seven steps to a comprehensive literature review

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Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review A Multimodal and Cultural Approach

Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie
Rebecca Frels - Lamar University, USA
Description

What makes this book unique:

Focuses on multimodal texts and settings such as observations, documents, social media, experts in the field and secondary data so that your review covers the full research environment
Puts mixed methods at the centre of the process
Shows you how to synthesize information thematically, rather than merely summarize the existing literature and findings
Brings culture into the process to help you address bias and understand the role of knowledge interpretation, guiding you through
Teaches the CORE of the literature review – Critical thinking, Organization, Reflections and Evaluation – and provides a guide for reflexivity at the end of each of the seven steps
Visualizes the steps with roadmaps so you can track progress and self-evaluate as you learn the steps

This book is the essential best practices guide for students and researchers, providing the understanding and tools to approach both the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of a rigorous, comprehensive, literature review.

This is by far the most comprehensive text on how to do comprehensive literature reviews! Onwuegbuzie and Frels skilfully demonstrate that review has a methodology of its own. Both novice and experienced scholars will benefit from detailed examples and step-by-step demonstrations of ways to maximize the effectiveness of literature reviews to build new theories and develop better explanations of behaviours and outcomes.

This is the most comprehensive and user-friendly book I’ve seen on how to conduct a literature review. The authors take the distinction of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research seriously, showing how each adds something important and how being open-minded results in the use of literature based on all three approaches. Overall, the book provides a process theory of literature review, that is done before, during, and after each research study. It is a must read for both PhD students and research faculty.

With noteworthy scope of content, this book is a must-have resource for beginning and experienced researchers alike. In addition to its effective pedagogical features such as visuals and end of chapter questions, this resource enables researchers to make informed decisions about the purposes of and procedures for undertaking a literature review. In so doing, the authors innovate and advance our understandings of the processes and products involved in a comprehensive literature review and provide practical guidance for each of the steps. I have been seeking such a book and plan to make this required reading for the graduate students I instruct, mentor, and supervise.

Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review is a comprehensive text book written to instruct master’s-level students, doctoral-level students, and new and experienced researchers in the process of writing a comprehensive literature review... Hopefully, this book will become an important text used by instructors as they guide college students into the writing of the literature review.

Sadly this book never arrived despite me being very interested to adopt for my MSc students dissertation stage.

The literature review is one of the toughest parts of any proposal (or postgraduate piece of work) for students to complete successfully because it asks the student to engage with the theory they will be using from the perspective of ideas alone. IT also asks the student to investigate other academics' work in a manner that they haven't really experienced before. All these "firsts" make the literature review a very confusing and oftentimes daunting process. Fortunately, "Seven Steps" provides the specific guidance that so many students need to navigate this difficult process. The systematic way in which the book approaches a topic that can be said to change with each application (e.g. How do you go about it? What to include? What to leave out? and most importantly, Why?) is indispensable for anyone teaching students new to postgraduate work, or for researchers looking for an alternative approach to a process they are otherwise well-acquainted with.

Very accessible book for students who wish to increase their capabilites in working at the front end of their papers.

Comprehensive, well structured book, which will be very useful to students planning a literature review.

this book is more relevant for the MSc students. it will be a good supplement for the student who wants to go a little further

it was actually a little more complex than I was hoping for. the text is dense and it is big book. for my BSc students it is jut a little too much

Preview this book

Sample materials & chapters.

Chapter 1: Foundations of the Literature Review

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Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review: A Multimodal and Cultural Approach

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Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review: A Multimodal and Cultural Approach First Edition

Purchase options and add-ons.

What makes this book unique:

Focuses on multimodal texts and settings such as observations, documents, social media, experts in the field and secondary data so that your review covers the full research environment
Puts mixed methods at the centre of the process
Shows you how to synthesize information thematically, rather than merely summarize the existing literature and findings
Brings culture into the process to help you address bias and understand the role of knowledge interpretation, guiding you through
Teaches the CORE of the literature review – Critical thinking, Organization, Reflections and Evaluation – and provides a guide for reflexivity at the end of each of the seven steps
Visualizes the steps with roadmaps so you can track progress and self-evaluate as you learn the steps

ISBN-10 1446248925
ISBN-13 978-1446248928
Edition First Edition
Publisher SAGE Publications Ltd
Publication date March 10, 2016
Language English
Dimensions 7.32 x 1 x 9.13 inches
Print length 440 pages
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ SAGE Publications Ltd; First Edition (March 10, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 440 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1446248925
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1446248928
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.7 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.32 x 1 x 9.13 inches
#908 in Education Research (Books)
#1,030 in Study & Test-Taking Skills (Books)
#1,161 in Social Sciences Research

About the author

Anthony j. onwuegbuzie.

