CHAPTER 3 : STEPS IN CONDUCTING A LITERATURE REVIEW
Functions of a literature review
-Bring clarity and focus to your research problem - Improve your methodology -Broaden your knowledge base in your research area -Contextualise your findings
Broaden knowledge base in research area
-Literature review ensures you read widely around the subject area in which you are intend to conduct your research study. -It is important to know what other researchers have found in regard to the same or similar questions, what theories have been put forward and what gap exit in the relevant body of knowledge
Search for existing literature
-Start with at least some idea of the broad subject area and of the problem you wish to investigate, in order to set parameters for your search. -Next compile a bibliography for this broad area. There are two sources that you can use to prepare a bibliography: books; journals.
Steps in conducting literature review
-search for existing literature in your area of study; -review the literature selected; -develop a theoretical framework; -develop a conceptual framework; -writing up the literature reviewed
Review the literature selected
-start reading them critically to pull together themes and issues that are associated. -Once you develop rough frameworks, slot the findings from the material so far reviewed into that framework, using a separate sheet of paper for each themes of that framework. As you read further, go on slotting the information where it logically belongs under the themes so far developed.
Develop a theoretical framework...
As you start reading the literature, you will soon discover that the problem you wish to investigate has its roots in a number of theories that have been developed from different perspectives.
Examples of conceptual framework
Customer satisfaction service quality lead to customer loyalty.
Develop conceptual framework
The conceptual framework stems from the theoretical framework and concentrates, usually, on one section of that theoretical framework which becomes the basis of your study.
Bring clarity and focus to research problems
The literature review can play an extremely important role in shaping your research problem It also helps you to define the relationship between your research problem and the body of knowledge in the area.
Improve your methodology
acquaints you with the methodologies that have been used by others to find answers to questions similar to the one you are investigating. Tells you if others have used procedures and methods similar to the ones that you are proposing, which procedures and methods worked well for them and what pitfalls they have faced with them.
Contextualise findings
helps identifying how your findings compare with the existing body of knowledge.
literature review
is the documentation of a comprehensive review of the published and unpublished work from secondary sources of data in the areas of specific interest to the researcher. - an integral part of the entire research process and makes a valuable contribution to almost every operational step.
