The Literature Review; Six Steps to Success

by Lawrence A. Machi

• ISBN13: 9781412961356
• ISBN10: 1412961351
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-07-10
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

"Machi and McEvoy have crafted a guide that is absolutely elegant in its simplicity. The writers take the reader from the simple to the complex in an extremely well-written, logical sequence of bite-sized steps. This is the most useful guide to writing a literature review available anywhere." -Leonard O. Pellicer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus University of South Carolina A clear, understandable six-step method for a straightforward literature review process! Written in user-friendly language, this compact reference offers master's and doctoral-level students in education and the social sciences a roadmap to developing and writing an effective literature review for a research project, thesis, or dissertation. Organized around a comprehensive and detailed six-step developmental model, the book provides guided exercises, graphics, charts, and examples from the everyday experiences of researchers. Both novice and experienced graduate students will find invaluable assistance for: Selecting a topic Searching the literature Developing arguments Surveying the literature Critiquing the literature Writing the literature reviewWith additional tips, checklists, and summaries tucked into each chapter, this guide provides clear, focused direction for composing a first-rate literature review.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Audience	p. ix
Special Features and Text Organization	p. x
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
About the Authors	p. xv
Introduction: The Literature Review Process-Getting Started	p. 1
The Purpose of a Literature Review	p. 2
The Literature Review Defined	p. 4
The Literature Review Process	p. 4
Select a Topic	p. 4
Search the Literature	p. 5
Develop the Argument	p. 5
Survey the Literature	p. 6
Critique the Literature	p. 6
Write the Review	p. 6
Inquiry: The Necessary Precondition	p. 6
Pack Wisely Before You Begin	p. 8
Tips	p. 10
Summary	p. 10
Checklist	p. 11
Select a Topic	p. 13
Choose a Research Interest	p. 16
Exercises	p. 18
Researcher Bias	p. 19
Select a Research Interest From the Everyday Interest	p. 20
Specifying a Research Interest	p. 21
Focusing the Interest	p. 22
Selecting a Perspective	p. 22
Reflection: The Key to Interest Selection	p. 23
Use the Research Interest to Choose the Research Topic	p. 26
Visit the Library	p. 30
Tips	p. 32
Summary	p. 32
Checklist	p. 33
Search the Literature	p. 35
Discover the Literature to Review	p. 36
Conduct a Literature Search	p. 37
Scan the Literature	p. 39
Use the Internet	p. 42
Manage Your Data	p. 44
Bibliographic Documentation	p. 44
Scan Progress	p. 45
Skim the Literature	p. 46
Map Your Materials	p. 48
Mapping by Core Idea	p. 49
Mapping by Author Contribution	p. 50
Refine Your Topic	p. 53
Expand Your Topic	p. 55
Tips	p. 56
Summary	p. 56
Checklist	p. 57
Develop the Argument	p. 59
Build the Case for a Literature Review	p. 60
Arguments	p. 62
Evaluate the Basic Parts of an Argument	p. 62
Claims	p. 65
Claims	p. 65
Evidence	p. 70
Warrant	p. 74
Multiple Claims Arguments	p. 76
Tips	p. 78
Summary	p. 78
Checklist	p. 79
Survey the Literature	p. 81
Assemble the Collected Data	p. 82
Assembling the Data	p. 82
Recording the Data	p. 83
Synthesize the Information	p. 85
Synthesizing the Information and Building Evidence	p. 85
Reasoning Patterns	p. 88
Integrating the Information and Building Claims	p. 92
Analyze the Patterns of the Data	p. 94
Complex Reasoning	p. 94
Comparative Reasoning	p. 96
Building the Discovery Argument: An Example	p. 97
Mapping the Argument of Discovery	p. 99
Analyzing the Argument	p. 99
Tips	p. 101
Summary	p. 102
Checklist	p. 103
Critique the Literature	p. 105
Implicative Reasoning	p. 106
The Two Arguments	p. 107
Argument Patterns	p. 110
Backing	p. 116
Fallacious Arguments	p. 122
The Case Is Everything	p. 124
Tips	p. 124
Summary	p. 125
Checklist	p. 125
Write the Review	p. 127
The Writing Process: Overview	p. 129
Write to Understand	p. 129
Write to Be Understood	p. 129
Write to Understand	p. 130
Exploratory Writing	p. 131
Outline	p. 133
The Preliminary Draft	p. 143
Preliminary Draft: The Audit	p. 145
Preliminary Draft: The Edit	p. 146
Write to Be Understood	p. 146
Analysis	p. 148
Evaluation	p. 148
Outside Review	p. 149
The Second and Third Drafts	p. 150
The Final Draft	p. 151
Style Manuals	p. 151
Tips	p. 153
Last Words	p. 153
Glossary	p. 155
References	p. 159
Index	p. 161
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