Locating and Reviewing the Literature

How a review of related literature helps research•It helps researchers have an area of

similar and related studies•It helps them weigh information from a

literature review in the light of their own concerns and situation

•This is required in for master’s and doctorate students when they design a thesis or a dissertation

Value of a Literature Review

•A literature review helps researchers learn what others have written about a topic.

• It lets researchers see the results of other related studies.

•A detailed literature review is often required in a masters or doctoral students when they design a thesis or dissertation.

Type of sources• General References – these are sources that tell

the researchers where to look. Most general references are indexes, which contain the name of the author, title and place of publication. They also contain abstracts which are summaries of publications

• Primary sources – these are publications which directly report on their findings. These include journals which are published periodically.

• Secondary sources – these are publications in which authors describe the work of others these are ustually textbooks

Steps involved in literature research

•Define the research problem as precisely as possible.

•Go to general questions i.e. What sort of teaching methods go well in the classroom?

•How can a principal become a more effective leader? - Vague

•Be specific: “Is discussion more effective than using films to motivate students?

•What strategies should be used so principals can be judged to be effective?

Look through one or two secondary sources•This is needed so researchers can gtet an

idea on how to revise or improve their research question

•Consult Review of Educational Research; Review of Research in education

Select appropriate general references

•This helps the researcher to have a clear idea on what area to investigate

•In education: consult the Education index; current index to journals in education; Resources in Education; psychological abstracts; social science citation index

Formulate Research terms

•These are key words and phrases pertinent to the problem or question of interest

•These words or phrases are called descriptors

•Possible technical terms are team teaching, joint teaching, cooperative teaching

•In history consider terms such as reduction, neocolonialism, neo imperialism, animism, counter culture, etc.

Search the general references for primary sources•The indexes in the references may lead

information for primary sources such as diaries, reports, laws, statistics, etc.

Obtain primary sources

•Professional journals – these contain reports of research on a wide range of educational topics. In Education, try the Educational Research Journal, Educational Administration Quarterly, etc.

•Reports – made by local school districts and professional associations

Steps in reading primary sources

•Read primary the abstract or the summary first

•Record the bibliographic data on top of the note card

•Take notes on the article or photocopy the abstract or summary

Computer search

•This makes the searches of the literature fairly inexpensive, provides printouts and enable researchers to search more than one descriptor at one time.

•The steps in a traditional manual are similar to those in a computer search

•Some of the information in the Web are classified into indexes

•To obtain specific information search engines should be used

Sampling • Sampling as used in research refers to the process of

selecting the individuals who will participate (questioned or observed) in a specific study

• A sample is any part of a population of individuals from whom information is obtained.

• Population refers to all members of a particular group.• A target population is the actual population the

researcher would like to generalize. • The accessible population is the population to whom

the researcher is entitled to generalize.• A representative sample is a sample similar to the

population on all characteristics.

Random vs. Non-random sampling

•Sampling maybe random or non-random. •Random sampling inluces simple random

sampling, stratifified random sampling, cluster random samploing and two-stage random sampling

•Non-random sampling includes systematic sampling, convenience sampling and purposive sampling.

Non-random sampling

•This is a systematic sampling obtained by every nth name in a population

•A convenience sample is any group or individuals that is conveniently studied.

•A purposive sample consists of individuals who have special qualifications that are deemed representative on the basis of prior evidence.

Sample size

should be obtained with the proper time, effort and energy.

External validity is used in a research Extent of the study that can be generalized

in the intended population.