Reference no: EM133094699 , Length: word count:650

THERES701 Business Research Methodology

Literature Review

The purpose is for student to demonstrate understanding of the literature by analysing and then synthesising the information to:
• Determine what has already been published on the subject
• Provide an overview of key concepts
• Identify major relationships and patterns
• Identify strengths and weaknesses
*• Identify and gaps in the research
*• Identify any conflicting evidence
*• Provide background to literature methodology and investigation

1. Determine your purpose
• What you need to address?
• What have you been asked to do?
• What are you searching the literature for?
Check your ‘research topic' to gain clarity on the above.

2. Undertake extensive research of existing literature
• What kind of literature? Consider variety of appropriate sources (web, books, journals, reports, magazines etc) that are current, relevant and authoritative.
• How many resources? This will be dependent on the research topic but consider as many resources as possible.

3. Document the bibliographical details of your sources
• Using Harvard Author Date Reference, document authors names, year of publication, publication title, publishers and page numbers.

4. Read the literature
• Critically read each source, look for the arguments presented rather than for facts.
• Take notes as you read and start to organise your review around themes and ideas.
• Consider using a table, matrix or concept map to identify how the different sources relate to each other

5. Critically analyse the literature you have found
To write an effective critical analysis, student must evaluate each source by asking the following:
• What are the key terms and concepts?
• How relevant is this article to my specific topic?
• What are the major relationships, trends and patterns?
• How has the author structured the arguments?
• How authoritative and credible is this source?
• What are the differences and similarities between the sources?
• Are there any gaps in the literature that require further study?

6. Write the review
• Start by writing your research statement. This is an important introductory sentence that will tell your reader what the topic is and the overall perspective or argument you will be presenting.

The STRUCTURE OF LITERATURE REVIEW should be similar to an essay to incorporate an introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion and references.
Introduction
The introduction should provide an outline of:
• Why you are writing a review, and why the topic is important?
• The scope of the review, that is what aspects of the topic will be discussed.
• The criteria used for your literature selection. This means the type of literature used, date range and how many. Refer to point two above.
• What is the organisational pattern of your review? Organise your review around themes an ideas, differences and similarities.

Body paragraphs
Each body paragraph should address a different theme that is relevant to your research topic. You will need to synthesise (bring it together) the various literature reviewed into each paragraph, so that there is a clear connection between the various sources. Critically analyse each source on how they contribute to the themes/main ideas of your research. The body could include paragraphs on:
• Historical background
• Methodologies
• Previous studies on the research topic
• Mainstream versus alternative viewpoints
• Principal questions being asked
• General conclusions that are being drawn.

Conclusion
The conclusion must provide a summary of:
• The main agreements and disagreements in the literature
• Any gaps or areas for further research
• Personal overall perspective on the topic.

References
• Using Harvard Author Date Reference, document authors names, year of publication, publication title, publishers and page numbers.

Note: You need to do selected part and Conclusion as well