LITERATURE REVIEW

By
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hassan Ali
College of Business
Universiti Utara Malaysia
Literature Review

• Documentation of a comprehensive review

of the published and unpublished work
from secondary sources of data in the
areas of specific interest to the researcher.

Hassan Ali PhD

Literature Review (cont)
• Past research on the phenomenon under investigation
must play key role in the process of problem
formulation.

• A literature review is not a listing of studies but a critical

evaluation of previous research.

• A literature review requires a researcher to find, retrieve,

evaluate, and integrate past research into present
investigation.

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Literature Review (cont)

• A doctoral candidate is expected to be

aware of all the important literature of the
chosen filed of study.
• In socio-behavioral science research one
should try to break out of own
specialization and read literature from
related disciplines.

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Literature Review (cont)
• LR discusses published information in a
particular subject area.
• A LR combines both summary and synthesis.
• A summary is a recap of important information
from source.
• A synthesis is a reorganization or reshuffling of
the important information from source. It
involves evaluation of information from the
source.

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Literature Review: Purpose
• 1. to thoroughly describe work done on a
specific area of research.
• 2. to evaluate work done in a specific area of
research.
• Description and evaluation are important parts
of the LR.
• Describing past research without evaluation is
merely summarizing information without
digesting it.

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A Good Literature Review
• Important variables that are likely to influence the
problem not left out.
• Clear idea emerges as to what variables is most
important to the study (parsimony).
• Problem statement can be made with precision and
clarity.
• Testability and replicability of findings of current
research can be enhanced.
• Avoid risk of ‘reinventing the wheel’.
• Problem investigated is perceived by the scientific
community as relevant and significant.

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Conducting a Literature Review

• Be familiar although superficially with what’s

going on in areas other than one’s own. Do this
by systematically following annual reviews and
handbooks in various disciplines.
• Read some of the original sources to which a
review makes reference. This is to avoid the risk
of oversimplification when providing an overview
of research.

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Conducting a Literature Review
(cont)
• Peruse major journals in areas other than
your own to keep abreast of what people
in related disciplines may be thinking and
doing on the very same issue being
investigated.

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Conducting a Literature Review
(cont)
• The review examines:
What others have said about the topic of
research.
What theories address the research problem.
What previous research exist.
Are findings of previous research consistent or
do the studies disagree.
Are there flaws in the body of existing research
that can be remedied.

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Conducting a Literature Review
(cont)
• When reading an article, extract the following:
The objective(s) of the research
The theoretical rationale
The design
The measures used
The analysis employed
The findings obtained
Inferences and implications made by the
author(s)

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Writing A Review: Basic Elements

• Introduction: Gives a quick idea of the

topic of review s.a. the central theme or
organizational pattern of review.
• Body: Contains discussion of sources and
organized either chronologically,
thematically, or methodologically.
• Conclusions/Summary: Discuss what has
been drawn from reviewing literature.

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Chronology

• Materials/sources ordered according to

date published.

• LR can be structured according to trend.

Subsections created according to eras or
periods.
• Eg. Studies Before 1950; Studies Post
1950
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Thematic

• LR organized around a topic or issue.

• Subsections created to capture essence of
theme or sub-themes within a broader
picture.
• Eg. Job Performance
• Sub-themes: Measures of JP; Evaluation
Bias; Empirical Reviews; Output Measures;
Performance Ratings.

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Methodological

• Focuses on methods of the research.

• Evaluate the multitude of methods or
approaches used in research undertaken
within a topical area.

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Writing a Review

Quotation – using exact words from

source.
Paraphrase – using ideas in different
words i.e. representing information from
source accurately in own words.

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Writing a Review (cont)
• When writing a review it is necessary to provide
references for all materials that the researcher
did not think of him/herself.
• References are cited briefly in the text and in
detail at the end.
• All references must be cited to :
Acknowledge the source
Allow the reader to verify the data
Provide information so that the reader can
consult the source independently.

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Plagiarism

• A major transgression in writing literature

review is plagiarism.
• Using other people’s work and not giving
due credit constitute plagiarism.
• When ever citing someone’s else ideas or
use their language, cite the author and
year of publication.

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Sources

• With the advent of ICT locating previous

research has become easy.
• Previously, search had to be done
manually using bibliographical indexes and
abstracts which are compiled periodically.
• Today these sources are available in
computerized databases.

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Database

• Three form of database is useful during

literature search:
• Bibliographical database
• Abstract database
• Full-text database

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Bibliographical Database
• Eg. APA/PsycINFO
AN: 1990-06377-001
DT: Journal-Article
TI: Examination of race and sex effects on performance ratings.
AU: Pulakos,-Elaine-D.; White,-Leonard-A.; Oppler,-Scott-H.;
Borman,-Walter-C.
AF: Human Resource Research Organization, Alexandria,VA,USA
SO: Journal-of-Applied-Psychology.1989 Oct; Vol 74(5): 770-780
JN: Journal-of-Applied-Psychology
IS: 0021-9010
PY: 1989
LA: English

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Abstract Database

• Contain bibliographical information plus

AB: The effects of rater source, rater and
ratee race, rater and ratee sex, and job
type were investigated on ratings collected
for 8,642 first-term Army enlisted
personnel. Ratings …

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Full-Text Database

• Besides bibliographical information and

abstract, also provides the full-text of the
article, sometimes in PDF format.

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Electronic Journals

• Many renowned journals are now available

electronically besides in print form.
• Very highly specialized search depending
on choice of journal to be reviewed.
• Provides current or cutting-edge research
in respective field.

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Citing References

• There are several accepted methods of

citing references:
• Harvard System
• Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (5th ed.)
• The Chicago Manual of Style
• Turabian’s Manual for Writers
• Modern Language Association (MLA)
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Publication Manual of the APA
(5th ed.)
• The publication manual essentially describes
requirements for the preparation and submission
of manuscripts for publication.
• The APA publishes 27 primary journals.
• But there are other journals in psychology,
behavioral sciences, personnel
administrations,etc. that uses the Publication
Manual as their style guide.

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Reference Citation in Text

• References are cited in text using the

author-date citation system
One Work by One Author
Eg. Walker (2000) compared reaction
times
Eg. In a recent study of reaction times
(Walker,2000)

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Reference Citation in Text
(cont)
• One Work by Multiple Author
1. When a work has two authors –
always cite both names every time the
reference occurs in text.
Eg. Ali and Davies (2003)
Eg. (Ali & Davies, 2003)

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Reference Citation in Text
(cont)
2. When work has three, four, or five
authors – cite all authors the first time
the reference occurs. Subsequent citations
include only the surname of the first
author followed by et al. (not italicized and
with a period after “al”)
Eg. Davies, Mathews and Wong (1991)
Eg. Davies et al. (1991)

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Reference Citation in Text
(cont)
3. When a work has six or more
authors – cite only the surname of the
first author followed by et al. and the year
for the first and subsequent citations.
In the reference list, provide the initials and
surname of the first six authors, and
shorten any remaining authors to et al.

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Reference Citation in Text
(cont)
• List two or more works by different authors who
are cited within same parentheses in
alphabetical order by the first author’s surname.
Separate the citations with semicolons.
• Eg.(Avolio, Waldman, & McDaniel, 1990; Giniger
et al., 1983; Kutscher & Walker, 1960; Schwab
& Heneman, 1977; Sparrow & Davies, 1988)

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Reference List
• References are listed alphabetically in the
reference list.
• References cited in the text must appear in the
reference list.
• Entry in the reference list must be cited in the text.
• A Bibliography may contain references not cited in
the text.
• The reference list must be double-spaced, and
entries should have a hanging indent.

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APA Reference Style

• Journal Article (Print Version)

Ali, H., & Davies, D.R. (2003). The effects
of age, sex and tenure on the job
performance of rubber tappers. Journal
of Occupational and Organizational
Psychology, 76, 381- 391.

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APA Reference Style (cont)

• Journal Article (Electronic version)

Ali, H., & Davies, D.R. (2003). The effects
of age, sex and tenure on the job
performance of rubber tappers
[Electronic version]. Journal of
Occupational and Organizational
Psychology, 76,381-391.

Hassan Ali PhD

APA Reference Style (Cont)

• Journal Article more than Six Authors

Wolchik, S.A., West,S.G., Sandler, I.N.,
Tein,J., Coatsworth,D., Lengua,L., et al.
(2000). Title of Article.Title of
Periodical,xx,xxx-xxx.

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APA Reference Style (cont)
• Online Periodical
Author, A.A., Author, B.B., & Author, C.C.
(2000). Title of Article. Title of Periodical, xx,
xxx-xxx. Retrieved month day, year, from source.
Eg.VandenBos, G., Knapp, S., & Doe, J. (2001). Role
of reference elements in the selection of
resources by psychology undergraduates. Journal
of Bibliographic Research, 5,117-123.
Retrieved October 13,2001, from
http://jbr.org/articles.html

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APA Reference Style (Cont)

• Reference to Entire Book

Cooper, D.R., & Emory, C.W. (1995).
Business research methods (5th ed.).
Chicago: Irwin.

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APA Reference Style (cont)

• Reference to an article or chapter in an

edited book
Warr, P. (1994). Age and employment. In M.
Dunnette, L. Hough, & H. Triandis (Eds.),
Handbook of industrial and organizational
psychology (Vol. 4, 487-550). Palo Alto, CA:
Consulting Psychologist Press.

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APA Reference style (cont)

• Published Proceedings
Ali, H. (2000). Sex differences in the job
performance of blue-collar workers. In G.N.
McLean, E. Kayanak, & O.A. Aliaga (Eds.),
Proceedings of the Ninth World Business
Congress, (pp. 27-30). San José, Costa
Rica: Instituto Centroamericano de
Administración de Empresas.

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Apa Reference Style (cont)

• Paper Presented at Conference

Ali, H. (2004). Sex differences in absenteeism
among blue-collar agricultural workers in
Malaysia. Paper presented at the inaugural
conference of the Academy of World Business,
Marketing and Management Development, Gold
Coast, Queensland, Australia.

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APA Reference Style (cont)

• Newspaper Article
Workplace accidents on the rise. (2004,
December 2). New Straits Times,
p.16.

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APA Reference Style (cont)

• Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation

Ali, H. (1999). Individual differences in the
work behaviour of blue-collar workers:
A study of rubber tappers in
Malaysia. Unpublished doctoral
dissertation, Aston University, England.

Hassan Ali PhD

Harvard System

• Book
Mohr, L.B. (1996) Impact analysis for
program evaluation. 2nd ed. London, sage.
• Journal Article
Printer, K. (1983) ‘Support systems for
health professions students.’ Journal of
Nursing Education 22,6,pp 232-236.

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Chicago Manual

• Book
Blinksworth, Roger. 1987. Converging on
the evanescent.San Franscisco:
Threshold Publications.
• In-Text
(Blinksworth 1987,23)

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Chicago Manual (cont)

• Journal Article
Banks, William, 1958. Secret meeting in
boise. Midwestern Political Review 6:
26-31.
• In-Text
(Banks 1958,28)

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Kate L. Turabian’s Manual

• Book
Franklin, John Hope. 1985. George
Washinton Williams: A biography.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• In-Text
(Franklin, 1985,54)

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Kate L. Turabian’s Manual
(cont)
• Journal Article
Jackson, Richard. 1979. Running down the
up-escalator: Regional inequility in Papua
New Guinea. Australian Geographer
14 (May): 175-84.
• In-Text
(Jackson 1979,180)

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Hassan Ali PhD