Chapter 3: Review of the Literature

Posted On February 27, 2023

The significance of the literature review in academic study is emphasized in the book’s third chapter. The importance of literature reviews in educational research is discussed in this chapter. Literature reviews help researchers fill in knowledge gaps, develop research questions and hypotheses, expand on the results of prior studies, and pinpoint areas where further study is needed. The need of doing a literature review to understand the research topic, build a theory to guide the investigation, and weigh the merits and limitations of the research are also emphasized in this chapter. Readers will be familiar with the purpose and methodology of doing a literature review in educational research at the end of this chapter.

GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

What is a literature review and why is it important for research in education?
How might a literature review help to identify research gaps?
What does creating a study’s theoretical framework while conducting a literature review mean?
How might a literature review assist advance the findings of earlier scholars and point out areas needing further research?
What are some efficient ways to carry out a review of the literature in educational research?

INTRODUCTION

All types of study, including studies in the field of education, need literature reviews. Finding knowledge gaps, motivating the development of research questions and hypotheses, building on the achievements of past researchers, and identifying areas that warrant more investigation all require a thorough analysis of the corpus of research on a topic of interest. The literature review not only lays out the study’s theoretical groundwork, but also analyzes the pros and cons of prior studies in this area. This chapter will explain why and how to do a literature review for a successful research project in the field of education.

A critical step in the research process is doing a literature review since it helps you to determine what is already known about a certain issue and to spot any gaps or contradictions in the current research. The following details and justifications are provided for performing a literature review:

You need to have a clear, focused research topic before starting a literature review. This will help you find the material that is most relevant to your review.
Discover pertinent databases Your initial step should be to locate pertinent databases in your field of study, such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, and ERIC. To find peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and other scientific publications, you can conduct searches in these databases.
Create a search strategy utilizing keywords associated with the subject of your research. You may rapidly find relevant books with this.
Review the search results after conducting your search to find the papers that are pertinent to your study query. By reading the abstracts and quickly perusing the contents, assess the articles’ applicability.
After finding relevant articles, carefully go through them and evaluate their value. Take into account the sample size, the research methodologies used, and how well the findings relate to your research topic.
Synthesize and summarize results. This can help you spot research voids, contradictions, and potential new study fields.

LITERATURE REVIEW IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

A literature review is a necessary component of every educational research project because it allows researchers to identify current knowledge gaps and choose the best research tactics to fill them. A literature review attempts to offer an overview of the current state of knowledge in a certain subject by examining the relevant academic literature on a specific research topic.

A literature review is a summary and analysis of previously conducted research that is pertinent to the topic at hand. In order to assess the current state of the subject, identify knowledge gaps, and help in the development of research questions and hypotheses, a literature review is a crucial part of every educational research project.

By doing a literature review, researchers may build on the findings of their predecessors and determine which areas still need investigation. By evaluating and synthesizing the data of past studies, researchers may generate new ideas, get a deeper understanding of the issue at hand, and formulate more targeted research questions.

Theoretical underpinnings of the investigation are also formulated with the help of a literature study. It gives them a wealth of material on which to build their theories and study designs. By cherry-picking applicable concepts and ideas from the existing literature, researchers may build a conceptual framework for their study.

The literature review also assists researchers in identifying the research methodologies and instruments used in previous studies, allowing them to balance the benefits and drawbacks of these approaches and choose the ones that are most relevant for their inquiry.

A literature study is essential for establishing the level of knowledge presently held in an area. A literature review is an examination of research papers and the body of knowledge on a certain subject or research issue. It is a key step in the research process since it assists in finding knowledge gaps, assessing the relevance of prior studies, and giving a theoretical foundation for the inquiry.

The topic of second language acquisition is a great illustration of why a literature review is required. A researcher who wishes to evaluate the efficacy of a novel teaching method for teaching English as a second language would first conduct a literature review to review previous studies on different teaching techniques. A study of the relevant literature may reveal knowledge gaps, such as the lack of studies on a certain teaching approach, and determine if earlier research is appropriate to the current enquiry. Because the researcher may use previous research to support the study’s rationale and hypotheses, the literature review also functions as the study’s theoretical foundation.

Literature reviews are very useful in the field of educational psychology. Examining the existing literature is the first step for any researcher interested in studying the relationship between student motivation and academic success. Knowledge gaps, such a lack of studies on a particular population or the need for additional longitudinal research, may be uncovered by a review of the relevant literature. The literature study also supplies the theoretical foundations of the inquiry. Using the results of previous studies, the researcher may make inferences about the factors that could influence the link between motivation and academic success.

A literature review is a crucial part of any educational research project because it establishes the state of knowledge in the subject, pinpoints research gaps, evaluates the relevance of prior studies, and provides a theoretical framework for the study at hand.

