Video lecture 1: types of literature review......................................................................2
Video lecture 2: review question & exploratory search..................................................6
...................................................................................................................................... 9
Lecture 1:...................................................................................................................... 9
Video lecture 3 search strategy part 1:........................................................................11
Video lecture 3 search strategy part 2:........................................................................12
lecture 2: Searching and screening literature..............................................................13
videolecture 4 data extraction......................................................................................15
Videolecture 5: critical reading....................................................................................18
video lecture 6: Synthesis and Analysis: Synthesising qualitative studies...................20
Video Lecture 7: Thematic Analysis and Synthesis.....................................................24
Video Lecture 8: Realist synthesis...............................................................................25
Video Lecture 9: Framework Synthesis.......................................................................27
Video Lecture 10: Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis part 1................................28
Video Lecture 10: Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis part 2................................29
,Video lecture 1: types of literature review
what is a literature review: a critical assessment of published literature on a particular topic.
It is not a list like an annotated bibliography in which a summary of each source is listed one
by one. A literature review requires you to think critically.
- “Proper thinking is about forming an argument or a critical analysis that you can back
up with evidence and reinforce with appropriate examples” (Swain, 2009: 12)
- Strengths and weaknesses of existing research
- Why and how you think their ideas or theories might be improved
A literature review is a critical assessment of published literature on a particular topic.
- Synthesis is a key aspect!
- Classification, comparison and/or evaluation of the current knowledge
- substantive findings, issues and themes
- Populations, interventions, outcomes
- theoretical contributions
- methodological contributions
- Open questions, not answered questions (avenues for further investigation)
- Contradictions
Review must compare and contrast the existing views
- Holistic perspective on the topic
- Combining knowledge and understanding what has been written
- More than just an annotated bibliography
There must be a need for the review. And the review must contribute to the existing
knowledge base.
- creating a new dimension or fresh perspectives e.g.
- research agenda
- what works
- taxonomy
- alternative model / conceptual framework
- keep in mind: it is not just a summary!
Two general kinds of topics:
mature topics are large corpus, need for a review, critique and potential reconceptualization.
Ambiguities, contradictions and gaps in the knowledge base.
,new/ emerging topics: small corpus. Initial or preliminary conceptualisation (i.e. new model,
framework), synthesis of the literature to date.
narrative review:broad aim to get broad understanding or describe something. Searching is
often probing from one article to another.
systematic review: narrower focus, aim and objective are specific with specific questions.
strict protocol to retain as much studies in the review as possible, preferably all of them.
Systematic review: key phases:
1. mapping the field through a scoping review: what do we know and what are the
knowledge gaps. How much relevant material is available? prepare the review plan.
This includes the method and the protocol for the systematic review. define the
question or questions, compile key words. Set up the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Design the data extraction pro-forma or data sheet.
2. comprehensive search: access the electronic databases and search using your key
words. Search and document the search results. Check whether the hits are relevant
or are you coming up with too many hits. If so, do you need to refine the search and
revise the key words? Do you need to revise the inclusion and exclusion criteria? Do
you need to change the research question being addressed? document the results /
numbers in a table. screen the title, the abstract and if relevant print or obtain the
paper.
3. quality assessment: read the full paper and apply the quality assessment, using the
‘hierarchy of research’. decide whether papers are In or OUT of your review.
, Document the reasons for excluding papers and compile a numerical table of the
process.
4. data extraction. Write down the relevant data on to your pre-designed extraction
sheet. This can be handwritten or in an electronic format.
5. synthesis: synthesize the data from each individual article into one. Shows what we
know now and what we still need to know. Is a meta-analysis or a mathematical
synthesis feasible? A meta analysis is a synthesis method that can be used when the
data extraction is similar enough, how homogeneous are the included studies?
6. write up: write up a balanced, impartial and comprehensive report, using a systematic
review format, presenting the process reports which will enable another researcher to
replicate your review. disseminate to inform practice.
systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCT’s are perceived as the gold standard as they
are deemed as high quality and present strong evidence.
Types of literature reviews:
Video lecture 2: review question & exploratory search..................................................6
...................................................................................................................................... 9
Lecture 1:...................................................................................................................... 9
Video lecture 3 search strategy part 1:........................................................................11
Video lecture 3 search strategy part 2:........................................................................12
lecture 2: Searching and screening literature..............................................................13
videolecture 4 data extraction......................................................................................15
Videolecture 5: critical reading....................................................................................18
video lecture 6: Synthesis and Analysis: Synthesising qualitative studies...................20
Video Lecture 7: Thematic Analysis and Synthesis.....................................................24
Video Lecture 8: Realist synthesis...............................................................................25
Video Lecture 9: Framework Synthesis.......................................................................27
Video Lecture 10: Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis part 1................................28
Video Lecture 10: Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis part 2................................29
,Video lecture 1: types of literature review
what is a literature review: a critical assessment of published literature on a particular topic.
It is not a list like an annotated bibliography in which a summary of each source is listed one
by one. A literature review requires you to think critically.
- “Proper thinking is about forming an argument or a critical analysis that you can back
up with evidence and reinforce with appropriate examples” (Swain, 2009: 12)
- Strengths and weaknesses of existing research
- Why and how you think their ideas or theories might be improved
A literature review is a critical assessment of published literature on a particular topic.
- Synthesis is a key aspect!
- Classification, comparison and/or evaluation of the current knowledge
- substantive findings, issues and themes
- Populations, interventions, outcomes
- theoretical contributions
- methodological contributions
- Open questions, not answered questions (avenues for further investigation)
- Contradictions
Review must compare and contrast the existing views
- Holistic perspective on the topic
- Combining knowledge and understanding what has been written
- More than just an annotated bibliography
There must be a need for the review. And the review must contribute to the existing
knowledge base.
- creating a new dimension or fresh perspectives e.g.
- research agenda
- what works
- taxonomy
- alternative model / conceptual framework
- keep in mind: it is not just a summary!
Two general kinds of topics:
mature topics are large corpus, need for a review, critique and potential reconceptualization.
Ambiguities, contradictions and gaps in the knowledge base.
,new/ emerging topics: small corpus. Initial or preliminary conceptualisation (i.e. new model,
framework), synthesis of the literature to date.
narrative review:broad aim to get broad understanding or describe something. Searching is
often probing from one article to another.
systematic review: narrower focus, aim and objective are specific with specific questions.
strict protocol to retain as much studies in the review as possible, preferably all of them.
Systematic review: key phases:
1. mapping the field through a scoping review: what do we know and what are the
knowledge gaps. How much relevant material is available? prepare the review plan.
This includes the method and the protocol for the systematic review. define the
question or questions, compile key words. Set up the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Design the data extraction pro-forma or data sheet.
2. comprehensive search: access the electronic databases and search using your key
words. Search and document the search results. Check whether the hits are relevant
or are you coming up with too many hits. If so, do you need to refine the search and
revise the key words? Do you need to revise the inclusion and exclusion criteria? Do
you need to change the research question being addressed? document the results /
numbers in a table. screen the title, the abstract and if relevant print or obtain the
paper.
3. quality assessment: read the full paper and apply the quality assessment, using the
‘hierarchy of research’. decide whether papers are In or OUT of your review.
, Document the reasons for excluding papers and compile a numerical table of the
process.
4. data extraction. Write down the relevant data on to your pre-designed extraction
sheet. This can be handwritten or in an electronic format.
5. synthesis: synthesize the data from each individual article into one. Shows what we
know now and what we still need to know. Is a meta-analysis or a mathematical
synthesis feasible? A meta analysis is a synthesis method that can be used when the
data extraction is similar enough, how homogeneous are the included studies?
6. write up: write up a balanced, impartial and comprehensive report, using a systematic
review format, presenting the process reports which will enable another researcher to
replicate your review. disseminate to inform practice.
systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCT’s are perceived as the gold standard as they
are deemed as high quality and present strong evidence.
Types of literature reviews:
