Central Components of the Literature Review, Critical Review - Coursework Example

Literature Review Research Introduction A good research study or project must be preceded by a detailed review of literature in the area of the project or study. A literature review refers to a critical scrutiny of a section of a published body of knowledge by summarising, classifying and comparing of previous research studies, theoretical articles and reviews of literature (Duke University, n.d., p.1). The purpose of a literature review is to present the reasoning or justification behind a research exercise or project at hand, and to present a detailed assessment of the existing research knowledge which is significant to the current research (Evans 2007, p. 69). This paper examines the central components of a good literature review, i.e. overview of the research topic, critical review, supportive search, systematic review, conclusion and referencing; and identifies the relationships that should be formed between it and other sections of any study that is undertaken. In particular, the paper examines how researchers can apply literature review when doing business or management studies. Central components of the literature review and relationships between literature review and other parts of a study in business/management As mentioned in the introduction, the purpose of a literature review is to present the researcher’s reasoning or justification of the research based on an analysis of previous literature in the same area of study. The literature review introduces and defines the area that the researcher wishes to study, giving reasons why the research is significant or interesting. A literature review also demonstrates the researcher’s knowledge as well as the theoretical implications of the research question or questions that the researcher puts forward (Evans 2007, p. 69). To achieve this, the researcher must ensure that all the crucial components of a literature review are included in the work. These are discussed next. An overview of the research topic When beginning a new research project, it is worthwhile to get an overview of the topic that is being investigated. The knowledge gained in this area contributes to the understanding of how the area of research has developed over time. It is also important for identifying the key concepts, weaknesses and strengths of the research area (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe & Jackson, 2012). The overview of the research topic also helps the researcher to understand what is already known in the area that he or she intends to study (Language Centre, Asian Institute of Technology 2005, p. 3). A review of the research topic also helps the researcher to identify the gaps that exist in literature as regards that area of study (Deakin University Australia, n.d.). Thus, the overview of the research topic of the literature review helps the researcher to avoid repeating what has already been done by other researchers or to avoid repeating the mistakes that have been done by other researchers in past studies in the same area. The literature review also provides an understanding of the current research trends and the most common methods that are used. For instance, when a researcher intends to carry out a research in a management or business area, he or she will read literature from books, journals and other sources on studies that have been done in the particular area to find out what is known and what is not known yet. This will help the researcher in deciding on what methodology to use so as to attain the most reliable results, identifying weaknesses of various methods, and even identifying what to sample and what to leave out. An overview of the research topic also helps the researcher to give credit to and acknowledge the strengths of previous findings; legitimise his or her own assumptions; provide a theoretical basis for analysing the finding in the current research, and most importantly, to choose a researchable topic (Chilisa & Preece 2005, p. 60). Critical review A critical review is defined as a critical assessment of the literature according to argument, judgement, and/or ontological or epistemological traditions of the subject that is being reviewed (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe & Jackson 2012). Critically reviewing rather than merely summarising articles, by critically evaluating the strengths and weaknesses, is a critical component of a literature review (Evans 2007, p. 70). In the field of management or business, a critical review of literature will demonstrate that the researcher has thought critically about what he or she has read. For example, a person may want to find out the negative consequences of management information systems after reading about the positive impacts of the same. In this regard, the information obtained through critical review will help the researcher to identify some of the organisations that have adopted management information systems and thus know exactly where to focus. Still applying the negative consequences of management information systems as an example, the researcher will ask himself of herself what has been done on the topic in the past. If there is some information about the area, then it will be worthwhile to determine the weaknesses of the previous studies, whether the authors missed any important aspects, and whether they used the right methodology. By answering these questions, the researcher will be able to determine how he or she can modify the research design or scope so as to obtain more precise results. As Wallace and Wray (2011, p.150) note, the critical review component of a literature review enables a researcher to develop a strong argument that maximises his or her changes of convincing the critical readers who are the assessors of the work. By comparing similar or opposing views on say, a management concept, a researcher gets to understand the various viewpoints of the concept. Supportive search Since a research project can take several years, new research will emerge during the project. In such a case, a literature review is not something that will be done once and completed. Rather, it is a continuous process throughout the research project. The supportive search component of the literature review is important because through it, the researcher can consult and review additional literature after the fieldwork, if a new aspect emerges from the data. Since new research constantly develops, it is necessary to consult new literature that has emerged, which was not in the researcher’s initial review. For instance, if a researcher has initially planned to physically visit an organisation and administer questionnaires about its organisational culture but later discovers that he or she can email the questionnaires as a new method of doing research, then the literature review and the methodology will have to be reviewed. This should be done until the very end of the research, to make sure that no important study has emerged and is omitted (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe & Jackson 2012). Systematic review Before a researcher begins objectively to examine the topic under study, it is important to think about how the review will develop and benefit his or her studies and understanding. The review may unintentionally lead to the researcher being too objective at the expense of using his or her creativity; for example, combining various aspects, concepts or methodology. Nonetheless, there may be other motives for using such an approach. For instance, the researcher may apply this approach for personal development, where he or she has little or no familiarity in the area of study, or because the systematic and comprehensive aspect within the point of reference of the literature is part of the aim of the review. Ideally, a systematic review involves defining protocols and mapping the field of study by accessing, retrieving and judging the quality and appropriateness of studies in the area of research, and reporting the findings to identify where gaps in the current research exist so as to make indicate where the current research might make a useful contribution (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe & Jackson 2012). Conclusion section Conclusion is a critical component of a literature review because it draws the review to a close. It is a summary of the review and draws the main points and arguments made while offering an overview of current knowledge on a given subject (Mooney 2011, p. 69). In the conclusion, any gaps in the literature may be re-emphasised and these gaps may encompass a lack of investigation into a topic using differing research approaches. For instance, a literature review on workplace training in developing countries in Asia may conclude that the topic is not well understood because of inadequate studies on organisational culture in these countries. A summary is also necessary as a guide for the researcher to avoid drifting from the intended research topic (Biggam 2011, p. 98). Referencing The researcher should provide the references used in the literature review. This is because the reader of the work needs to identify the sources of the various ideas and whose work has been used (Mooney 2011, p. 69). Failure to do this amounts to plagiarism, which is a serious academic offence. Conclusion In conclusion, the critical components of a literature review include an overview of the research topic, a critical review, supportive search, a systematic review, conclusion and referencing. These components are important for identifying the topic and highlighting what has been done in the area of study. For business or management studies, these components are important as they include the methodology to be used, sampling and even the emerging issues. The conclusion highlights the main arguments and thus supports the need for the current research. Finally, referencing is important as it enables readers to know the external sources of the ideas in the review. References Biggam, J 2011, Succeeding with your master's dissertation: A step-by-step handbook, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill International, London. Chilisa, B & Preece J 2005, Research methods for adult educators in Africa, Pearson South Africa, Johannesburg. Deakin University Australia, n.d. The literature review, viewed 03 October 2012 Duke University, n.d., Literature Review, viewed 03 October 2012 Easterby-Smith, M, Thorpe, R & Jackson, P 2012, Management research, Sage, London. Evans, J 2007, Your psychology project: The essential guide, Sage, London. Language Centre, Asian Institute of Technology 2005, How to write a literature review, viewed 03 October 2012 http://web.pdx.edu/~bertini/pdf/literature_review.pdf Mooney, G P 2011, Conducting a critical literature review in paramedic practice, in P Griffiths & G Mooney, The paramedic’s guide to research: An introduction, McGraw-Hill International, London, pp. 57-72. Wallace, M & Wray, A 2011, Critical reading and writing for postgraduates, 2nd edn, Sage, London. Read More