Literature Review

Chapter-3

The selection of available documents (both published and unpublished) on the topic, which contain information, ideas, data and evidence written from a particular standpoint to fulfil certain aims or express certain views on the nature of the topic and how it is to be investigated, and the effective evaluation of these documents in relation to the research being proposed.
Hart, Chris. Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination. London: Sage Publications, 1998.
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Place of Literature Review In Research

Bring Clarity and Focus Improve your Methodology Broaden your Knowledge base in your area of Research

According to Ranjit, the functions of literature review are: It provides theoretical background It enables you to refine research methodology It enables you to define your contribution to knowledge It enables you to contextualise your findings

According to Hart, a literature review allows the researcher to: Distinguish what has been done from what needs to be done Discover important variables relevant to the topic synthesise and gain a new perspective Identify relationships between ideas and practice establish the context of a topic or problem Understand the structure of the subject relate ideas and theory to applications Identify the main methodologies and research techniques that have been used Place the research in a historical context and show familiarity with up-to-date developments.

Questions that the literature review can help you to answer

What are the major issues and debates? How is knowledge on the topic organised? What are the main questions addressed to date? What are the political, economical, social standpoints? Are there important definitions or terms to clarify?

According to Ranjit literature review should be undertaken in four steps: Search for existing literature in your area of study (you need to have an idea or problem in mind) Review the literature selected Develop a theoretical framework Develop a conceptual framework

Key Sources
Books Journals Proquest EBSCO CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy ) Conferences
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Review the literature selected: Note available theories and methodologies, as well as their criticisms Notice where there are significant differences of opinions Identify gaps in the body of knowledge

Writing up the Literature Review

Theoretical Background -Identify and describes relevant theories -Specify gaps -Sub headings Contextualize your findings in relation to the existing body of knowledge

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Useful tools
Google Drive Qiqqa- is a software tool designed for Literature review Review Mapping

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THANK YOU!!