HOW TO WRITE A LITERATURE REVIEW

Before we look at how to write a literature review; we should first understand what a research is.

WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Research is a scientific approach to a problem; it is an attempt to finding total or partial solution to a problem.

WHAT IS A PROBLEM?

A problem is an obstacle that exists between an intended objective and the current performance. A researchable problem therefore are problems over which data can be collected, organized and analyzed.

SIMPLE STEPS IN CARRYING OUT RESEARCH

1. Start with the problem. Conceive the research problem.
2. Carry out literature review. This involves studying other authors view or opinion on similar problem and ascertaining whether the problem still exist.
3. Formulate research questions and hypothesis (an intelligent guess work).

By doing the above, you already have a guide for carrying out your research work.

1. Present your Design of Work; this is the methodology of carrying out the research; involving collection of data, organization of data and analyzing of data (interpretation and drawing of conclusion).

Your data should be presented according to research questions listed in your chapter one. There are four methods of presenting data in chapter four (4); text method, semi-text method, tabular method/use of tables and use of diagrams (charts and graphs).

To carry out an effective research, you must have a thorough literature review. writing a good literature review (Chapter Two) makes your research seamless and more organized. The bedrock for every research exercise is the quality of literature reviewed and written.

HOW TO CARRY OUT LITERATURE REVIEW

The following steps help you successfully carryout literature review for your final year research project.

1. Literature review is the process of looking at other people’s work on the topic of interest. The first step is breaking up review in line with your approved topic, research questions and hypothesis.
2. Introduce the steps with a sentence or two.
3. Start reviewing the literature sequentially as arranged.
4. Try to relate each sub sections to your topic, that is; keeping the topic under focus so that you don’t derail. Put the subsections into perspective.
5. Make a summary of the reviews in the end, highlighting issues that are lacking (research gaps) and seek to find solution to the issues that are lacking (your addition to existing body of knowledge).

HOW TO CONDUCT LITERATURE REVIEWS

1. List the key words in your topic so as to know what to look out for in the library or the internet. This helps you to collect relevant materials related to your approved research topic.
2. Check preliminary sources such as indexes, abstracts and citations in the materials you have accessed, if you need further assistance, you can call on the librarian in your university or polytechnic.
3. Check the library catalogues (you can look at your university or polytechnic repository) and source out the most relevant published materials.
4. After collecting relevant materials related to your topic, you should sit and study them thoroughly and start making notes as you read each paragraph.
5. Start writing your chapter two (literature review). Ensure your literature review is descriptive, analytical or critical in nature. You should also examine the contributions of other authors and identify similarities, common issues, contradicting statements and critics of other authors from materials you have read.