THE ROLE OF LITERATURE REVIEW

A literature study establishes the current state of knowledge on a subject or problem, providing the groundwork for future educational research. The goals of a literature review include summarizing recent research findings, identifying knowledge gaps, and providing a critical assessment of past research initiatives. A literature review, in the words of Scott (2012), aids in “identifying key theories, concepts, and debates in the field and highlights any gaps in the literature that require further investigation” (p. 3).

A literature review might provide a summary of the available research on the subject in an educational research study looking at the impact of parental participation on student academic success, for example. Reviewing the relevant literature may reveal a knowledge gap, such as the need for further study on the relationships between certain forms of parental participation and academic success among students. This gap would have an impact on how research questions and hypotheses were developed, as well as how appropriate research methodologies and designs were chosen.

It is impossible to emphasize the value of literature reviews in determining the reliability and validity of educational research. Researchers may show their comprehension of the current state of knowledge in the topic and expand on prior research findings by evaluating and synthesizing existing literature. A literature review, in the words of Baumeister and Leary (1995), “serves to position the researcher within the larger field of knowledge and aids in establishing the research’s credibility” (p. 10).

The literature analysis would discover previous research studies on the subject and critically analyze their results, for example, in a study looking at the effectiveness of flipped classroom models in enhancing student learning outcomes. The researcher can prove the validity of their research results and provide a strong case for the study by synthesizing the current literature.

Literature reviews may assist in the interpretation and analysis of study findings. A survey of the relevant literature aids researchers in “interpreting their findings within the context of existing knowledge and developing new theoretical frameworks and research questions for future studies.” By synthesizing and evaluating previously conducted research projects, researchers might create fresh views and insights.

For instance, the literature analysis of a research looking at the usage of mobile learning devices in language acquisition may reveal conflicting findings about the effectiveness of these technologies. With the help of the literature review, the researcher may come up with fresh ideas for study questions and hypotheses as well as fresh views on the effectiveness of mobile learning technologies.

The literature review is crucial to educational research because it establishes the context for the study, verifies its validity, and directs the analysis and interpretation of the results. Researchers may fill in information gaps, generate research questions and hypotheses, and choose appropriate study methodologies and designs with the help of a comprehensive literature review. Researchers may contribute to the subject of education by assessing and synthesizing previous research articles in order to provide new views and insights on established issues.

CASE STUDY

Case Study: Investigating the Impact of Technology on Student Learning Outcomes

Ms. Smith, a high school science teacher, is curious about the impact technology has on her students’ academic performance. She has seen that many of her students are heavy tech users, but she is at a loss as to how to most effectively integrate technology into her classes to boost student achievement. Ms. Smith plans to investigate this issue further and find out how best to use technology to improve education for her students.

Your task is to help Ms. Smith gather information for her research topic by completing a literature review. Please consider the following factors in your response:

What purpose does a literature review serve in educational research, and how does it advance the investigation?
What are the key phases in performing a literature review, and what tools may Ms. Smith use to compile data?
What crucial elements should be taken into account while analyzing and synthesizing data from the literature, and how can Ms. Smith ensure the reliability of her sources?
What possible challenges may Ms. Smith encounter while doing the literature study, and how can she overcome them?
Based on the results of the literature review, what are some potential research questions and hypotheses that Ms. Smith may formulate, and how would she utilize them to direct her research study?

Provide specific examples and references to support your recommendations.

IDENTIFYING GAPS IN THE LITERATURE

Conducting a literature review in educational research must include identifying gaps in the body of knowledge. It entails identifying areas where research is deficient or where further research is necessary to advance knowledge of the subject or respond to particular research issues. The following are examples of research gaps in language education:

How artificial intelligence (AI) affects learning a second language: There is still a need for further study on the effectiveness of AI in promoting language acquisition, even if some research has been done on the use of AI in language training.
The contribution of culture to the learning of second languages Despite the fact that culture is recognized to have a big influence on language learning, little study has been done on how culture affects learning a second language.
The effectiveness of language learning online: There is a need for greater study comparing the efficiency of these platforms to conventional classroom education, especially in light of the expanding availability of online language learning platforms.
How teacher preparation affects language instruction: To further understand how teacher training programs affect language teaching practices and student learning results, more research is needed.
The use of technology in language assessment: Although technology has been extensively used in language assessment, there is a dearth of research examining the efficacy and validity of computer-based language assessments.

By identifying these voids in the literature, researchers can focus on conducting studies in these areas and contribute to the advancement of language education knowledge and understanding.

TYPES OF RESEARCH GAPS

In general, there are five distinct categories of research gaps: theoretical research gaps, empirical research gaps, methodological research gaps, inconsistent findings, and diverse research contexts.

THEORETICAL RESEARCH GAPS

The spaces in our theoretical comprehension of a particular phenomenon or concept constitute theoretical research gaps. Existing theories may not adequately explain observed phenomena, or there may be a lack of scholarly consensus regarding the appropriate theoretical framework for a particular field of study.

