What is Literature Review in Research Methodology?

A literature review in methodology ensures that it:

  1. Establishes context: Provides background on the research topic.
  1. Identifies Gaps: Highlights areas that require further investigation (Ridley, 2012).
  2. Prevents Redundancy: Ensures research does not duplicate prior studies.
  3. Supports Methodology: Justifies chosen research methods based on prior work (Booth, Sutton, & Papaioannou, 2016).
  4. Builds a Theoretical Framework: Connects the study to existing theories.

Types of Literature Reviews

There are different types of literature reviews, depending on the research methodology adopted:

TypeDescription
Narrative ReviewProvides a broad overview of existing research without a systematic approach.
Systematic ReviewIt uses a structured method to analyze and synthesize existing studies, minimizing bias (Booth et al., 2016).
Meta-AnalysisCombines statistical data from multiple studies to identify patterns and trends.
Scoping ReviewExplores the extent of available literature on a topic without assessing study quality.
Theoretical ReviewExamines theories and conceptual models related to the research topic.

Key Components of A Literature Review

There are four main components of a literature review:

1. Introduction

  1. Description: Overview of social media’s role in education.
  2. Research objective: Examine its effects on students’ academic success.

2. Thematic Organization

  1. Positive Impact: Studies show social media as a collaborative learning tool.
  2. Negative Impact: Research highlighting distractions and reduced focus (Ridley, 2012).

3. Critical Analysis

  1. Studies support both positive and negative impacts.
  2. Contradictions and gaps in research findings.

4. Conclusion & Research Gap

  1. Need for further research on long-term effects.
  2. Justification for conducting a new study.

Statistics on Literature Reviews in Research Methodologies

FAQs

How many sources should a literature review include?

It depends on the study level—10-20 sources for a research paper, 30-50 for a master’s thesis, and 100+ for a PhD dissertation (Booth et al., 2016).

What makes a literature review effective?

An effective literature review is well-structured, critically analyzes sources, and identifies research gaps.

What is the difference between a literature review and a theoretical framework?

A literature review summarizes and analyzes prior research, while a theoretical framework provides a structured explanation of concepts relevant to the study.

Conclusion

A literature review in research methodology is crucial to academic writing, providing the foundation for scholarly work. Understanding its purpose, types, and structure ensures a comprehensive and well-supported study.

To contribute valuable insights to their field, researchers must critically evaluate sources, organize themes effectively, and identify gaps.

References

Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.

Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D. (2016). Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review. Sage.

Ridley, D. (2012). The Literature Review: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students. SAGE Publications.

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