Definition of LR
A literature review is an assessment of a body (or bodies) of literature that pertains to a specific question.
Types of resources
Primary sources and secondary sources
Why do you conduct LR?
- Shows how your investigation relates to previous research.
- Reveals the contribution that your investigation makes to this field (fills a gap, or builds on existing research, for instance).
- Provides a basis to explain/analyse your qualitative findings later.
Where to use LR?
- Beginning of the study (Justifies or documents the need for the study)
- End of the study (Supports or modifies
existing findings in the
literature)
Steps in conducting LR
- Identify key term
- Locate
- Evaluate and select (is it a good and accurate source? Is it relevant?)
- Organize (download the file, taking notes, construct a literature map)
- Write (extent the review, types of LR, conclude the LR)
Types of research framework
conceptual framework and theoretical framework
Definition of conceptual framework
A conceptual framework is a system of concepts, assumptions, expectations, beliefs, and theories that supports and informs research
Uses of conceptual framework
Used to justify the relationships between several interrelated concepts used to investigate the research questions
Steps to develop a conceptual framework
- You need to have a set of concepts to work with – these come from existing theory.
- Ask yourself how these concepts are related. The key pieces of a conceptual framework aren’t the circles, but the
arrows as they proposed relationships between the
concepts or events. - Write a narrative of what this conceptual framework says about the phenomena you are studying – try to capture in words the concepts that are embodied in the diagram.
Definition of theoretical framework
A theoretical framework deals with interrelated theories and provides a basis for the analysis and interpretation of the data