For instance, Manchón and Polio (2022) conducted a research from the viewpoint of Japanese teachers to examine the theoretical underpinnings of second language instruction. They found that there is disagreement among academics on the best theoretical framework for teaching second languages in the context of the teaching of the Japanese language.

Another example of a theoretical research gap is the problem of how to combine language and culture in language instruction. According to Ladegaard (2018), the connection between language and culture is subtle, and there is a need for a more sophisticated understanding of how to include cultural information in language training.

Additionally, when theories in use do not sufficiently explain observable facts, theoretical research gaps might develop. For instance, Riazi, A. M. (2016) contends that there are still gaps in the theory and research surrounding language anxiety, especially with regard to how it affects language learning results.

Finding theoretical research gaps is essential because they direct subsequent studies and help an area of study’s theoretical framework become more strong.

EMPIRICAL RESEARCH GAPS

The lack of actual data supporting a certain occurrence or notion is referred to as an empirical research gap. These gaps occur when there is a dearth of data or when the evidence that is available is contradictory or ambiguous, making it difficult to form firm conclusions about the topic being studied.

A gap in empirical research is the effectiveness of explicit vs implicit training on second language learning. Goo et al. (2015) compared two educational models and found erratic findings. Contrary to what other research have shown, some have found that explicit training is more effective than implicit instruction. Li argues that more study is necessary to comprehend the circumstances in which explicit and implicit training are most effective as well as how to successfully combine the two types of instruction.

Empirical research gaps may also develop when there is a lack of data on a particular phenomena. For instance, Love, Medin, and Gureckis (2004) note that there is a dearth of empirical data on the effectiveness of blended learning in the teaching of Chinese. They argue that further study is necessary to fully understand the possible advantages and disadvantages of blended learning and how it may be used successfully in the teaching of Chinese.

Finding gaps in the empirical literature is essential for directing future research and guaranteeing the validity and trustworthiness of study results. By filling up these gaps, researchers may help a specific area of study establish a more solid empirical evidence foundation.

METHODOLOGICAL RESEARCH GAPS

Methodological research gaps are weaknesses in the research technique that limit the ability to evaluate hypotheses or respond to research questions. These gaps could be brought about by insufficient tools, techniques, or protocols in a research. A list of methodological research gaps and some instances from recent publications are provided in the section that follows.

One kind of methodological research divide relates to the validity and reliability of research measures. This could entail problems with measurement error, poor inter-rater reliability, or a lack of concept validity. Li et al. (2019) emphasized the need for further study to verify the use of a self-reported measure of mobile app addiction due to the possibility of social desirability bias and other measurement problems.

Limitations in a study’s sampling procedure are a second kind of methodological research division. This might include problems like biased or unrepresentative samples, small sample sizes, or a lack of appropriate comparison groups. A third division of methodological research concerns the constraints of the statistical analysis methods used in a study. This might be due to the use of improper statistical tests or a lack of adequate controls for confounding factors.

In conclusion, methodological research gaps are crucial to the design and interpretation of studies. Addressing these voids can improve the quality of research and increase confidence in its conclusions.

INCONSISTENT FINDINGS

Inconsistent research findings refer to instances in which different studies investigating the same phenomenon or relationship have produced contradictory results. These may result from a variety of factors, such as disparities in research design, sample characteristics, or data collection and analysis techniques.

In language instruction, for example, studies examining the efficacy of various instructional methods, such as task-based instruction, explicit grammar instruction, and corrective feedback, have produced inconsistent results (Larsen-Freeman, 2018). Some studies suggest that one method is preferable to others, while others find no significant differences or even contradictory outcomes.

Dealing with inconsistent results can be difficult for both researchers and practitioners. On the basis of the available evidence, researchers must identify the reasons for the discrepancies and make recommendations for future research or practise. Practitioners must base instructional methods and interventions decisions on the strongest available evidence.

Performing systematic reviews and meta-analyses that synthesise the results of multiple studies to identify patterns or trends is one way to address inconsistent findings (Zhang & Liu, 2019). A second strategy is to conduct larger, more rigors investigations that resolve the limitations of prior research and increase the generalizability of the findings (Plonsky, 2017).

In conclusion, researchers and practitioners may have considerable challenges as a result of conflicting study results. Researchers must carefully analyze these differences and provide suggestions for further study or practice based on the strongest available data.

DIFFERENT RESEARCH SETTINGS

There are “research gaps” in other study settings when a particular research query or phenomenon has only been investigated in a single location or context. A study topic on the use of technology in language acquisition, for instance, may have received considerable attention in academic settings but little attention in K–12 or professional settings.

Research gaps across a wide variety of research settings may be substantial because they restrict generalizability of study findings to other contexts or populations. Furthermore, they restrict the use of research findings to inform practice and policy in a range of settings. A language-learning method that works well in one context may not in another, and it may be difficult to pinpoint the reasons for this discrepancy without testing the method in many contexts.