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Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review

Literature Reviews

Steps in the literature review process.

What is a literature review?
Define your research question
Determine inclusion and exclusion criteria
Choose databases and search
Review Results
Synthesize Results
Analyze Results
Librarian Support
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
You may need to some exploratory searching of the literature to get a sense of scope, to determine whether you need to narrow or broaden your focus
Identify databases that provide the most relevant sources, and identify relevant terms (controlled vocabularies) to add to your search strategy
Finalize your research question
Think about relevant dates, geographies (and languages), methods, and conflicting points of view
Conduct searches in the published literature via the identified databases
Check to see if this topic has been covered in other discipline's databases
Examine the citations of on-point articles for keywords, authors, and previous research (via references) and cited reference searching.
Save your search results in a citation management tool (such as Zotero, Mendeley or EndNote)
De-duplicate your search results
Make sure that you've found the seminal pieces -- they have been cited many times, and their work is considered foundational
Check with your professor or a librarian to make sure your search has been comprehensive
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of individual sources and evaluate for bias, methodologies, and thoroughness
Group your results in to an organizational structure that will support why your research needs to be done, or that provides the answer to your research question
Develop your conclusions
Are there gaps in the literature?
Where has significant research taken place, and who has done it?
Is there consensus or debate on this topic?
Which methodological approaches work best?
For example: Background, Current Practices, Critics and Proponents, Where/How this study will fit in
Organize your citations and focus on your research question and pertinent studies
Compile your bibliography

Note: The first four steps are the best points at which to contact a librarian. Your librarian can help you determine the best databases to use for your topic, assess scope, and formulate a search strategy.

Videos Tutorials about Literature Reviews

This 4.5 minute video from Academic Education Materials has a Creative Commons License and a British narrator.

How to make a review of literature?

How to Make a Review of Literature: A Step-by-Step Guide

As a researcher, reviewing the existing literature is a crucial step in understanding a research topic, identifying gaps, and developing a research question. A literature review is a critical component of many research projects, and it requires careful planning and execution. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making a literature review, highlighting the essential steps, and providing tips for effective writing.

What is a Literature Review?

A literature review is a critical analysis and synthesis of the existing research on a specific topic or issue. It involves a detailed examination of the relevant literature, identifying key findings, and drawing conclusions based on the analysis. The purpose of a literature review is to:

Provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on a specific topic
Identify gaps and limitations in existing research
Develop a research question or hypothesis
Frame a research proposal or grant application
Inform the design and methods of a research study

How to Make a Literature Review: A Step-by-Step Guide

To make a comprehensive literature review, follow these steps:

Table of Contents

Step 1: Define the Research Question or Topic

Identify the research question or topic you want to explore
Clearly define the scope and boundaries of your review
Determine the population, setting, and time frame for your review

Step 2: Conduct a Systematic Search for Relevant Studies

Identify relevant databases, journals, and conference proceedings
Develop a search strategy using keywords, MeSH terms, and author names
Conduct a comprehensive search using multiple databases and sources
Record the search strategy and results for transparency and reproducibility

Step 3: Screen and Select Relevant Studies

Apply inclusion and exclusion criteria to study selection
Evaluate the quality and relevance of each study
Consider factors such as study design, sample size, and data quality
Select studies that meet the inclusion criteria and are relevant to your research question

Step 4: Organize and Categorize the Studies

Categorize studies based on their methodologies, results, or themes
Use a system for annotating and coding the studies (e.g., Excel or EndNote)
This step helps to identify patterns, themes, and relationships between studies

Step 5: Analyze and Synthesize the Findings

Evaluate the strengths and limitations of each study
Identify gaps and inconsistencies in the literature
Draw conclusions based on the analysis, highlighting key findings and takeaways
Consider also the research gaps and future research directions

Tips for Writing a Literature Review

Use Clear and Concise Language : Avoid using jargon and technical terms that may be unfamiliar to non-experts.
Use Tables and Figures : Use tables and figures to present complex data and illustrate key findings.
Use Headings and Subheadings : Use headings and subheadings to structure the review and make it easier to follow.
Use In-text Citations : Cite sources in the text and provide a reference list at the end of the review.
Address Criticisms and Limitations : Address potential criticisms and limitations in the review and discuss the implications for future research.

In Conclusion

A well-conducted literature review is a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the existing research on a specific topic. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can make a high-quality literature review that provides a solid foundation for your research study. Remember to use clear language, organize your findings, and identify gaps and limitations in the literature. By doing so, you will be well-equipped to develop a research question, design a research study, and make a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge.

[Insert references cited in the article]

Table 1: Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria for Study Selection

Table 2: Study Characteristics

Table 3: Key Findings

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