Literature Review

OR
Literature Survey

Definition
is the documentation of a
comprehensive review of the
published and unpublished work from
secondary source of data in the area
of specific interest to the researcher.
(Sekaran, 2002, p. 63)

Purposes of Literature
Review
Is the road map for the whole research
process...
Majority of the factors affecting a topic
may not be ignored.....
To do critical analysis of past studies...
To find the gap or question for the
research...
Methods used in the past papers...

Sources of Literature Review

Books
Research Journals
Conference proceedings
Doctoral dissertations
Masters theses
Publication by company and Govt.
Financial, marketing, HR Reports
Newspapers
Magazines

Conducting the Literature

Review
1. Identifying the Relevant Source
2. Extracting the Relevant Information
3. Writing Up the Literature Review

1. Identifying the Relevant

Source
Look at the bibliography of the previous studies
on the same research topic...
Look at the Review Papers...
Look at the Edited Book...
Search through internet with the help of key
words....
Search some website:
www.googlescholar.com
Search some database: (Sekaran, 2002, p. 75)
http://ethos.bl.uk
HEC digital library

2. Extracting the Relevant

Information
Extracting only relevant
information...the source might cover
more than one topic

Author(s)

Sample

Methods

Findings

Nishat and Bilgrami (1994)

225 firms listed on the KSE over

the period 1980-86

Regression model using

Dividend Per Share as dependent
variable

Naeem and Nasr (2007)

108 firms listed on the KSE for

1999-2004

Regression model using dividend

payout ratio as dependent
variable

Last
years
dividend
payment and net profit after
tax played a significant role
in the present dividend
decision.
The authors documented
the existence of partial
adjustment plans.
Large size firms, firms with
foreign ownership and
private
sector
firms
declared higher dividend
payouts.
Last years dividend payout
was the most influential
factor in dividend policy.
Current profit was not
important in dividend
decision.
Variability and instability in
dividend payout trend.

3. Writing Up the Literature

Review
Write up a preamble in the beginning...
Funnel Approach...from general to
specific...e.g., Developed
markets...developing markets....South
Asian Markets....Pakistani Market
Should be in past tense...
More than one draft will bring
coherence in literature review....