Writing the background Writing the background chapters of your thesischapters of your thesis

Brian PaltridgeBrian Paltridge

The University of SydneyThe University of Sydney

Writing the literature reviewWriting the literature review

It should describe and It should describe and synthesise the major studies synthesise the major studies related to the topic of your related to the topic of your researchresearch

It should demonstrate the It should demonstrate the relationship between your relationship between your research and what else has research and what else has been done in the particular areabeen done in the particular area

It needs to be an extensive It needs to be an extensive review of previous research, review of previous research, right up to the date of right up to the date of

examination.examination.

Areas to cover in a research Areas to cover in a research thesis or dissertationthesis or dissertation

background theorybackground theory

focal theoryfocal theory

data theorydata theory

contributioncontribution

Different degrees and the nature Different degrees and the nature of the literature reviewof the literature review (Hart, 1998: 15)(Hart, 1998: 15)

BBA, BSc, BEd A, BSc, BEd

MA, MSc, MPhil MA, MSc, MPhil

PhD, DPhil, DLitt PhD, DPhil, DLitt

Professional doctoratesProfessional doctorates

What needs to be included in a What needs to be included in a review of the literature:review of the literature:

the key issues which underlie the the key issues which underlie the research projectresearch project

the major findings on the research the major findings on the research topic, by whom and whentopic, by whom and when

the main points of view and the main points of view and controversies that surround the controversies that surround the issue being investigatedissue being investigated

these views, indicating strengths these views, indicating strengths and weaknesses of previous and weaknesses of previous studies on the topicstudies on the topic

general conclusions about the general conclusions about the state of the art at the time of state of the art at the time of writing, including what research writing, including what research still needs to be done; that is, the still needs to be done; that is, the gap that remains in the research gap that remains in the research that the study will aim to fill.that the study will aim to fill.

The literature review may be The literature review may be arranged: arranged:

according to the various according to the various questions to be askedquestions to be asked

according to the various topics according to the various topics and sub-topics which are and sub-topics which are central to our studycentral to our study

according to the specific according to the specific variables in the studyvariables in the study

chronologically from oldest to chronologically from oldest to more recent researchmore recent research

according to different points according to different points of viewof view

or a combination of theseor a combination of these..

Reviewing the literature: an Reviewing the literature: an

exampleexample

Strategies for reading for a Strategies for reading for a

literature reviewliterature review

Locate relevant literatureLocate relevant literature

Critically read the literatureCritically read the literature

Prepare to writePrepare to write

Indicate the gapIndicate the gap

High Quality High Quality doctoral literature doctoral literature

reviewsreviews CoverageCoverage SynthesisSynthesis MethodologyMethodologySignificanceSignificanceRhetoricRhetoric

““A literature review that A literature review that meets high standards on meets high standards on these criteria indicates these criteria indicates that the doctoral that the doctoral candidate has a thorough, candidate has a thorough, sophisticated sophisticated understanding of a field of understanding of a field of study - a precondition for study - a precondition for substantial, useful substantial, useful research” (Boote and research” (Boote and Beile, 2005: 9).Beile, 2005: 9).

Reading, summarizing and Reading, summarizing and critiquing previous studiescritiquing previous studies

Summarizing a previous studySummarizing a previous study

What are the major research What are the major research questions or hypotheses in questions or hypotheses in the study?the study?

What were the main findings What were the main findings of the study?of the study?

Why was it important to Why was it important to carry out the research?carry out the research?

What is the relationship What is the relationship between this study and the between this study and the your own project?your own project?

What other research studies What other research studies were conducted in the same were conducted in the same area?area?

What is the relationship What is the relationship between these studies and between these studies and your own projectyour own project

Summarizing research methodsSummarizing research methods

What research design was What research design was used in the study? What used in the study? What were the main variables in were the main variables in the study?the study?

What data was collected for What data was collected for the study?the study?

Describe the population, Describe the population, sample, and selection sample, and selection procedures for the sampleprocedures for the sample

Describe the data collection Describe the data collection procedures used in the procedures used in the studystudy

How were the data How were the data collection procedures collection procedures developed?developed?

Were issues of reliability Were issues of reliability and validity considered?and validity considered?

Analysis of the dataAnalysis of the data

How was the data analysed How was the data analysed in the study?in the study?

Were the analytic Were the analytic procedures quantitative, procedures quantitative, qualitative or both?qualitative or both?

