From Social Research Methods, 4th Edition by Alan Bryman
Getting Started: Reviewing the Literature
Purpose of Literature Review:
Understand existing knowledge to avoid duplicating prior research.
Demonstrate scholarly engagement and credibility.
Use existing research to shape arguments and identify gaps.
Highlight controversies and inconsistencies in findings.
Formulate or refine research questions based on gaps in literature(Social Research Methods…).
Key Steps in Literature Review:
Identify what is already known.
Recognize relevant concepts, theories, and research methods.
Address unanswered questions or research gaps.
Develop critical reading skills to assess significance and methodology of prior work(Social Research Methods…).
Formulating Research Questions
Based on literature gaps, determine specific, relevant, and answerable questions.
Align questions with your research objectives and theoretical frameworks.
Justify their importance through literature evidence(Social Research Methods…).
Systematic vs. Narrative Literature Reviews
Systematic Review: Structured, transparent, and replicable; suitable for identifying specific gaps or interventions.
Steps include defining scope, searching literature, appraising quality, and synthesizing results.
Meta-analysis and meta-ethnography are advanced methods for summarizing quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively.
Narrative Review: Broader and more flexible; useful for exploratory research or when theoretical insights emerge during study(Social Research Methods…).
Tips for Effective Research Planning:
Define clear objectives and research questions.
Utilize electronic databases and systematic search strategies.
Keep detailed notes of references and key findings.
Critically evaluate sources for their relevance, quality, and contributions.
Incorporate both traditional academic sources and newer platforms like Google Scholar(Social Research Methods…).
