BAGUIO CITY SCIENCE FOUNDATION

06 Old Forestry Compound, Lower Engineer’s Hill, Baguio City

Tel. No. (074) 422-2964
Mobile No. 0955-6591-289 / 0938-6597-309
E-mail address: [email protected]

FUNDAMENTAL OF RESEARCH 1 – (WEEK 3-4)

MODULE 9

Core Subject Description:

This module is about the literature review. Once you have chosen a research topic and drafted a
specific question, it is important to determine what is already known. A literature review will also help
you further refine your research question to ensure you are investigating a novel idea, to help you model
your study on similar published studies, or modify your methods based on the best evidence available.
Outside of research, literature reviews can keep your informed clinical decisions based on the best and
most recent evidence available and thus is an important skill for clinicians to know. Understanding how to
carry out an effective literature review is then a key skill that impacts both your research and clinical
performance.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this chapter, students are expected to:
 What a literature review is and its role within a research project.
 How a well-defined research question can improve the effectiveness of a literature
search.
 The steps to carrying out an effective literature review based on your research (or
clinical) question.
 How to screen and evaluate the results of a literature review. You will also start the
process of carrying out a literature review for your own resident research project.

Topics Covered:
• THE LITERATURE REVIEW

Values Integration:
• The students will be able to form the choices in doing research studies.
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Tel. No. (074) 422-2964
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JUMPSTAR
T!

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Encircle it!

1. A literature review is best defined as:

Doing an internet search on a topic and looking through the results.

The process of studying published research.
The process of studying published research and the written review outlining what literature was
reviewed.
The written component of a research project that discusses the existing research the researcher
reviewed.

2. Why does a researcher conduct a literature review?

a. To familiarize themselves with the field.

b. They are required to by other researchers.
c. They are paid to review it.
d. To reproduce existing research.

3. If you are studying a specialized topic, like 'Common symptoms of mentally ill children', but search for
something broad, like 'Psychology of children', you are likely to find:

a. A large amount of relevant articles.

b. A small amount of relevant articles.
c. A large amount of non-relevant articles.
d. A small amount of non-relevant articles.
 BAGUIO CITY SCIENCE FOUNDATION
06 Old Forestry Compound, Lower Engineer’s Hill, Baguio City
Tel. No. (074) 422-2964
Mobile No. 0955-6591-289 / 0938-6597-309
E-mail address: [email protected]

WEEK 3 and 4
LET’S GET
READY!
THE LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS A LITERATURE REVIEW AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

“A research literature review is a systematic, explicit and reproducible method for identifying,
evaluating and synthesizing the existing body of completed and recorded work produced by researchers,
scholars and practitioners” (Fink, 2005).

A review of related literature (a.k.a RRL in research) is a comprehensive review of the existing literature
pertaining to a specific topic or research question. An effective review provides the reader with an organized
analysis and synthesis of the existing knowledge about a subject. With the increasing amount of new
information being disseminated every day, conducting a review of related literature is becoming more difficult
and the purpose of review of related literature is clearer than ever.

A literature review is an integral part of both good research and good clinical practice. When carried out
properly, a literature review can:

- Build knowledge and keep you up-to-date on recent developments in your field.
- Provide specific information to inform evidence-based practice.
- Provide a wealth of background knowledge to inform your research project and/or
justify your research plans. This is especially important when applying for funding or
preparing your research for publication.
- Help focus and refine your research question.
- Identify the unique contribution your research will make and ensure you will not be
replicating existing knowledge.
- Help develop critical analysis skills, which are important for evaluating research and
identifying the best evidence available.

Simply put, good literature reviews lead to better research and evidence-based practice/decision making.
Regular reading and literature reviews should be part of your clinical practice. While the remainder of this
teaching module will focus on the role that literature reviews play in research, much of the knowledge gained
will help to search the scientific literature for the answers to clinical questions.

A research literature review differs from other types of literature reviews in one important aspect: the
intent of the review is to summarize the available literature surrounding your specific research topic. Therefore,
the scope of the review itself is directly related to your research question.

It is also important to consider how much time you have and are able to commit to your literature
review. Comprehensive or systematic reviews can be large and very timeconsuming; they can even be seen as
an independent research project. However, with a little practice and planning, more limited literature reviews
can get you the range of knowedge that you need. The six steps summarized below are key to carrying out an
effective research literature review, and form the basis for the remainder of this module.

Six steps to conducting an efficient research literature review:

1. Formulate a research question
2. Select appropriate sources/databases
3. Choose your search terms
4. Run your search
5. Screen and evaluate your search results
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6. Synthesize the findings

Why a review of related literature in research is important

Before thinking how to do reviews of related literature, it is necessary to understand its importance. Although
the purpose of a review of related literature varies depending on the discipline and how it will be used, its
importance is never in question. Here are some ways in which a review can be crucial.

 Identify gaps in the knowledge – This is the primary purpose of a review of related literature (often
called RRL in research). To create new knowledge, you must first determine what knowledge may be missing.
This also helps to identify the scope of your study.
 Avoid duplication of research efforts – Not only will a review of related literature indicate gaps in the existing
research, but it will also lead you away from duplicating research that has already been done and thus save
precious resources.
 Provide an overview of disparate and interdisciplinary research areas – Researchers cannot possibly know
everything related to their disciplines. Therefore, it is very helpful to have access to a review of related
literature already written and published.
 Highlight researcher’s familiarity with their topic1 – A strong review of related literature in a study
strengthens readers’ confidence in that study and that researcher.

