1. Theory and the Review of
Related Literature

2. THEORY AND THE REVIEW OF
RELATED LITERATURE
• As soon as you have chosen
a topic for your thesis or
dissertation, you should look
for the theory linking your
topic with an available body of
knowledge.

3. THEORY
• Theory as defined by Kerlinger
(1973) is “a set of interrelated
constructs (concepts),
definitions, propositions, that
presents a systematic view of
phenomena by specifying
relations among the variables,
with the purpose of explaining
and predicting the phenomena.

4. FUNCTIONS OF THEORIES
1. It identifies the start of the research problem by
presenting the gaps, weak points, and inconsistencies
in the previous researches. Thus, provides the study
with a conceptual framework, justifying the need for the
investigation.
2. It puts together all the constructs or concepts that are
related with the researcher’s topic. The theory then
leads you into the specific questions to ask in your own
Investigation.
3. It presents the relationships among variables that have
been investigated.

5. THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The review of related literature is the major process that
leads you to the past theory. It is your immediate
concern to look for these sources, to put the literature
into some organized form, and to use the literature in
your study.
Gay (1976) says that the review of related literature
involves the systematic identification, location, and
analysis of documents containing information related to
the research problem.

6. FUNCTIONS OF REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE
• It provides the conceptual or theoretical framework of
the planned research.
• It provides you with the information about the past
researches related to the intended study. This process
prevents unintentional duplication of these past
researches and leads you into what needs to be
investigated.
• It gives you a feeling of confidence since by means of
the review of related literature you will have on hand on
all constructs related to your study.
• It gives you information about the research methods
used, the population and sampling considered, the
instruments used in gathering data and the statistical
computation of the previous research.

7. • It provides findings and conclusions of past
investigations which you may relate to your own
findings and conclusions.