[MUSIC]. Hi, I'm Yenn. And I'm here with, Simon.

In the previous video, we were

saying that
research is not just about reading a lot. However, reading is still such an
important element of doing research. So this week we asked our contributors
about what they think about the points of doing a literature review, and
the values of a good literature review. Simon. >> Thank you. I think what we took
away from the
interviewee's comments with regard to literature reviews
and their value. Was only how many of them talked about
being part of a conversation. A number of them used a metaphor of
pulling a chair up to a table. A roundtable discussion of the states of
the issue that you're interested in. The one that's flowing out of your
research question. Listening to other people's point of view
is one part of a literature review. And in that sense, understanding where the
different people around the table and their point of
view. But equally what one needs to be, mindful
of to make a real contribution is your own
question. And in this sense the research question and literature review are
intimately related. So that's not merely knowing what else is
going on in the conversation, but being able to articulate
and formulate your own point of view. In this sense your research question is a
gateway into that conversation but in itself needs to be re-articulated and
reformulated each time someone else speaks a the table. I mean this can be a very
dynamic
environment, but equally just being aware of those different lines of conversation
is something that's important in
understanding the literature. As such, the literature review is not just about
reading mountains of books in dusty
university shelves. It's about being part of this broader
dialogue. Equally, understanding that your research
question is a means into that conversation. Posing a question is often a way to
grab people's attention, but only if that
question's a meaningful one. So, Yenn. >> The metaphor of a fancy dinner party is
something I always talk to when I'm doing my literature review or, or
when I'm helping students doing theirs. So, we have prepared snippets following
this, as well as a videos. Watch as man, watch, watch them as many as
you'd like. And think about them in the light of tasks
set for this activity and continuing
discussion in the discussion forum. [MUSIC]. >> And it's taught me to be a lot more
flexible in my literature review. As I, as I go along. As I, as I'm doing more
readings. And, and, you know? Analyzing and sort of summarizing what,
certain authors or scholars have said. >> So a literature review for me is the
back story, or the setting for your story that
you want to tell. And also you have to prove to the reader,
and also for yourself, and your examiners. That there is a gap and you need to show
where the gap is and then you fill in a bit of the gap
as your contribution. And so, it's the same with the movie if
you will. >> From a practical point of view for, for students undertaking
dissertations or something like that, the research the literary review
also shows that you have researched your field with
insight. So you know your stuff, you've read all
the main authors in the area. You've looked at the key debates and the
key ideas. And you can convince someone that you've,
you know about this issue. >> Understand the debates that you're
going to be entering into. As well as sort of framing how other
people have approached the question or topic that you're going to
answer and see if maybe your approach or your methodology
might be one that's slightly different that could add to the
understanding of any given topic. >> Because it's where you, in effect, pull
a chair up to a table. And engage with those notable scholars
and, and, and researchers and writers who have
addressed your question. >> That, that should be really one of the beginning, or
the starting point for
wanting to do a literature review, to figure out:
where am I in relation to what has been done
already. >> I think a literature review, that the
actual, the terminology misrepresents to students what a literature review, what's
required of
them. Because I, I don't think you're just
reviewing the literature, what you're really doing
as a researcher is situating your work within
the literature, and identifying gaps and problems with
that literature. >> And just being in conversation, instead
of being so insular and isolated in what we write and what we say
in our research. Because ultimately, I think research, even
if there are moments when it feels solitary, it does go back out
into the world. So the more we engage throughout our
process, I think, the better it can be translated for other groups of
people, and not just academics. >> I think a literature review, I mean, I think all
academic research is
essentially about having an ongoing conversation with
scholars around the globe who are working on the same issues. So a good literature
review, the value of
it is that it ensures that one can have the
conversation meaningfully. That is to say, that one has a deep enough understanding
of other's work, vis-a-vis
the particular research area or question. And can therefore engage with them
critically and robustly. Because without that I don't really see
how we, how you could pretend, how you could even, you know, claim to move your
field forward or, or make a contribution.