literature reviewing
Give yourself the tools to succeed!
Give yourself time to think.
A good literature review cannot be done in
6 weeks or 6 easy steps.
​Chris Hart
Two metaphors: Ponds and Buildings
The literature on a topic can be thought of as a pond or as a building.
If we use the pond metaphor for the knowledge on a topic then we can ask,
What does the pond look like? Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? What are the consequences of the rocks?
This is a picture of a pond, showing ripples caused by something hitting the water.
This is a picture of wooden blocks, showing how they have been arranged into construct a building.
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What does the pond look like?
The phenomenon –
What does it look like (examples)?
What is its history?
Where do you find it?
Why is it done?
How is it done?
What are the consequences?
Initial questions which set the historical, economic, social and technological contexts.
See chp 6 Mapping & analysing ideas.
Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks?
Rock throwers have more impact : positive and negative. Which seminal publications / authors / positions have had an influence on the pebble throwers and why?
How do we identify them?
We find them through bibliographic analysis, i.e.
reading, analysis, mapping and note taking.
See pp.38-43 for a worked example.
What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks?
You need to read the primary sources. This involves argumentation analysis. To do this you need a sound working knowledge of understanding how arguments are constructed.
A must read is,
Toulmin, S. (1958) The uses of argument.
See chp 4 Argumentation analysis.