In order to fill knowledge gaps across different study contexts, researchers need to conduct in-depth investigations of the phenomena or research question in many settings. This approach, which may also be used to distinguish across contexts, is useful for tailoring policy and practice suggestions to a given setting.

Comparative research methods, such as cross-sectional or longitudinal studies that compare diverse contexts or study settings, can be employed to investigate research gaps in a variety of study settings. Mixed-methods research is an alternative strategy that incorporates qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques to provide a deeper comprehension of the phenomenon in a variety of contexts (Plonsky, 2017).

Consequently, research voids in different study contexts limit the generalizability of research findings and their ability to influence policy and practice. To surmount these disparities, comparative or mixed-methods research approaches must be used to analyze the phenomenon or research topic in numerous contexts or circumstances.

INFORMING THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESES

Developing research queries and hypotheses is one of the primary objectives of conducting a literature review. By analysing the existing literature, researchers are able to identify knowledge deficits, controversies, and areas requiring additional research. A literature review may reveal a specific problem, issue, or knowledge deficiency that must be addressed, which can then be formulated into a research question or hypothesis.

Suppose, for instance, that a researcher wishes to investigate the efficacy of technology in language acquisition among elementary school pupils. After conducting a literature review, the researcher may discover a dearth of research on the efficacy of using virtual reality technology to teach grammar to elementary school students. This lacuna in the literature could then inform the formulation of a research question such as “How effective is the use of virtual reality technology in teaching grammar to elementary school students?” or a statement such as “Virtual reality technology is more effective than traditional methods of teaching grammar to primary school students.”

A researcher who is interested in researching how instructor feedback affects students’ writing in English as a second language might be another example. After reviewing the literature, the researcher may find that little is known about how students interpret and utilize the feedback, with most recent studies concentrating exclusively on the kinds and frequency of feedback given by instructors. Due to this gap in the literature, new research questions and hypotheses could be developed, such as “How do ESL students perceive and use teacher feedback on their writing?” and “ESL students who receive feedback that is specific, timely, and relevant to their writing needs are more likely to improve their writing skills.”

The development of research questions and hypotheses that might direct the research process and the identification of research gaps are all made possible via the use of literature reviews.

BUILD UPON THE WORK OF PREVIOUS RESEARCHERS

The literature review is crucial for building on the findings of earlier researchers and identifying areas that require more research. By examining the body of recent literature, researchers can spot knowledge gaps, contradictions in results, and areas that require additional research. For instance, a review of the language education literature may reveal a dearth of studies on the application of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) at secondary schools in a particular nation. This may motivate a researcher to formulate a research topic or hypothesis to investigate the efficacy of CALL in that country’s secondary schools.

Similar to this, a review of the literature could produce contradictory findings regarding the efficacy of a certain teaching style or technique. This can prompt a researcher to investigate the causes of the differences and formulate a research question or hypothesis to clarify the situation. For instance, a review of the literature may reveal contradictory findings about the efficiency of task-based language training (TBLT) in enhancing students’ speaking abilities. A researcher might create a study question or hypothesis to ascertain the conditions in which TBLT bestows speaking abilities.

As a result, the literature review is an effective technique for identifying knowledge gaps, highlighting topics that require more investigation, and assisting in the development of research questions and hypotheses. It enables researchers to considerably advance their field of study and further the work of their predecessors.

GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Reviewing and analysing existing literature in their discipline, researchers execute a literature review to obtain a deeper comprehension of the research problem they are investigating. This procedure can result in several advantages, including:

Identifying gaps in the literature: By reviewing previous studies, researchers can identify areas where little research has been conducted or where there are contradictory results. Researchers may discover, for instance, that while there has been extensive research on the use of technology in language learning, there is a lacuna in the literature regarding the impact of specific categories of technology on language learning outcomes.
Refining research questions and hypotheses: By reviewing and synthesising existing literature, researchers can refine their research questions and hypotheses to ensure that they are pertinent, specific, and answerable. For instance, based on their literature review, researchers may refine their research query to concentrate on the impact of a particular technology on the development of second language learners’ speech abilities.
Developing new insights: Reviewing previous literature can also result in the development of new insights and ideas regarding the research problem under investigation. A literature survey in the field of language education, for instance, may disclose that virtual reality technology has the potential to improve language learning outcomes, prompting researchers to consider incorporating this technology into their study.
Building on the work of earlier researchers: Researchers may provide a foundation for their own study by building on the work of other researchers by examining and synthesizing the existing literature. This may make sure that their study is relevant, up to date, and adds to the body of knowledge in their profession as a whole.

In summary, a thorough and well-done literature review may help researchers find gaps in the literature, hone their research questions and hypotheses, get fresh perspectives, and expand on the work of earlier researchers.

