Module-2

Literature Review and Technical Reading

• The primary goal of a literature review is to: Identify the research problem. This includes understanding the current state
of knowledge on the topic, identifying gaps in knowledge, and determining the research questions that need to be
answered.

• Advocate a specific approach. This involves evaluating the different approaches that have been taken to study the
problem, and selecting the approach that is most likely to be successful.

• Evaluate the choice of methods. This includes assessing the validity and reliability of the methods that have been used,
and determining whether they are appropriate for the research problem.

• Demonstrate the need for new research. This involves showing that the existing research is not sufficient to answer the
research questions, and that new research is needed to make progress.
 • The quality of a literature review can be evaluated
based on the following criteria: Breadth and depth of
coverage. The literature review should cover a wide
range of relevant sources, and provide a deep
understanding of the research problem.

• Clarity and rigor. The literature review should be

written in a clear and concise style, and should use
rigorous analytical methods.
CON… • Consistency. The literature review should be
consistent with the research problem, approach, and
methods. Effective analysis.

• The literature review should provide a critical

analysis of the existing research, and should identify
the key findings and gaps in knowledge.
 New and Existing
Knowledge
• The interpretation of new knowledge heavily depends on
the researcher's background and perception, which can
range from indifference to excitement.

• The significance of new knowledge is often established by

identifying existing problems in the field and demonstrating
the gaps in the current understanding.

• Existing knowledge is essential for highlighting the

existence of a problem and its importance. Researchers use
the context, significance, originality, and tools from existing
literature to build a case for their work.

• This knowledge is gathered through extensive reading and

literature review, spanning both foundational textbooks
and recent research papers.
CON…
Textbooks provide established knowledge and foundational background, while research papers focus on
presenting new, cutting-edge information.

Research papers assume prior knowledge and can be challenging to understand without a solid foundation.
Researchers often need to refer to various sources to interpret the content of research papers effectively.

A thorough literature review is crucial to demonstrate how a research piece builds upon existing work. It
provides a strong foundation for advancing knowledge, identifying gaps, and suggesting new research directions.

A good literature survey is concept-focused rather than author-focused.

Components of a Comprehensive Literature Review:
• Summarize existing knowledge from the state of
the art.

• Detail key concepts, factors, parameters, and

relationships.

• Discuss complementary approaches to the topic.

• Highlight inconsistencies, shortcomings, and

contradictory results.

• Justify the need for further research in the field.

 CON…
• When encountering important information, researchers often highlight, underline,
or mark it for future reference.

• However, to truly integrate this knowledge, it's essential to write about it in one's
own words, connecting it with the existing foundation.

• Building a strong knowledge foundation requires continuous reading, learning, and

writing.

• By crafting and reshaping newly acquired information to fit into the existing
framework, researchers ensure a robust understanding of the topic.

• New and existing knowledge play crucial roles in research. Understanding the
significance of existing knowledge, effectively reviewing the literature, and
integrating new findings into the foundation are essential steps for researchers
seeking to contribute meaningfully to their field.

• A comprehensive literature survey not only informs the researcher but also serves
as a cornerstone for future advancements.
 Analysis and Synthesis of Prior Art Bibliographic
• Grasp the central research question or hypothesis of each article. This helps establish the
Understanding the Hypothesis
context and purpose of the research.

Understanding Models and • Delve into the models and experimental setups used in the articles. This understanding

Experimental Conditions helps in comparing and contrasting findings and methodologies.

• Identify common themes, similarities, and differences across the articles. This step involves
Making Connections
synthesizing the information to derive meaningful insights.

• Compare various pieces of information, methodologies, and results across different sources.
Comparing and Contrasting
This comparison can reveal trends, contradictions, or gaps in the existing knowledge.

• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each article. Identify areas where the research is
Finding Strong Points and Loopholes
robust and where there might be limitations or areas that need further investigation.
Authority: Assess the author's credentials and affiliation. Consider the publisher of
the information. Academic or reputable sources carry more weight.

Accuracy: Compare the information presented with what is already known about
the topic. Does the information align with credible sources? Look for citations and
references that support the claims made.

Scope: Determine if the source matches the appropriate comprehension or research

level. Ensure that the content is relevant to your research goals.
Critical
Evaluation
Currency: Consider the publication date. Depending on the field, currency may be
crucial to ensure you're working with up-to-date information. of Sources:
Objectivity: Evaluate the objectivity of the source. Is the information presented
without bias? Look for balanced viewpoints and comprehensive analyses.

Purpose: Understand the purpose of the source. Is it a research paper, review

article, or opinion piece? Different types of sources serve different purposes.
Bibliographic Databases
• Bibliographic databases serve as essential resources for
researchers by offering access to citation-related information and
abstracts of scholarly research articles. These databases provide a
valuable tool for searching and retrieving relevant literature,
aiding in the exploration of new ideas and addressing research
problems.
Benefits of Bibliographic Databases:
Abstracting and Indexing Services: Bibliographic databases act as abstracting and indexing services, compiling
essential details about research articles. They include information such as citations, abstracts, authors, affiliations,
and keywords.

Access to Scholarly Literature: These databases facilitate access to a wide range of scholarly research articles,
helping researchers stay informed about the latest developments in their field.

Search Capabilities: Researchers can perform advanced searches using keywords, authors, publication years, and
other criteria to find relevant articles quickly.

