Education Research 502
Library Research Tips from T. Hines (hinestm@longwood.edu)
Formal academic research projects typically include a literature review. The literature review pulls together other studies related to the paper’s research question. Sources included in a literature review do not need to be an exact match for the paper’s research question, but they should relate to it in a significant way. Emphasis on related studies is especially important for research that breaks new ground (see the video “Finding a Gap in the Research”).
A well researched literature review accomplishes the following:
A strong literature review includes two important elements:
To help build a meaningful structure, some specialists in teaching academic writing recommend constructing a matrix like the one below:
Literature Review on Parent-Teacher Relationships for Students with ADHD
|
History of Phenomenon/Underlying Causes |
Impact on Students’ Academic Achievement |
Strategies for Teachers/Administrators |
Source #1 |
|
|
|
Source #2 |
|
|
|
Source #3 |
|
|
|
Source #4 |
|
|
|
Subcategories will vary according to the material you are organizing. Popular categories for literature reviews include: