Reviewing the literature – Module Handbook

Coursework 1 does not contain a complete literature review, but it does require you to have undertaken a review of the literature appropriate to your chosen topic and your project’s aims and objectives. This means that the bulk of the actual searching for literature, retrieving literature, reviewing literature and the writing of the literature review will be undertaken in the first semester.

When undertaking your literature review, you should bear in mind that the aims of the literature review include:

to show what is already known, and what the important issues relating to your topic are
to set the scene for your investigation
to identify your particular research question as a gap in the literature or as prompted by the literature, i.e. to provide a rationale for your project;
to present the theoretical framework(s) you intend to apply and any predictions that they make in relation to your research question;
to build on previous models of similar investigations;
to provide information that contributes to the interpretation of your results.

Note: search the literature before settling on a research question

Do not aim to come up with a research question before searching the literature
Instead, question selection should be based on a literature search. This ensures a well motivated research question.

Timeline

Identify topic of interest (from previous modules, placement, current events)
Search the literature for research on that topic
Identify a research question, based on previous research