Where we are now…

Observation/ Background survey

Broad area of research

Literature review

Problem definition

Problem statement

Research questions

Scope and limitations

Benefits

Theoretical framework

Variables clearly identified

Hypothesis generation

Research design

Methods

Data collection

Analysis

Interpretation

Deduction

Hypothesis substantiated?

RQ answered?

Setting the limits on your research

Operational Definitions

Not ‘dictionary type definitions What you will using in your research

Based on literature and past research How you will operationalize the

variable/construct

Operational Definitions

Try defining Girls and boys’ sense of belonging in single-

gender schools

Literature Review

Today’s objectives

Describe what a literature review is How to conduct a literature review Using library databases

What is “literature”?

Scholarly Journals ( Educational Technology R &D, ELT Journal)

Professional Journals ( Educational Leadership, )

Monographs Books; research reports; dissertations; other? Media Popular magazines (e.g. Dewan SIswa, Time) Newspapers (e.g., Berita Harian; The STAR) Remember – be critical…

question what you read

http://eltj.oxfordjournals.org/content/current

Literature review

What is a literature review ?Discussion of published information in a

particular subject areaSometimes, information in a particular

subject area within a certain time period

Literature review

Can be a simple summary of the sources Has an organizational pattern and

combines both summary and synthesis

Literature review

SUMMARY - recap of the important information of the source

SYNTHESIS - a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information. gives a new interpretation of old material combine new with old interpretations trace the intellectual progression of the field,

including major debates evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the

most pertinent or relevant.

Literature review

Refer Purposes

Refer research article

Online learning motivation

What you should do

Generally Identify key terms Locate literature Critically evaluate and select the literature Organize the literature Write a review

PREPARATION

Clarify your topic

Conceptual analysis

Identify keywords

PREPARATION

C O N C E P T 1

K E Y W O R DK E Y W O R D

C O N C E P T 2

K E Y W O R DK E Y W O R D

C O N C E P T 3

K E Y W O R DK E Y W O R D

T O P IC

TOPIC

An evaluation of the usability of UiTM support web site for students with special needs

CONCEPTS

Evaluation

Usability

Web sites

Students with special needs

UiTM

CONCEPTS

What combination of concepts will other authors have researched & published?

Should you ignore any concepts for the literature review?

CONCEPTS

Evaluation √

Usability √

Web sites √ ??

Special needs √

Students - in this context ?

Nottingham University X

CONCEPTS

CONCEPTS

CONCEPTS

CONCEPTS

CONCEPTS

special needs

Try oneMobile application for Dyslexic students

Mapping out

Build family tree Identify variables Identify context/ setting Identify theories

Look for research done in the area Categorize

Defining Historical Justification Methods Scope Context

Conducting a literature review

Start with a known item/ variable Use simple “Google search”

Etd Annotated bibliography Dissertation abstracts

Move on to library online databases

Where to start looking

Start with your (sub)discipline first Has anyone in your field studied this problem? E.g., Education? = ERIC database

Branch out to other disciplines – esp. if the topic is interdisciplinary What has been done in other (related) fields? E.g., Psychology (PsycINFO); Sociology

(Sociological Abstracts); Cultural Theory…ETC.

Track your literature

Keep a journal / page on your eportfolio– jot notes as you read Why is each item of interest to you? Where does the item “fit”

in your research? Provides background/definitional information? Provides a good example to highlight your argument?

Jot examples of great quotes – including page #s Remember – paraphrases must be cited as well Make copies as you go or better still upload /store in

Mendeley Difficult/time-consuming to go back Be aware of copyright rules/restrictions! Itemize everything – document full citation as you find relevant

information

Review

“Re-views” – or looks again – at what others have done in a particular area of study (so may include research, opinion pieces, news articles, etc.)

Is analytical and comparative – not purely descriptive Summarizing the articles is not enough – what does

this mean to you? How does this connect with other things you’ve read?

Use the literature to support/defend your argument To identify concepts/issues previously found to be significant

and/or insignificant – including points of controversy (“critical eye”)

The Lit Rev Bullseye

Think of the literature search as a bullseye

Your problem is in the centre – has anyone studied this topic before?

Chances are – no hits! If there is??

Slowly move your search out & away from the problem – to find other relevant studies

The Lit Rev Bullseye - example

• What do we know about the effects of playing online games on rural young Malay adults’ behaviours?

• Start with the exact question – has anyone studied this?

• If no – are there studies of how young adults’ behaviours in general? Studies of online gaming ? Studies that look at the problem – but with a different age group? In a different locale?

Evaluating the relevance of the literature: Questions to ask Topic relevance: Is the literature on the same

topic as your proposed study? Individual and site relevance: Does the

literature examine the same individuals and sites you want to study?

Evaluating the relevance of the literature: Questions to ask Problem relevance: Does the literature

examine the same research problem as you propose in your study?

Accessibility relevance: Is the literature available in your library or can it be downloaded from a web site?

Construct a Literature Map

Identify key terms for the topic and put them at the top of the map

Sort studies into topical areas or “families of studies.”

Provide a label for each box which will become a heading for the review

Develop the map on as many levels as possible

Literature MapThe need for Teaching Programs to be Culturally Responsive

Bennett, 1995; Eastman, Smith, 1991; Grant 1994; Noel,1995

Study Abroad Programs

Attitude TowardStudy Abroad

King, Young ,1994

Personal insightsof Preservice Teachers

Friesen, Kang McDongall, 1995;Mahan, Stachowski, 1991

Possible Improvements

Martin, Rohrlich ,1991; Stachowski,1991

Personal insightsof Preservice Teachers

Cockrell, PlacierCockrell, Middleton1999, Goodwin, 1997Kea, Bacon, 1999

Predominantly EnglishSpeaking Countries

Mahan, Stachowski, 1990;Vall, Tennison, 1992

Need for further study:Non-English Speaking Cultures

Main Question: Do short-term studyabroad programs in non-English speaking cultures help create cultural responsiveness among preservice teachers?

Conventional Programs

Colville-Hall Macdonald, Smollen, 1995;Vavrus, 1994

Cross-CulturalPrograms

Cooper, BeareThorman, 1990;Larke, Wiseman,Bradley, 1990

U.S.Programs

Literature Map

Support

Time and Access

FactorsInfluencingTechnology

Integration inschools

Anxiety

Training

Attitude

Product Awareness

Pedagogy Training

TechnologyTraining

Availability

Workload

Technical Support

Collegial support

Administrativesupport

The LR frames your research

Exercise: Map your literature

Find 5-10 articles related to your research problem Read the abstract

Map out the literature Further action

Summarize each study in an “abstract” that highlights important elements

Identify each article’s contribution to the study Choose the most relevant ones Write your review ( in a paragraph) and post it in

the group forum Example