Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  

Writing a Review Paper �

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Research may be done alone – but it is never done in isolation. The production of new knowledge is fundamentally dependent on past knowledge.

‘I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.’

- Woodrow Wilson

• Research paper in peer-reviewed journals (preferably with high impact factor)

• Short communication

• Review articles (usually highly cited)

3  Abd  Karim  Alias@2009  

Which type of publication?

• Conference proceedings (often not refereed, fewer citations)

• Popular articles (to promote your activity)

• Letter to editor

4  Abd  Karim  Alias@2009  

Which type of publication?

5  Abd  Karim  Alias@2013  

Impact Factors for different types of article

What is a review paper?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

A review paper is…

‘a succint review of a specific topic that provide sufficient and in-depth interpretation and synthesis of published work’

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Meta-Analysis

…is a method of combining results of several studies into a summary conclusion, using quantitative strategies…intended to answer a focused question.

‘A research study about research studies…

•  It provides extensive review of previously published literature and to put them into perspective

•  It offers critical evaluation of the published literature

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Why is review paper very popular?

•  It creates an understanding of the topic

•  Identify gap in knowledge

•  It provides a new approach/perspective that would stimulate further research

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Why is review paper very popular?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Generate your OWN IDEA!

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Review paper is more than annotated bibliographies! You are not trying to list

all the material published, but to synthesize and evaluate it so as to provide

a new approach or stimulate further research

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

‘…a collection of all the scholarly writings on a topic.’

What is literature?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Study 1

Study 2 Study 10

Study X

ORIGINAL WORK

ORIGINAL WORK Your own idea will connect to the

developing knowledge network in the field

What is literature review?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

‘…a systematic…method for identifying, evaluating and interpreting the…work produced by researchers, scholars and practitioners.’

What is literature review?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

What is literature review?

Literature is about telling a story…kind of a chain story

where each writer starts with a partial story created previously by others and expand on it…the existing literature is the story so

far…

Abd  Karim  Alias@2013  [akarim@usm.my]  

Before deciding to write a review paper, ask the following questions:

Do I know my stuff

sufficiently?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2013  [akarim@usm.my]  

Before deciding to write a review paper, ask the following questions:

Which journal to

publish by review?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2013  [akarim@usm.my]  

Before deciding to write a review paper, ask the following questions:

Would it be

considered at all?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

•  Do a thorough literature search

•  Consult the Journal Editor

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Write a convincing cover letter & explain…

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Consulting with the Journal Editor

•  Rationale why you want to write about the topic;

•  Explain how you would handle the subject matter;

•  Explain why you are qualified to write on the proposed topic;

•  Estimated length (incl. no of figures & tables);

•  Estimated date of completion.

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Approach to doing a literature review

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

READ PUBLISHED WORK SYNTHESIS

Study a wide range of print- and web-based materials.

Creation of an “integrated whole” – Coherent argument of the topic that you are reviewing.

INTERPRETATION

Explain the significance & interpret the evidence presented in each piece of literature – not simply listing what others have written.

How to review the literature?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

The key is…be selective in what you read – or else you’ll get drown in too much information!

It is impossible to read all the research ever published in your area…

Approach to doing a literature review

26  

Filtering & sorting the essentials from the irrelevant…

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

See the wood for the trees…

Image  source:  hAp://  sciencebhakta.wordpress.com  

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

The range of literature to explore

•  Background material which is of broadly relevance to your topic

•  Literature and research studies which address issues that are closely related to your topic

•  Literature which is directly related to your topic

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Searching & reading strategy (example)

Industrial application of

gelatin

Halal gelatin alternatives in

industry

Halal gelatin in food industry

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Searching & reading strategy

Field specific papers

Quantity of relevant publications

Less specific, less recent

More specific, more recent

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Components of lit. review…

§ Background information •  Introduce topic •  Describe scope &

organization •  Review past & present

literature •  Clarify purpose

Hmm…where do I look for resources for my literature review?

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Academic libraries Public libraries National libraries Museums Archives Special collections Commercial organizations Commercial databases (SCOPUS, Web of knowledge, Springerlink)

Literature sources

Sources & organizations providing publications

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Library catalogues Subject indexes Subject abstracts Bibliographies Encyclopedia Internet directories Internet search engines

Tools for searching published works & data

Literature sources

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Sources where research & information is published

Textbooks Articles Theses Government publications Legal & professional publications Trade literature Conference papers Monographs Statistics

Literature sources

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Organizing information

Summarize, tabulate Use bibliographic software (Endnote)

Managing the literature

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Analyzing information

Note taking Summarizing the key findings Extracting critical facts/arguments Examine evidence Understand interpretation

Analyzing & “digesting’ the literature

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Reading critically & analytically

Definitions

Problem

Theory

Hypothesis

Techniques

Interpretations

Concepts

Arguments

Standpoint

Evidence

Perspective

Styles

Justification

Ways of thinking

Events

Motives

Politics

Conclusions

Things to extract from each piece of reading material

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Skills for “digesting” the literature

Select, differentiate, break up

Integrate, combine, formulate, reorganize

Understand, distinguish, explain

Define, classify, describe

Dissecting data into their constituent part.

Rearranging the elements derived from analysis to identify relationship.

Interpreting & distinguishing between different types of data , theory & argument to describe the substance of an idea Describing the principles, uses, & function of rules, method, etc.

ANALYSIS

SYNTHESIS

COMPREHENSION

KNOWLEDGE

Adapted from Hart, 1998

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Components of lit. review…

§ Theory •  All research has a precedent •  Integrate key points & make

appropriate inferences •  Be aware of relationship to

your topic

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Components of lit. review…

§ Critical appraisal/synthesis •  Not jus a list of the work of

others •  Identify issues highlighted •  Highlight differences &

similarities •  Identify consensus

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

§ A citing of all key studies in the subject area

§ A selection & synthesis of existing arguments to form a new perspective

Any critical review should incorporate…

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Any critical review should incorporate…

§ An assessment of the strengths & weaknesses of some of the theories

§ A clear understanding of the topic

Abd  Karim  Alias@2010  [akarim@usm.my]  

Length of review

§ Comprehensive review (up to 12,000 words)

§ Concise review (approx. 5,000 words)