?

35. 1 ) Chronological
If the research in your sources appears to follow a chronological progression, whether
in thought or practice, this could be a logical framework for organizing your lit review.
Start with the earliest references and discuss them at the beginning, and then
gradually work you way logically through time, to the references that are most recent.
E.G : What is the relation of love theme for movies of all time ?
Sample references : Titanic, Gone with the wind, Romeo and Juliet.
How will you order these references ?
1. Gone with the wind ( 1936 )
2. Romeo and Juliet ( 1968 )
3. Titanic ( 1997 )

36. 2) Trends:
You may be able to certain identify trends within the research or treatment of your
topic. This may be similarly chronological, but certain trends may encompass greater
historical era.
examine the sources under another trend, such as the history, geographical,
cultural, etc.
 E.g : What is the impact of racism on humanity ?
History :
•In those earlier days in the 20th century, the face of racism was largely black and
white.
•The 21st Century has brought about many attempted changes in society. There is
legislation and memoranda against discrimination in its many forms.
Geography :
•In Western countries , racism is largely for black and white people.
•In Asian, racism is largely for the different classes in society.

37. 3)Thematic: thematic reviews focus on central issues or topics.. As you write
the review, you will use your sources to reinforce the theme that you have chosen as
central to your paper.
Thematic reviews of literature are organized around a topic or issue, rather than
the progression of time. But more authentic thematic reviews tend to break away
from chronological order.

38. 4) Methodological:
Instead of the content, this framework is organized around the methodologies
(qualitative, quantitative, in-depth case studies ) used in the research
This approach to lit review is often used by researchers who wish to justify their
choice of one methodology over others. They give an analysis of research techniques
according to criteria as to whether they are valid and reliable.
E.g : A specific qualitative method results :
The results were very surprising to the management team. The major qualitative
findings included the following:
Women viewed convenience stores to be primarily designed for men, with little or
no consideration for women.
QuickStop was seen as one of the worst of convenience stores "kind of the place for
a man to buy gas, get a six-pack of cheap beer and cigarettes, but not the kind of
place I want to go".

39. Writing recommendations
Presenter: Ngọc Cẩm

40. Read and write with purpose
• Focus on your goal
• See how the major concepts, theories,
arguments, conclusions, etc. related or similar
to each other
=> Purpose: evaluate and show the relationships
between the research.

41. Use evidence, but be selective
However, other studies have
shown that even gender-neutral
antecedents are more likely to
produce masculine images than
feminine ones (Gastil, 1990). provide the reader with
Hamilton (1988) asked students evidence to back up and
justify what you write
to complete sentences that
required them to fill in pronouns
that agreed with gender-neutral
antecedents such as “writer,”
“pedestrian,” and “persons.”

42. Be selective
Include only the information that points back to your
thesis. The type of information you choose to mention
should relate directly to the review’s focus, whether it is
thematic, methodological, or chronological.

43. Use quotes sparingly
• Use quotes sparingly, if at all – make your own
voice clear and center.
• Use care when paraphrasing to be sure you
accurately represent the authors’ thoughts
and findings.
• Keep your own voice

44. However, other studies have shown that even
gender-neutral antecedents are more likely to produce
masculine images than feminine ones (Gastil, 1990).
Hamilton (1988) asked students to complete sentences
that required them to fill in pronouns that agreed with
gender-neutral antecedents such as “writer,”
“pedestrian,” and “persons.” The students were asked
to describe any image they had when writing the
sentence. Hamilton found that people imagined 3.3
men to each woman in the masculine “generic”
condition and 1.5 men per woman in the unbiased
condition.

45. Summarize, synthesize and transition
• Present/summarize for readers, and synthesize
your findings
• Provide transitions from one thought or source
to another

46. Drafts and revisions
• Refer often to your thesis statement when
writing your text from your outline.
• Use terminology that is appropriate to your
field and audience, avoiding slang, jargon and
contractions.
• Add subheadings when appropriate to break
up longer sections

47. Drafts and revisions
• Check that you have documented your
sources correctly (text + reference list)
• Include everything cited in your paper on your
reference list, and vice versa
• Edit and revise your paper as needed
• Ask someone else look it over for technical or
organizational errors

48. Recommendations for writing Lit. Review
 Read and write with purpose
 Use evidence, but be selective
 Use quotes sparingly
 Summarize, synthesize and transition
 Drafts and revisions

49. Thank you for listening !
Group 5 :
1. M.Sang
2. H.Lộc
3. Ngân Giang
4. Ngọc Cẩm
5. M.Đăng
6. Tố Ngân