ESTABLISH THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

By locating and evaluating the theoretical ideas, models, and frameworks used in similar earlier research, a literature review aids in the development of a study’s theoretical framework. A conceptual and analytical foundation for the study is provided by the theoretical framework, which enables the researcher to understand the research topic in a larger theoretical perspective. In order to ensure coherence, rationality, and rigor in the study, it also regulates the research design, data collecting, analysis, and interpretation.

Identifying and analyzing the models and ideas used to describe the connection between grammar education and language acquisition, for example, might assist build the theoretical framework in a research looking at the efficacy of teaching grammar in a second language. The assessment of the literature may show, for example, that the interactionist position emphasizes the importance of interaction in language development or the input hypothesis, which contends that language acquisition occurs via exposure to understandable information. The researcher may create a theoretical framework that directs the study’s research questions, hypotheses, and techniques by synthesizing various theoretical viewpoints.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Theoretical models often used in studies on language instruction include:

Sociocultural theory: According to sociocultural theory, learning is a social activity that happens via interpersonal contact in a particular setting. In order to understand how children learn languages via social interactions in the classroom, sociocultural theory might be used.

The theoretical framework of communicative language education emphasizes the importance of contact and communication in language learning. It proposes that language training should emphasize the growth of communicative ability rather than only teaching linguistic information.

Critical pedagogy: According to critical pedagogy, education should be utilized to fight social injustice and promote equality. In order to question prevailing discourses and advance inclusive and equitable language practices, language teaching may be used as a tool for critical pedagogy in the field of language education.

Second language acquisition theory: Understanding how second languages are learned and how to speed up the process are two main goals of second language acquisition theory. It looks at the factors of input, interaction, and motivation in language learning.

Constructivism: Constructivism contends that via their experiences and interactions with the outside world, students actively develop their own knowledge and understanding. Constructivism may be utilized in language education to look at how students create their own language understanding and how various teaching and learning methods might help.

Theoretical frameworks that are often used in language education research include some of these examples. There may be a preference for a particular conceptual framework depending on the study question and context.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

In educational research, developing a conceptual framework is an essential step. The study topic is graphically represented or modelled in the conceptual framework, which makes it clear how different ideas or variables relate to one another. It directs the research process and offers a theoretical foundation for the inquiry.

The conceptual framework is constructed in accordance with the research question and the appropriate literature study. Researchers first identify the key variables and ideas pertinent to their study question before creating a conceptual framework that shows how those concepts are related.

For instance, factors like student motivation, teacher preparation, and particular technological tools may be included in the conceptual framework of a research on the effectiveness of technology in language instruction. The framework could show how these factors interact with one another and how they can affect students’ learning results.

A conceptual framework helps researchers focus their attention and organize their ideas. Additionally, it guarantees theoretical rigor and offers a precise framework for data analysis and interpretation.

Several examples of conceptual frameworks from many fields of educational study are shown below:

Language Acquisition: Input, interaction, and output components might be included in the conceptual framework for a research on second-language acquisition. The terms “input” and “interaction” describe how language is presented to learners, “interaction” describes how they engage with it, and “output” describes the language that learners make.
Educational Technology: Technology adoption, instructional design, and learner engagement might all be part of a conceptual framework for a research on the use of educational technology. Learners’ motivation and degree of engagement with technology are referred to as their level of learner engagement.
Curriculum Development: Components like requirements assessment, curriculum design, and curriculum implementation might be included in a conceptual framework for a research on curriculum development. The effective delivery and assessment of the curriculum constitute implementation.
Teacher Training: The knowledge, preparation, and effectiveness of teachers might all be included in a conceptual framework for a research on teacher education. The information and abilities instructors require in order to successfully educate pupils are referred to as teacher knowledge. The terms “teacher preparation” and “methods and approaches used to prepare teachers” are synonymous.

These conceptual frameworks in education research are only a few examples. The particular elements and their connections depend on the study question and subject under investigation.

A literature review may also provide insight into the research techniques and tools used in earlier studies that are pertinent to the research question. Researchers may choose the best methodology and tools for their individual study by analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches. For instance, an examination of the language education literature may show that earlier studies on students’ attitudes toward language learning relied on questionnaires. Based on this knowledge, a researcher may conduct a survey to gather comparable data for their research. Similar to this, a study of the literature may show that earlier research on the impact of a certain teaching strategy on linguistic competency used experimental methods. Based on this knowledge, a researcher can decide to use an experimental design to look into the same subject. If researchers use the right research procedures and instruments, they may gather reliable data to answer their study questions and hypotheses.

EVALUATE THE STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

When conducting a literature review, researchers identify prior studies and assess the methodologies and instruments employed in those studies. This evaluation assists them in identifying the benefits and drawbacks of various approaches and selecting the most suitable methods for their research.

Suppose, for instance, that a literature evaluation reveals that previous studies on a specific topic extensively relied on self-reported data. In this case, the researcher may decide to incorporate additional data sources to strengthen the reliability of their results. Alternately, presume that previous research has utilised experimental designs to determine the efficacy of a particular intervention. In this case, the researcher may decide to employ a quasi-experimental design in order to exert greater control over confounding variables.

