3. ‘…a systematic…method for
identifying, evaluating and
Interpreting the…work
produced by researchers,
scholars and practitioners.’
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
What is literature review?
4. W
h
a
tisliteraturereview?
Literature is about telling a
story…kind of a chain story
where each writer starts
with a partial story created
previously by others and
expand on it…the existing
literature is the story so
far…
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
6. 5
Filtering & sorting the essentials
from the irrelevant…
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
See the wood for the trees…
Image source: http://
sciencebhakta.wordpress.com
7. Skills for “digesting” the literature
Select, differentiate,
break up
Integrate, combine,
formulate, reorganize
Understand,
distinguish,
explain
KNOWLEDGE Define,classify
,describeA
dapted from Hart, 1998
Dissecting data into their constituent part.
Rearranging the elements derived from
analysis to identify relationship.
Interpreting & distinguishing between
different types of data , theory &
argument to describe the substance of
an idea
Describing the principles, uses, & function of
rules, method, etc.
ANALYSIS
SYNTHESIS
COMPREHENSI
ON
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
8. Any critical review should incorporate…
An assessment of the strengths &
weaknesses of some of the
theories
A clear understanding of the topic
A citing of all key studies in the
subject territory
A clear indication of how the
review links to your research
questions
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
9. A definition of the boundaries
of your research
A selection & synthesis of
existing arguments to form a
new perspective
Through gradual refinement, a
clear demarcation of the
research problem
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Any critical review should incorporate…
10. Scope & length of lit. review…
Be selective
State the current state of the
theory
How far back?(Master’s ~10
years; PhD – further back)
Avoid verbosity
Demonstrate ability to synthesize
the body of literature – brief but
focused.
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
11. Components of lit. review…
Background information
Introduce topic
Describe scope &
organization
Review past & present
literature
Clarify purpose
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
12. Theory
All research has a precedent
Integrate key points & make
appropriate inferences
Be aware of relationship to your
topic
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Components of lit. review…
13. Critical appraisal/synthesis
Not jus a list of the work of
others
Identify issues highlighted
Highlight differences &
similarities
Identify consensus
Abd Karim Alias@2010
[akarim@usm.my]
Components of lit. review…
14. References
• Alias, Abdul Karim, B. Applied Science (Food
Technology), Universiti Sains Malaysia
• https://www.slideshare.net/akarim717/how-
to-write-a-thesis?qid=b6bfcf06-6fa7-4137-
90c8-4c9c4c54d4f1&v=&b=&from_search=14