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Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
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Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review
A Multimodal and Cultural Approach

First Edition


February 2016 | 440 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
This dynamic guide to doing literature reviews demystifies the process in seven steps to show researchers how to produce a comprehensive literature review. Teaching techniques to bring systematic thoroughness and reflexivity to research, the authors show how to achieve a rich, ethical and reflexive review.

 

What makes this book unique:

  • Focuses on multimodal texts and settings such as observations, documents, social media, experts in the field and secondary data so that your review covers the full research environment
  • Puts mixed methods at the centre of the process
  • Shows you how to synthesize information thematically, rather than merely summarize the existing literature and findings
  • Brings culture into the process to help you address bias and understand the role of knowledge interpretation, guiding you through
  • Teaches the CORE of the literature review – Critical thinking, Organization, Reflections and Evaluation – and provides a guide for reflexivity at the end of each of the seven steps
  • Visualizes the steps with roadmaps so you can track progress and self-evaluate as you learn the steps

This book is the essential best practices guide for students and researchers, providing the understanding and tools to approach both the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of a rigorous, comprehensive, literature review.


 
PART ONE: OVERVIEW
 
Chapter 1: Foundations of the Literature Review
 
Chapter 2: The Literature Review
 
Chapter 3: Methodology of the Literature Review
 
PART TWO: EXPLORATION
 
Chapter 4: Step 1: Exploring Beliefs and Topics
 
Chapter 5: Step 2: Initiating the Search
 
Chapter 6: Step 3: Storing and Organizing Information
 
Chapter 7: Step 4: Selecting/Deselecting Information
 
Chapter 8: Step 5: Expanding the Search: Media, Observation(s), Documents, Experts and Secondary Data
 
PART THREE: INTEGRATION
 
Chapter 9: Step 6: Analyzing and Synthesizing Information
 
PART FOUR: COMMUNICATION
 
Chapter 10: Step 7: Presenting the CLR Report: Planning Phase
 
Chapter 11: Step 7: Presenting the CLR Written Report
 
APPENDICES
 
Appendix A: Supplemental Tables of Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research Designs
 
Appendix B: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Legitimation Frameworks

This book is a useful guide to writing literature reviews for a student or professional at any level. It is a step by step process which provides structure and direction. The text includes how to tackle a systemtic literature review, which any texts on litertaure reviewing do not.

Mrs Kathryn Nethercott
Department of Education, Bedfordshire University
December 9, 2015

The idea of an academically rigorous and yet manageable seven step process to undertaking and producing a literature review is extremely attractive to young researchers, and so it proved with this book when I presented it to a recent MA cohort. There are plenty of examples and explanations, encouraging confidence and opening up possibilities of approach that some were afraid to entertain. What is more, it inspired enthusiasm among those planning qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.

Dr Walter Riggans
Cliff College, Cliff College
September 10, 2015

This book is an essential guide for anybody who is embarking on doing a literature review. Through the seven- steps approach, it helps researchers to understand what literature review is really
about. The book provides readers with the theoretical background to doing a literature review and offers practical advice regarding choosing databases, storage of data and producing a high quality final report. A must-read!

Ms Aneta Hayes
Department of Education, Keele University
February 9, 2016

This book has several elements that are of benefit to undergraduate students completing a dissertation in their final year of study. It gives a clear step by step breakdown of what the literature review is about, it's importance to a study and how it ties in with results and discussion chapters of a dissertation.

Ms Carmel Bracken
Department of Social Care, Limerick Institute of Technology
May 17, 2016

Many students struggle to prepare a literature review for their first paper: What literature should be included? How to research the relevant literature? How should I present contradicting arguments? This book gives clear answers and is a good guide for my second year bachelors.

Mr Christopher Kaan
BITS Berlin, Business and Information Technology School
January 19, 2016

This is going to be very useful for our Doctorate in Professional Studies candidates in their practice based doctoral projects by introducing in an accessible way key academic conventions to follow for people who may have been out of higher education for some time but are leaders in their professional fields.

Dr Mehmet Ali Dikerdem
Institute for Work Based Learning, Middlesex University
March 22, 2016

Brilliant resource for postgraduate students in a developing economy context who are challenged by using English as an additional language.

Mrs Christine Elizabeth Bischoff
Sociology Department, University of Witwatersrand
February 9, 2016

Doing a literature review, either as the basis of data generation for further research, or as an end in itself, is often seen as an easy task. This book dispels this myth and guides researchers in the review process and equips them with the skills necessary to undertake such activities.

Mr adam choonara
Natural Sciences, Middlesex University
December 9, 2015

The literature review is a part of research our undergraduate students struggle with. This book clarifies the important issues in a step by step approach. Not all students need it, but it is well-structured for those who need extra support.

Dr Clare N Hindley
Language and Communication, IUBH School of Business and Management
December 9, 2015

A clear, concise and well written text suitable for undergraduate students.

Dr Peter Leadbetter
Health & Social Care, Edge Hill University
December 9, 2015