it3010 lecture 3 reviewing the literature
DESCRIPTION
Examples of methods for doing your literature review.TRANSCRIPT
IT3010 / TDT39Research Methodology
Week 3: Reviewing the literature
Name, title of the presentation
Figure 3.1 in: B. J. Oates, Researching Information Systems and Computing. London: Sage Publications, 2006.
The research process
What is a literature review?
• Definition: A literature review is an assessment of a body of research that addresses a research question. (ref: Harvard graduate school).
• Two ways to generate knowledge through research:– Create your own new knowledge through Primary Studies.– Synthesize and analyse existing knowledge in a new conceptual
framework through Secondary Studies.
• A literature review can constitute:– A part of a primary study.– A secondary study.
Objectives of a literature review
• Show that the researcher is aware of existing work in the chosen topic area. • Place the researcher’s work in the context of what has already been published. • Point to strengths, weaknesses, omissions or bias in the previous work. • Identify key issues or crucial questions that are troubling the research community. • Point to gaps that have not previously been identified or addressed by
researchers. • Identify theories that the researcher will test or explore by gathering data from the
field. • Suggest theories that might explain data the researcher has gathered from the
field. • Identify theories, genres, methods or algorithms that will be incorporated in the
development of a computer application. • Identify research methods or strategies that the researcher will use in the
research. • Enable subsequent researchers to understand the field and the researcher’s work
within that field.
Sources of literature
• Main source: Refereed research papers:– From journals (if peer-reviewed)– From conferences and workshops (if peer-reviewed)
• Books: Are good for understanding the problem and building a conceptual framework and theories.
• Manuals: Are good for understanding e.g. a system, but not as a source of a review.
• Reports: Sometimes good research quality but not peer-reviewed.
• Newspapers, magazines, radio, television: Can be good quality "expert opinion" but not peer-reviewed.
Writing a literature review
• Two approaches:– Ad hoc: Searching (e.g. Google scholar) and reading some papers
on the topic. Can result in "cherry picking".– Systematic: Following a systematic process that is aimed at
producing a scientifically high-quality literature review text. Will reduce bias.
• Which one to choose?– Discuss it with your supervisor.– Systematic approach can take time.– In most cases: Find a balance.– Remember: Good literature reviews are by themselves highly
valuable and sorely needed research results in ICT!
Phases of a systematic review
• Searching: The right keywords and search engines.• Obtaining: PDFs or paper copies.• Assessing: Is this peer-reviewed research?• Reading: What is it about? Coding…• Critically evaluating• Recording: EndNote, Mendeley, Zotero….• Writing a critical review: Finally, use your brain!
• Avoiding Plagiarism
Research field
Two review methods
Systematic mapping (scoping) study
Syste
ma
tic lite
rature
re
view
Use this if you know
little about the field of
research
Use this if you know
exactly what you want
Comparison of the methods
SMS• What are the most popular areas in
this field?
• What journals and conferences are
relevant?
• Which groups work in the area?
• What type of research is being
done? Which methods are used?
• How do trends change with time?
SLR• What research is done to answer
this specific research question?
• What are the main primary studies?
• What is the quality of the research
in each study? What methods are
used?
• What are the main findings? What
are the research gaps?
Requires reading the abstracts Requires reading the papers
Example: How do we do SMS?
Case: Movement impairment among elderly and the role of ICT
ICT
Definition of research question
Risk threshold First serious fall
Falls injury prevention
Rehabilitation
Falls detection and management
Falls risk assessment and falls prediction
Prevention of decline in physical function
Goal: Move interventions towards the left side of the picture
What is the research phenomenon?
ICT
Conducting search
ICT
Screening of papers
Inclusion criteria Research is published in English. The paper documents research of form primary or secondary
studies. Research is addressing different aspects of movement impairment
among senior citizens. Research is addressing requirements, design or implementation,
or evaluation of some form of ICT that aims to serve assistive or health-promoting purposes.
Exclusion criteria Research is addressing movement impairment in general and
without the application of modern technologies. Not a research paper (e.g. commentary, editorial, workshop
summary, expert opinion).
ICT
Keywording using abstracts (coding)
ICT
Data extraction and mapping
What new knowledge have we produced?
Next week
• Design and creation.• Feedback assignment 1.• Introduction assignment 2.• Group 3 presents paper 3.