Reviewing the literature

András István Kun

An 8 step model of research processes

0. Identify broad area of research• discipline, school

1. Formulating the research problem (specification)2. Conceptualising

• valid, workable, managable

3. Constructing an instrument for data collection4. Selecting a sample (sampling)5. Writing a research proposal

• ‘Final’ research questions

6. Collecting data7. Processing data8. Writing a report

Cyclic (‘never-ending’) process of research

Inductive

Deductive

Dataanalysis

Empirical data

Conceptstheory

Researchquestion

Where is the place of literature reviewing?

Functions of reviewing literature

• Knowledge basis• Theoretical background• Help to find a research problem:

– What is known and what is unknown– How can you contribute to the existing knowledge

body of your profession– Finding the appropriate hyptheses (abduction)

• Help to find out what methodology to use– Formal hypotheses, research techniqe, sampling…

• Enables you to contextualize your findings

Paradox of literature review

• You read to know, but

• You have to know what to read (and you have to have some knowledge to understand)

• Solution: iterative process of research reviewing

Improving methodology

• What are the accepted methodologies

• Methodological problems and solutions

Knowledge basis

• To some extent it is needed to show the context of your research and your findings

• Obligatory chapter of Master and PhD theses

5 steps of reviewing literature

1. Search for existing literature in your of study;

2. Review the literature selected;

3. Develop a theoretical framework;

4. Develop a conceptual framework;

5. Writing up the literature reviewed.

Main sources

• Books

• Journals

• Grey literature

• Statistical data

Books

• Availability– Libraries– Bookshops– Bibliographies (!)– Internet: computer catalogs (keywords, subject)

• Advantages: greater likelihood of importance, relevance, quality

• Disadvantages: not up to date, price, avaliability, quality-control (bibliography!)

• They serve best as starters

Journals

• Advantages: up-to-date (depends on the journal), area-specific journals

• Disadvantages: need more knowledge to understand

• They serve best for focused study• Availability:

– Libraries– Electronic databases (!)– Internet

Gray literature

• Grey literature (or gray literature) is a term used variably by the intelligence community, librarians, and medical and research professionals to refer to a body of materials that cannot be found easily through conventional channels such as publishers, "but which is frequently original and usually recent„– Working papers– Theses– Company documents– Magazines– etc.

Where to start…

• Electronic databases:– www.jstor.org– search.epnet.com (EBSCO database)– www.eisz.hu (many databases)– http://www.nber.com/– http://econpapers.repec.org/

• University pages• Pages of libraries• Library…

Thanks for your attention