What is the best way to do a Literature Review for forthcoming dissertation?

[Lazylou]

Oh God, I'm so swamped with all my uni work I can't think straight! I am pg with DC2 and uni have said they are going to try and finish me up a month before my classmates so I can graduate at the same time. DC2 is due in June and that is when the course finishes. I've got this literature review to do and I don't really know how to start it. I've printed off loads of stuff from the internet. Do I just read it and make notes?

Your advice is much appreciated!

Find someone else's and see how they did it.
It's just a discussion of previous work relevant to your own research. Think what things need to be discussed, put them in a sensible order, and refer to appropriate citations in each section.

thanks for that

I am doing one for my degree at the moment.

I have been told to find about 8 articles, create a grid comparing them - like what covered, type of research, sample size etc. The grid is good to directly compare. We have been told that there should be a vague pattern evident.

Any help?

I would say it is asking you to compare and contrast the research in your area, linking it into the established theories and looking for gaps in research and recurrent themes.

Do you have long to do it as I think a book on how to do literature reviews was recommended to me earlier in the year. If you have time to seek out the book and read it I will try and find the title.

I had a quick look to see if I could google it and came up with the link below. Don't know if it will be of any help.

Good luck.

How to do a literature review

Subject?

If you really don't have much time... (or brain for it - I was also pregnant when doing my literature review and sometimes I only knew I had already reviewed an article because the notes displayed my handwriting! )

Anyways, I would start by choosing the most influential/popular/known article in the area that relates to your possible dissertation final topic. (your supervisor can suggest one) that will be the starting point.

While you read it, write down any questions that come to your mind on the sides of the writing. If you find any of the questions written puzzling enough as to research further check any reference mentioned at the article (said articles listed at the end of the references). Repeat the process with every second article checked, one will take you into another until you have a very clear idea of the subject.

ok say your assignment is on smelly cats. You search lots of databases for smelly cats and use lots of different search words.

Then retrieve as many as you can that are relevant to smelly cats. Scan read the articles and then critique them (were they bias, did they use large samples, what were the recommendations, who did the studies, how were they performed etc) and then write about it.

By the way what is it on?

I'm focusing on mark making and early writing, although not too sure yet what the final question is going to be.

Thanks for all those comments. I have 3 how to do research books, and I suppose reading through all these notes would help