In addition, the literature review can assist researchers in identifying potential biases or confounding factors that may have influenced the results of prior studies. Suppose, for instance, that previous studies on a particular topic have focused predominantly on samples from a particular geographic region. In this case, the researcher may need to consider the applicability of their findings to other populations or geographic areas. This consideration can assist the researcher in designing a study that is more representative and applicable to a wider spectrum of contexts.

HOW TO SEARCH FOR AND EVALUATE RELEVANT LITERATURE

When performing a literature review, it is crucial to find and assess relevant material. Following are some steps to take:

Identify databases: The first step is to identify databases that are relevant to your study issue. Popular education databases include ERIC, Semantic Scholar, J-Gate, Google Scholar, Web of Science, SSRN, and Scopus.
Create keyword phrases: Based on your research query, choose relevant keywords, synonyms, and related phrases.
Carry out the search: Use your search criteria to look for information in the databases that have been specified. You may also want to utilize criteria like publishing type, language, and date of publication.
Determine the articles’ relevance: Read the abstracts of each article as you review the search results to see whether it is relevant to your research question.
Evaluate the papers’ quality: After locating relevant articles, assess their value by looking at the author backgrounds, publication repute, and study methods.
Arrange and synthesize data: Arrange the data from the relevant article and synthesize the results to detect trends and themes.

It is crucial to keep in mind that finding and analyzing relevant literature is an iterative process since you may need to change your search criteria and check many databases to discover the most appropriate articles. In order to be sure that you are utilizing reliable sources to direct your study, you must also analyze the caliber and relevancy of each piece.

Finding relevant databases is a key step in doing a literature study. electronic collections of academic materials such books, journals, dissertations, and conference proceedings. They provide scholars access to a large collection of academic literature and serve as an important source of information for locating pertinent research projects.

When choosing databases, it is crucial to take the subject matter or academic field of the research query into account. Selecting the suitable database can help researchers quickly find relevant studies since different databases specialize in different fields of study.

Examples of popular academic databases include:

Access to papers, studies, and other materials linked to educational research is made possible via ERIC (Education materials Information Centre), a database.

The JSTOR database comprises articles, books, and original materials from the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

PsycINFO is a database that contains articles, books, and other materials relating to psychology and allied fields.

Articles, conference papers, and other materials from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences are all available via Web of Science.

Articles, books, and other materials from the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences are all available via Scopus.

Google Scholar is a search engine developed by Google that helps people quickly and easily find scholarly materials online.

It is important to utilize specific search phrases and filters to limit down the quantity of results while looking for relevant material. Then they may focus on the articles that are most relevant to their work.

Assume a researcher is interested in finding out how effective language-learning software is in helping people learn English. You may try looking for “language learning apps,” “English language proficiency,” and “effectiveness” to get relevant results. People may additionally narrow their search results by using criteria like publication date, publishing type, and language.

In addition, Google Scholar, a free web-based search tool, makes it simpler to find academic papers. Dissertations, books, and conference papers from academic institutions, trade groups, digital libraries, and other online resources are indexed. Users may sign up for citation tracking and alerts on Google Scholar to be notified when new articles meet their search criteria.

Researchers may use Google Scholar to look for relevant literature by entering keywords related to their study subject. Author, publication date range, and date range are just a few of the search variables that may be used to narrow down the results. In addition to citations and relevant publications, Google Scholar also lists useful external connections.

Although Google Scholar is a helpful tool for reviewing the literature, it is crucial to remember that not all scholarly works are indexed. Researchers should look into various databases and resources to collect as much relevant data as possible for their assessment.

To begin a thorough literature search, it is necessary to locate relevant databases. Researchers may save time and effort by carefully narrowing their database choices to just include those that include articles that are directly relevant to their study.

DEVELOP SEARCH TERMS

If you want to do a serious literature review, you need to spend some time thinking up good search terms. A search query is a set of words or phrases typed into a search engine to get results related to a certain subject. When developing search terms, researchers should think carefully about their research questions and hypotheses, as well as the relevant core concepts, variables, and keywords.

One method for developing search terms is to make a list of potential keywords associated with the research topic. These terms may be derived from the study’s guiding questions and hypotheses as well as any additional data that sheds light on the issue at hand. Technology, language learning, educational technology, digital learning, online learning, computer-assisted language learning, etc. are all good examples of keywords for a research on “the impact of technology on language learning.”

Using the database-specific thesaurus or restricted vocabulary is another method for developing search terms. These resources provide standardized terminology for certain themes and may help researchers find relevant material more quickly. An example of a regulated vocabulary is the ERIC Thesaurus, which is used by the Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) database and contains terminology from the field of education and allied fields.

