Research Methods - English 101 - Writing and Research

• Provides a brief and succinct synopsis of the paper. Includes the research question, the methodology used to investigate it, and a statement on the findings. 

• Presents the topic and specific research question from broad to narrow
• Presents the purpose of the paper and justification for the research about to be presented

What is a Literature Review?

• A compilation & discussion of the significant literature of the paper's topic.
   
• Part of an ongoing conversation. The work of the paper will react to or build on that conversation.

What is the structure of a Literature Review?

• A summary of prevalent ideas by the last names of the authors who came before, grouped by theme
   
•  Explain the leading findings or theories grouped by theme ir idea
   
• Conclusion about these works

What is its purpose?

A literature review will help you identify what has been discovered and what has yet to be discovered. It helps the reader understand where your ideas "fit" in the scholarly conversation. A review is a required part of grant and research proposals and often a chapter in theses and dissertations.

Cues to a Literature Review Section

A growing body of literature suggests . . . (List authors and page numbers)

It is often argued that . . . (Author page number)

A contrary view holds . . . (Author page number)

• Describes the design and methodology (Quanti/Quali) (Primary/Secondary) used to complete to the study in enough detail to be replicated
   
• Often, limitations to the methods are indicated

• Presents results that are related to the research
• If secondary data is used, the full history of collection of that data is presented
• Data should be presented in Tables. Visual Representations of data that help the reader's understanding should be presented in Figures. 

• Results are put in context of the field, as well as other fields or global context.
• The hypothesis should be answered and validated by the interpretation of the results. 
• This section should also discuss how the results relate to previous research mentioned in the literature review, any cautions about the findings, and potential for future research.