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Introduction
Review of Literature • At the outset of his/her study the investigator
should be aware with the relevant literature.

• It is of minimal use to wait until a report is

written.

Definition
Purpose of a Literature Review
Review of literature is:
- the selection of available documents
The literature review is a critical look at the (published and unpublished) on the topic
existing research that is significant to the which contains: information, ideas, data,
work that you are carrying out. methods and evidences
• To provide background information
- the systematic analysis of main variables and
arguments (just not gathering information,
• To establish importance evidences)
• To demonstrate familiarity - critical evaluation formerly linked to
• To “carve out a space” for further research justification and methodology

Literature Review
What information is already available?
- literatures and other sources
- audience :
receiver (researcher)
recipient (readers/reviewers)
- basic knowledge vs. adaptation to local need
- quality and correctness of the reviewed literature
- relevant (title, abstract, full text sequence)

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Literature review
Literature review Why? (in specific)
 to focus on specific problem, issue and debate
Why? (in general)
 to relate to the problem, issues and debate in terms that
– to avoid duplication
show a balance between the theoretical, methodological
– to focus on the topic and practical aspects of the topic
– to better understand about subject area  to include a clearly stated research methodology based on
– to develop and to inform research approach existing literature
– to develop justification of the study  to provide an analytical and critically evaluative posture to
– to develop conceptual framework of the study the existing literature on the topic

Review of literature: as an indicator of your Sources of literature

knowledge on the topic
• Card catalogues of books in libraries
• Organizations (institutions)
• Published information (books, journals, etc.)
• Unpublished documents (studies in related fields,
reports, etc.)
• Demonstrating your skill and ability in library
• Computer based literature searches such as
researching
Medline
• Showing command of the subject area and
• Opinions, beliefs of key persons
understanding of the problems
• Justifying the research topic, design and
methodology

Searching in the internet

Searching in the internet
• Use a search engine: Yahoo, Google…..
• Use keywords, synonymous words of your topic
• Using online version of the Journals • Use journal+ keyword to find articles in the journal
• Using database: Pubmed, Medline, • Use “keywords” to avoid unrelated materials
• Use keywords pdf to get PDF file only
Science Direct, CINAHL, Psychinfo, • Use keywords ppt to get power point file only
Cochrane, googleschlor • Joining chat groups, email group, professional
association
• Online magazines, e-books, etc. • Searching bibliographies in encyclopedias such as
www.answer.com

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Searching in the library Searching outside the library

• Developing working bibliography • Discuss with experts

• Using library’s electronic book catalog • Contact with supervisors
• Examining the bibliography at the end of the book • Discuss with local people, non medical
• Examining the references at the end of the article professional (to get different perspectives)
• Searching bibliographies in encyclopedias
• Discuss and share with your friends
• Try to get many comments

Sources of Literature Review – Secondary Sources

• Secondary sources describe, discuss, interpret,
– Primary Sources.
comment upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, and
• A primary source of literature, provides first-hand
process primary sources.
evidence about an event, object, person, or work
of art. • Secondary source materials can be articles in
• Primary sources include historical and legal newspapers or popular magazines, book or movie
documents, eyewitness accounts, and results of reviews, or articles found in scholarly journals that
experiments, statistical data, pieces of creative discuss or evaluate someone else's original
writing, audio and video recordings, speeches, and research.
art objects.
• Journals, magazines, and newspapers are serial
• Interviews, surveys, fieldwork, and Internet publications that are published on an ongoing basis
communications via email, blogs, listservs, and
newsgroups are also primary sources. and are regarded as secondary sources of literature

• Tertiary Sources Literature review sources

Sources for literature review can be divided into three categories as illustrated in table below. In your
• Tertiary sources contain information that has been dissertation you will need to use all three categories of literature review sources:
compiled from primary and secondary sources. Sources of literature
Sources for literature review and examples
Characteristics Examples
• Tertiary sources include almanacs, chronologies, Reports
Theses
dictionaries and Encyclopaedias, directories, Primary sources for the High level of detail
Emails
Conference proceedings
guidebooks, indexes, abstracts, manuals, and literature Little time needed to publish
Company reports
Unpublished manuscript sources
textbooks. Some government publications
Journals
Books
Secondary sources for the Medium level of detail
Newspapers
literature Medium time needed to publish
Some government publications
Articles by professional associations
Indexes
Databases
Catalogues
Low level of detail
Tertiary sources for the Encyclopaedias
Considereable amount of time
literature Dictionaries
needed to publish
Bibliographies
Citation indexes
Statistical data from government websites

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Strategies for gaining access to

Rules for good literature review
information: Identify Resources
• Books • Internet • Identify and discuss the relevant key study on
the topic
• Journals • Indexes/Abstracts Printed
• Include as much update material as possible
• Conference Papers • Electronic Databases
• Critically evaluate the material and show your
• Dissertations • Government publications
analyses
• Bibliographies • Theses

• Maps • Interviews and other

unpublished research

Rules for good literature review Rules for good literature review
• Use illustrations and examples to justify your • Don’t omit classic (standard) word with out
analyses and arguments
• Be analytical, evaluative and critical and show this proper reference
in your review • Don’t use jargon (nonsense)
• Make your review worth reading by making yourself
clear, systematic, rational • Don’t use the list of the materials
• Explain why the topic is interesting

Use of literature review

• It prevents you from duplicating work.
• It increases your knowledge on the problem
you want to study.
– This may assist you in refining your "statement of
the problem".
• It gives you confidence why your particular
research project is needed.
• To be familiar with different research methods