Comprehensive Coverage: Bibliographic databases cover a vast array of disciplines and subjects, providing a
comprehensive repository of research materials.

Quality Research: Simultaneous searches across multiple databases help researchers avoid overreliance on a single
source and mitigate limitations associated with individual databases.
 Database Limitations: Relying solely on one
database can result in biased or incomplete results.
Researchers might encounter limitations in terms

Challenges and of coverage, access, or search capabilities.

Solutions: Intrinsic Shortcomings: Each database may have its

own limitations, such as biased indexing,
incomplete coverage of certain fields, or
inconsistencies in abstract quality.
 Identification of Relevance: Researchers should
quickly identify which databases are suitable for
exploring their ideas or addressing specific
research problems.

Selecting Diverse Selection: To ensure comprehensive

coverage, researchers can choose a combination

Databases of databases that cater to their research area.

for Research:
Cross-Database Searches: Researchers should
perform simultaneous searches across multiple
databases to enhance the breadth and quality of
their research findings.
 Bibliographic databases play a vital role in modern research,
enabling researchers to access, search, and retrieve scholarly
articles efficiently.

By utilizing multiple databases and conducting simultaneous

searches, researchers can overcome limitations and biases

Con… associated with individual sources, thereby enhancing the

quality and comprehensiveness of their research.

These databases are integral to the process of exploring new

ideas, addressing research problems, and building on existing
knowledge.
 Web of Science
Web of Science, formerly known as ISI or
Thomson Reuters, is a comprehensive
platform encompassing multiple databases
and specialized tools for scholarly research.
It provides researchers with access to a
wide range of scholarly materials, making it
an invaluable resource for academic
exploration.
 Key Features and Usage:
Search Capabilities: Web of Science offers an extensive search functionality, allowing researchers to
explore scholarly materials within specific topics of interest. The search can be refined using various fields
such as title, topic, author, address, and more.

Sorting and Refining: Researchers can sort search results by factors such as the number of citations or
publication date. The "Refine Results" panel on the left enables narrowing down results using keywords,
phrases in quotation marks, material type (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles), date, language, and more.

Enhanced Search Strategies: The platform encourages effective search strategies by suggesting actions
such as putting quotes around phrases, adding more keywords, and considering alternate word endings.
Researchers are also advised to break down s
 Con…
Cited Reference Search: A unique feature is the "Cited Reference Search," enabling researchers to trace
articles that have cited a previously published paper. This option provides insights into how ideas have
been applied, improved, or extended over time.

Structured and Informed Results: The platform ensures efficient utilization of time by narrowing and
refining search results. Researchers can broaden or narrow down results based on their needs using
built-in fields.

Access to Detailed Information: Clicking on search results provides a wealth of information about the
paper, including the title, authors, journal type, volume, issue number, publication year, abstract, and
keywords. This information helps researchers decide whether to acquire the full version of the paper.
Google and Google Scholar
Google and Google Scholar are valuable starting points
for research due to their accessibility and potential to
find freely available information. However, both
platforms come with limitations and challenges, leading
researchers to seek alternative strategies for obtaining
relevant and accurate sources of information.
Google's Limitations:

"Black Box" Nature: Google searches the entire internet without quality
control, making it difficult to determine the reliability and source of results.

Limited Search Functionality: Google offers limited search and refinement

options, potentially leading to overwhelming or irrelevant results.
Google Scholar's
Limitations:
• Mixed Scholarly Content: Some results may appear
scholarly but lack credibility upon closer
examination.

• Incomplete Coverage: Not all publishers make their

content available to Google Scholar.

• Limited Search Capabilities: Google Scholar

provides fewer search options for refining results.
 OR Operator: Broadens searches by capturing synonyms or variant spellings.
Example: Synchronous OR asynchronous captures results with either term.

Brackets/Parentheses: Group OR'd synonyms of a concept while combining

Search them with another. Example: RAM (synchronous OR asynchronous).

Operators Quotation Marks: Narrows searches by finding words together as a phrase.

Example: "Texas Instruments" narrows results to that specific phrase.

for Site Operator: Limits searches to a specific domain or website. Example: site:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org focuses on results from that site.

Improved Filetype Operator: Filters results based on a specific file extension. Example:
filetype: pdf narrows results to PDF documents.

Results: Search Tools Button: Provides additional options like date limitation.
Seeking Scholarly Resources:
• Academic Databases: Databases offer specialized search
capabilities and better quality control. They provide
access to journal articles, conference proceedings, and
scholarly resources.

• Advantages of Databases: Databases offer more relevant,

focused results due to better quality control and search
functionality.

• Database Selection: Choose databases based on subject

area, date coverage, and publication type.

• Search Techniques Consistency: While database interfaces

vary, the core search techniques remain consistent.
 Con…

While Google and Google Utilizing search operators and

Researchers should select
Scholar are valuable initial tools can improve search
appropriate databases based on
search tools, researchers must results. However, for in-depth
their subject area, ensuring
be aware of their limitations and credible scholarly research,
better control and accuracy in
and refine their search academic databases offer more
their search for information
strategies accordingly. focused and reliable resources.
Effective Search: The
Way Forward
• Scholarly publications are authored by researchers in
specific fields, undergo peer review, and target experts
and students in the field.

• While engineering researchers often refer to scholarly

journals and peer-reviewed sources, useful content can
also be found in popular publications for broader
readership.

• A comprehensive search involves using various search

tools and considering the type and availability of
information