Tips on how to write a review of related literature in research

Given that you will probably need to produce a number of these at some point, here are a few general tips on
how to write an effective review of related literature2.
1. Define your topic, audience, and purpose: You will be spending a lot of time with this review, so
choose a topic that is interesting to you. While deciding what to write in a review of related literature,
think about who you expect to read the review – researchers in your discipline, other scientists, the
general public – and tailor the language to the audience. Also, think about the purpose of your review of
related literature.
2. Conduct a comprehensive literature search: While writing your review of related literature,
emphasize more recent works but don’t forget to include some older publications as well. Cast a wide
net, as you may find some interesting and relevant literature in unexpected databases or library corners.
Don’t forget to search for recent conference papers.
3. Review the identified articles and take notes: It is a good idea to take notes in a way such that
individual items in your notes can be moved around when you organize them. For example, index cards
are great tools for this. Write each individual idea on a separate card along with the source. The cards
can then be easily grouped and organized.
4. Determine how to organize your review: A review of related literature should not be merely a listing
of descriptions. It should be organized by some criterion, such as chronologically or thematically.
5. Be critical and objective: Don’t just report the findings of other studies in your review of related
literature. Challenge the methodology, find errors in the analysis, question the conclusions. Use what
you find to improve your research. However, do not insert your opinions into the review of related
literature. Remain objective and open-minded.
6. Structure your review logically: Guide the reader through the information. The structure will depend
on the function of the review of related literature. Creating an outline prior to writing the RRL in
research is a good way to ensure the presented information flows well.
As you read more extensively in your discipline, you will notice that the review of related literature appears in
various forms in different places. For example, when you read an article about an experimental study, you will
typically see a literature review or a RRL in research, in the introduction that includes brief descriptions of
similar studies. In longer research studies and dissertations, especially in the social sciences, the review of
related literature will typically be a separate chapter and include more information on methodologies and theory
building. In addition, stand-alone review articles will be published that are extremely useful to researchers.

The review of relevant literature or often abbreviated as, RRL in research, is an important communication tool
that can be used in many forms for many purposes. It is a tool that all researchers should befriend.
 BAGUIO CITY SCIENCE FOUNDATION
06 Old Forestry Compound, Lower Engineer’s Hill, Baguio City
Tel. No. (074) 422-2964
Mobile No. 0955-6591-289 / 0938-6597-309
E-mail address: [email protected]

FAQ

Q: Is research complete without a review of related literature?

A research project is usually considered incomplete without a proper review of related literature. The review of
related literature is a crucial component of any research project as it provides context for the research question,
identifies gaps in existing literature, and ensures novelty by avoiding duplication. It also helps inform research
design and supports arguments, highlights the significance of a study, and demonstrates your knowledge an
expertise.

Q: What is difference between RRL and RRS?

The key difference between an RRL and an RRS lies in their focus and scope. An RRL or review of related
literature examines a broad range of literature, including theoretical frameworks, concepts, and empirical
studies, to establish the context and significance of the research topic. On the other hand, an RRS or review of
research studies specifically focuses on analyzing and summarizing previous research studies within a specific
research domain to gain insights into methodologies, findings, and gaps in the existing body of knowledge.
While there may be some overlap between the two, they serve distinct purposes and cover different aspects of
the research process.

Q: Does review of related literature improve accuracy and validity of research?

Yes, a comprehensive review of related literature (RRL) plays a vital role in improving the accuracy and
validity of research. It helps authors gain a deeper understanding and offers different perspectives on the
research topic. RRL can help you identify research gaps, dictate the selection of appropriate research
methodologies, enhance theoretical frameworks, avoid biases and errors, and even provide support for research
design and interpretation. By building upon and critically engaging with existing related literature, researchers
can ensure their work is rigorous, reliable, and contributes meaningfully to their field of study.

LET’S
PRACTICE!

THE LITERATURE REVIEW

SUMMARY / WORKSHEET

Practice and experience are key to becoming proficient at literature reviews. In this module, we have examined
what a literature review is, why it is important, how to choose the right resources, and key concepts in carrying
out and evaluating your literature search. Now is a good time to put what you have learned into practice by
designing and carrying out a literature review for your own research project. (5 points each)

1. Consider the purpose and scope of your literature review. Why are you doing this literature review? How
much time are you able to commit to this review?

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 BAGUIO CITY SCIENCE FOUNDATION
06 Old Forestry Compound, Lower Engineer’s Hill, Baguio City
Tel. No. (074) 422-2964
Mobile No. 0955-6591-289 / 0938-6597-309
E-mail address: [email protected]

2. What is difference between RRL and RRS?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Is research complete without a review of related literature?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

4. What is Literature Review in Research?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

REFERENCES / ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center. Literature

Reviews. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/literature-reviews/ [Accessed September 8, 2022]
2. Pautasso M. Ten simple rules for writing a literature review. PLoS Comput Biol. 2013, 9. doi:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003149.
3. Jones LV, Smyth RL. How to perform a literature search.
4. Current Paediatrics 14 (2004) 482-488. Matharu GS, Buckley CD. Performing a literature
review.
5. When is a literature review complete? American Journal of Nursing 109 (2009) 78-79.

Prepared by:

MAY JOY R. LLOBRERA, LPT

Subject Teacher/Senior High Coordinator/Registrar

Noted by:

JHOSUA LEO T. ANDAYA, LPT

OIC-PRINCIPAL