Would you be able to re-Would you be able to re-analyse the data on the analyse the data on the basis of the information basis of the information provided about the analytic provided about the analytic procedures?procedures?

Analysing findings Analysing findings

What were the main findings of What were the main findings of the study?the study?

How do the findings relate to How do the findings relate to previous research on the topic?previous research on the topic?

What conclusions does the What conclusions does the researcher reach on the basis of researcher reach on the basis of their findings?their findings?

What are the implications of the What are the implications of the findings?findings?

What recommendations does the What recommendations does the researcher make based on the researcher make based on the findings?findings?

What recommendations does the What recommendations does the researcher draw from the results researcher draw from the results of their study?of their study?

Critiquing previous researchCritiquing previous research

Is the research problem Is the research problem clearly stated?clearly stated?

Are the variables clearly Are the variables clearly described and defined?described and defined?

Is the design of the study Is the design of the study appropriate for the particular appropriate for the particular research question?research question?

Are the research the Are the research the instruments appropriate for instruments appropriate for the particular study?the particular study?

Are the data analysis Are the data analysis procedures appropriate for procedures appropriate for the particular study?the particular study?

Was the author consistent in Was the author consistent in the way they analysed their the way they analysed their results?results?

Are the conclusions, Are the conclusions, implications, and implications, and recommendations warranted recommendations warranted by the results?by the results?

Reporting on previous researchReporting on previous research

CCentral reportingentral reporting: : a particular a particular finding or argument and placed finding or argument and placed in subject position in the in subject position in the sentence ()sentence ()

NNon-central reportingon-central reporting: : an an author is reported as being author is reported as being responsible for a particular responsible for a particular finding or argument but with finding or argument but with their name being given less their name being given less focus by being placed in focus by being placed in brackets at the end of the brackets at the end of the relevant statemenrelevant statementt

NNon-reportingon-reporting: : the results of a the results of a piece of research are presented piece of research are presented with less focus being given to with less focus being given to the author or the actual study the author or the actual study and no 'reporting verbs' such as and no 'reporting verbs' such as 'claim' or 'shown' are used'claim' or 'shown' are used

Central reportingCentral reporting

Burke (1986) discovered that Burke (1986) discovered that many students would like to many students would like to become integrated into become integrated into Australian society.Australian society.

Non-central reportingNon-central reporting

It has been shown that It has been shown that students have often performed students have often performed successfully in their own successfully in their own education system before they education system before they seek entry to the particular seek entry to the particular university (Ballard, 1991)university (Ballard, 1991)

Non-reportingNon-reporting

Instead of motivation Instead of motivation producing achievement, it may producing achievement, it may be that achievement produces be that achievement produces motivation (Spolsky 1989)motivation (Spolsky 1989)

Typical tenses used in the literature Typical tenses used in the literature

reviewreview Present simple: Brown shows..Present simple: Brown shows..

A generalisation is being madeA generalisation is being madeA reference is being made to the A reference is being made to the state of current knowledgestate of current knowledgePrevious findings are being Previous findings are being presented/are accepted as factspresented/are accepted as facts

Simple past: Brown showed…Simple past: Brown showed…

A reference is being made to a A reference is being made to a single study single study A specific piece of research and A specific piece of research and its findings are being referred toits findings are being referred to

Present perfect: Brown has shown..Present perfect: Brown has shown..

A general area of investigation or A general area of investigation or inquiry is being referred toinquiry is being referred toA general statement is made A general statement is made about previous researchabout previous research

Adopting a stance towards Adopting a stance towards

sprevious researchsprevious research

HedgesHedges

BoostersBoosters

Attitude markersAttitude markers

Engagement markersEngagement markers

Self-mentionsSelf-mentions

Paraphrasing and summary Paraphrasing and summary

writingwriting A good paraphraseA good paraphrase “is “is significantly different from significantly different from the wording of the original, the wording of the original, without altering the without altering the meaning at all”meaning at all” (Bailey, (Bailey, 2003: 21)2003: 21)

Useful resourcesUseful resources

WebsitesWebsites

BooksBooks

ConclConclusionusion

The background chapters are:The background chapters are:

where you show what you where you show what you knowknow

where you show what you where you show what you think about what they have think about what they have read read

where you show the where you show the relationship between what relationship between what you are going to do and you are going to do and what has already been done what has already been done on your topicon your topic

where you show the gap in where you show the gap in previous research that your previous research that your study will fillstudy will fill