writing a review paper

Abd Karim Alias@2010

Writing a Review Paper �

Abd Karim Alias@2010 [[email protected]]

Research may be done alone – but it is never done in isolation. The production of new knowledge is fundamentally dependent on past knowledge.

‘I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.’

- Woodrow Wilson

• Research paper in peer-reviewed journals (preferably with high impact factor)

• Short communication

• Review articles (usually highly cited)

3 Abd Karim Alias@2009

Which type of publication?

• Conference proceedings (often not refereed, fewer citations)

• Popular articles (to promote your activity)

• Letter to editor


Which type of publication?


Impact Factors for different types of article

What is a review paper?



A review paper is…

‘a succint review of a specific topic that provide sufficient and in-depth interpretation and synthesis of published work’


Meta-Analysis

…is a method of combining results of several studies into a summary conclusion, using quantitative strategies…intended to answer a focused question.

‘A research study about research studies…

•  It provides extensive review of previously published literature and to put them into perspective

•  It offers critical evaluation of the published literature


Why is review paper very popular?

•  It creates an understanding of the topic

•  Identify gap in knowledge

•  It provides a new approach/perspective that would stimulate further research


Why is review paper very popular?


Generate your OWN IDEA!


Review paper is more than annotated bibliographies! You are not trying to list

all the material published, but to synthesize and evaluate it so as to provide

a new approach or stimulate further research


‘…a collection of all the scholarly writings on a topic.’

What is literature?


Study 1

Study 2 Study 10

Study X

ORIGINAL WORK

ORIGINAL WORK Your own idea will connect to the

developing knowledge network in the field

What is literature review?


‘…a systematic…method for identifying, evaluating and interpreting the…work produced by researchers, scholars and practitioners.’




Literature is about telling a story…kind of a chain story

where each writer starts with a partial story created previously by others and expand on it…the existing literature is the story so

far…


Before deciding to write a review paper, ask the following questions:

Do I know my stuff

sufficiently?



Which journal to

publish by review?



Would it be

considered at all?


•  Do a thorough literature search

•  Consult the Journal Editor


Write a convincing cover letter & explain…


Consulting with the Journal Editor

•  Rationale why you want to write about the topic;

•  Explain how you would handle the subject matter;

•  Explain why you are qualified to write on the proposed topic;

•  Estimated length (incl. no of figures & tables);

•  Estimated date of completion.


Approach to doing a literature review


READ PUBLISHED WORK SYNTHESIS

Study a wide range of print- and web-based materials.

Creation of an “integrated whole” – Coherent argument of the topic that you are reviewing.

INTERPRETATION

Explain the significance & interpret the evidence presented in each piece of literature – not simply listing what others have written.

How to review the literature?


The key is…be selective in what you read – or else you’ll get drown in too much information!

It is impossible to read all the research ever published in your area…

Approach to doing a literature review

26

Filtering & sorting the essentials from the irrelevant…


See the wood for the trees…

Image source: hAp:// sciencebhakta.wordpress.com


The range of literature to explore

•  Background material which is of broadly relevance to your topic

•  Literature and research studies which address issues that are closely related to your topic

•  Literature which is directly related to your topic


Searching & reading strategy (example)

Industrial application of

gelatin

Halal gelatin alternatives in

industry

Halal gelatin in food industry


Searching & reading strategy

Field specific papers

Quantity of relevant publications

Less specific, less recent

More specific, more recent


Components of lit. review…

§ Background information •  Introduce topic •  Describe scope &

organization •  Review past & present

literature •  Clarify purpose

Hmm…where do I look for resources for my literature review?



Academic libraries Public libraries National libraries Museums Archives Special collections Commercial organizations Commercial databases (SCOPUS, Web of knowledge, Springerlink)

Literature sources

Sources & organizations providing publications


Library catalogues Subject indexes Subject abstracts Bibliographies Encyclopedia Internet directories Internet search engines

Tools for searching published works & data

Literature sources


Sources where research & information is published

Textbooks Articles Theses Government publications Legal & professional publications Trade literature Conference papers Monographs Statistics

Literature sources


Organizing information

Summarize, tabulate Use bibliographic software (Endnote)

Managing the literature


Analyzing information

Note taking Summarizing the key findings Extracting critical facts/arguments Examine evidence Understand interpretation

Analyzing & “digesting’ the literature


Reading critically & analytically

Definitions

Problem

Theory

Hypothesis

Techniques

Interpretations

Concepts

Arguments

Standpoint

Evidence

Perspective

Styles

Justification

Ways of thinking

Events

Motives

Politics

Conclusions

Things to extract from each piece of reading material


Skills for “digesting” the literature

Select, differentiate, break up

Integrate, combine, formulate, reorganize

Understand, distinguish, explain

Define, classify, describe

Dissecting data into their constituent part.

Rearranging the elements derived from analysis to identify relationship.

Interpreting & distinguishing between different types of data , theory & argument to describe the substance of an idea Describing the principles, uses, & function of rules, method, etc.

ANALYSIS

SYNTHESIS

COMPREHENSION

KNOWLEDGE

Adapted from Hart, 1998



§ Theory •  All research has a precedent •  Integrate key points & make

appropriate inferences •  Be aware of relationship to

your topic



§ Critical appraisal/synthesis •  Not jus a list of the work of

others •  Identify issues highlighted •  Highlight differences &

similarities •  Identify consensus


§ A citing of all key studies in the subject area

§ A selection & synthesis of existing arguments to form a new perspective

Any critical review should incorporate…


Any critical review should incorporate…

§ An assessment of the strengths & weaknesses of some of the theories

§ A clear understanding of the topic


Length of review

§ Comprehensive review (up to 12,000 words)

§ Concise review (approx. 5,000 words)

writing a review paper

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