It is also crucial to take into account any synonyms or similar phrases that can be pertinent to the research issue. For example, “language learning” may alternatively be referred to as “second language acquisition” or “foreign language learning,” and including these keywords in the search might assist it cover a larger range of relevant material.

Researchers may start searching academic databases using a list of potential search phrases they’ve created, then hone their searches as needed depending on the findings. To guarantee that the search is thorough and reproducible, it is crucial to keep track of the search terms and databases consulted.

CONDUCT THE SEARCH

The next step is to run a search in the chosen databases after creating the search parameters. The following techniques may help with the search:

Obtaining databases: Use the databases that were chosen at the earlier stage. Use the search interface or box to enter your search keywords.
Narrow your search: There might be a ton of irrelevant articles in the search results at first. Use the database’s advanced search features to narrow your search. These possibilities include date, language, kind of publishing, author, and other relevant search parameters.
Examine the search outcomes: Examine the search results after doing the search to evaluate if the articles are relevant to the study question. Examining the article titles, abstracts, and keywords will reveal the relevance.
Get the whole text: Obtain the whole text Once the relevant articles have been located, you may use the library’s database connections or its interlibrary loan service to get the complete text.
Save your lookup: Save the search findings so you may use them later or share them with other academics.

Think about the following study: “What effect does technology have on language learning in elementary schools?” You might search using the phrases “technology and language learning and elementary schools and impact” in databases like ERIC, Semantic Scholar, J- Gate, Google Scholar, Web of Science, SSRN, and Scopus. The search parameters may include terms like “technology,” “language learning,” “elementary schools,” and “impact.” The relevant articles may then be bookmarked for later use after reviewing the search results.

EVALUATE THE RELEVANCE OF ARTICLES

Finding possible articles through the search procedure, the next step is to evaluate their usefulness in answering the research question. The following criteria should be used to assess the relevance of articles:

The title of the article ought to reflect the main focus of the study.

The summary has to sum up the content and its main points quickly and clearly. It should be indicated whether the article is relevant to the research problem.

The introduction should include a brief synopsis of the article’s topic and focus. It should be indicated whether the article is relevant to the research problem.

Methods: In this part, you should explain how you conducted the research. In this part, you’ll assess the study’s methods to see whether they’re adequate for resolving the research issue.

The findings of the investigation should be presented in the results section. The relevance of the results to the study’s issue rests on this evaluation.

The discussion portion of your paper is where you get to talk about what you found and what you think needs to be done next in terms of research. The significance of these implications to the research question at hand must be assessed here.

The references section should also contain any supplementary research that are cited in the article. These studies may be assessed for their relevance to the investigation at hand.

An summary of the article and its relevance to the study’s subject should be included in the introduction. If the question being investigated is something like “What are the effects of technology on student learning in the classroom?,” a piece with a title like “The Impact of Technology on Student Learning: A Literature Review” may be useful. The abstract should include a brief overview of the study’s key takeaways, such as the effect of technology on education. The findings of the research should be provided in the results section, while the approach used to examine the impact of technology on student learning should be described in the methods section. Findings analysis and suggestions for future study, such as how technology might improve education, should be presented in the discussion section. The bibliography needs more studies that look at how technology affects education. By weighing each article’s usefulness, researchers may choose the best ones to include in the literature review.

EVALUATE THE QUALITY OF ARTICLES

Assessing the quality of the publications is a crucial part of any literature review. In order to determine whether or not the research may be utilized in your study, you must evaluate its credibility, validity, and dependability. Some ways to assess an article’s quality are listed below.

Keep in mind the beginning: To guarantee trustworthiness and subject area competence, check the author’s qualifications and the standing of the magazine or publication.
Verify the method’s validity by Validity of the study relies on suitable approach, processes, and analysis. You may test them to see whether they have sufficient samples, good methods for collecting data, and reliable statistical analysis.
Take into account the possibility of bias due to factors including sample selection bias and researcher prejudice.
Think about the study’s internal and external validity (how well it analyzes what it set out to test and how widely its results may be applied).
Verify the reliability of the research: Examine the reliability of the research by inspecting the findings for consistency and the measures for consistency.

Examining the methodology of a study looking at the effectiveness of a particular teaching method, determining the validity of a study examining the impact of a language program on student achievement, or determining the validity of a study comparing the language proficiency levels of various groups of learners are examples of how to evaluate the quality of articles in language education research.

ORGANIZE AND SYNTHESIZE INFORMATION

Conducting a literature review requires important procedures such as organizing and synthesizing the information. The researcher must methodically and usefully organize the material gleaned from relevant publications after selecting and analyzing them. This makes it easier to see trends, themes, and gaps in the literature, which helps to guide the study questions and hypotheses.

One approach of organizing and synthesizing material is to use a matrix or table to record and compare the crucial data from each article, such as the research questions, methods, findings, and conclusions. To evaluate and contrast the study topics, sample sizes, teaching strategies, and findings of different pertinent studies, for instance, a researcher doing a literature review on the effectiveness of various teaching approaches for English language learners may create a table.

Another technique for synthesizing material is thematic analysis, which includes recognizing and classifying the themes or patterns that appear in the literature. To find repeating themes and notions, it is necessary to read the articles more than once. For instance, a researcher reviewing the literature on the difficulties experienced by English language learners in the classroom would find themes like cultural differences, linguistic obstacles, and teaching methods.

It is crucial to recognize that organizing and synthesizing information happens continuously throughout the literature review. The researcher may need to alter or enhance the organization or synthesis of the material when new information is received. The researcher may locate crucial results, linkages, and gaps in the literature by organizing and synthesizing the material in a clear and methodical way. These findings will provide the foundation for the creation of research questions and hypotheses.

In order to make it easier to compare and analyze important data from many research, it is usual practice in literature reviews to organize and synthesize information using a matrix or table. A visual tool for seeing patterns, connections, and gaps in the literature is the matrix or table.

A matrix comprising columns for the research question, study methodology, sample size, program features, and results might be created, for example, as a result of a review of the literature on the efficacy of online English language learning programs. The relevant data would be entered in the appropriate column for each row, which would represent a different research.

The researcher may quickly evaluate the study designs, sample sizes, program parameters, and outcomes of multiple studies using this matrix. This may be used to spot trends and connections, including which program elements are most closely linked to successful results, as well as gaps in the body of knowledge, such the need for research with bigger sample sizes or stricter study designs.

Overall, researchers may find major themes, patterns, and linkages in the literature as well as pinpoint areas that need further investigation by organizing and synthesizing material from several studies in a matrix or table.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS

Thematic analysis is a technique used to examine qualitative data from open-ended survey questions, focus groups, and interviews. It involves finding and analyzing trends, themes, and ideas in the data. Here are some extra details and examples:

Spotting themes: Before beginning a thematic analysis, the researcher should look over the data to get a feel for it. The pupils then group related ideas or phrases to find patterns and themes. If the data are from a research on the experiences of immigrants in a new country, themes may include culture shock, language obstacles, and prejudice, for example.
Coding: Following theme identification, the researcher organizes the data by giving labels or codes to the many ideas or claims that correspond to each topic. This process aids with data organization and makes it easier to find information.
Creating subthemes: On occasion, themes are excessively broad and need to be divided into subthemes. For instance, the concept of “culture shock” may be further broken down into emotions of loneliness, depression, and trouble adjusting to new social customs.
Iterative process: Thematic analysis is often an iterative process, meaning that as the researcher examines the data further, themes and sub-themes may change or be improved. It is vital to continually compare data to emerging themes and to be open to new ideas.

The last step of the theme analysis is to report the findings in a clear and straightforward way. Creating a narrative to summarize the themes and subthemes, utilizing quotes or examples from the data to highlight the findings, and going through how the findings could have an impact on the research question or the field as a whole are some examples of how to do this.

In a nutshell, thematic analysis is a flexible and widely used method for analyzing qualitative data. It may be used in many study fields, including psychology, sociology, education, and health care, and it gives researchers insight into the viewpoints and experiences of participants.

PROBLEM-SOLVING

Problem: You are to do a literature search on the topic of how technology may be used to language learning. You need to single out the most important concepts and results from the current literature and any gaps in our understanding or potential avenues for future study.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter three of the book focuses on the value of literature reviews in academic study. This chapter focuses on the use of literature reviews for filling in knowledge gaps, generating research questions and hypotheses, building on the work of others, and finding gaps in the research landscape. The significance of a literature review for understanding the research topic, creating an appropriate theoretical framework for the inquiry, and weighing the benefits and drawbacks of the study is also emphasized in this chapter. At the conclusion of this chapter, you will have a firm grasp of the significance of literature reviews in educational research, as well as an understanding of their aim and methodology.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEWING THE LESSON

How does the literature review contribute to the formulation of research queries and hypotheses?
Why is it essential to expand upon the work of earlier researchers?
How can a literature review assist in identifying areas that require additional research?
How does a literature review improve comprehension of the research problem?
What is a study’s theoretical framework, and how is it derived from a literature review?
What are some prevalent sources of educational research literature?
What are some methods for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the literature in a review?
How does synthesis and summary of multiple sources of literature contribute to the overall quality of a literature review?

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Goo, J., Granena, G., Yilmaz, Y., & Novella, M. (2015). Implicit and explicit instruction in L2 learning. Implicit and explicit learning of languages, 48, 443-482.

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Manchón, R., & Polio, C. (Eds.). (2022). The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and writing. Routledge.

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The significance of the literature review in academic study is emphasized in the book’s third chapter. The importance of literature reviews in educational research is discussed in this chapter. Literature reviews help researchers fill in knowledge gaps, develop research questions and hypotheses, expand on the results of prior studies, and pinpoint areas where further study…