Holy Spirit Library

Research Wiki:  Research in Social Work: Literature Review

 

 Wiki Hint:  Use the right mouse click on any hyperlink to open the web page in a new window.

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 What is a Literature Review?

 

A thorough and comprehensive examination of the research and/or theory relevant to a topic. A literature review analyzes and integrates scholarly research and theory in an organized, prose fashion.

 

 

 Purpose of a Literature Review

 

As a means of disseminating information to scholars in a particular discipline the literature review has four purposes:

 

• to describe work done on a specific area of research 

   

• to evaluate this work

   

• to identify areas of controversy in the literature

   

• to formulate questions that need to be addressed further

   

 

Components of a Literature Review

 

The works that make up the literature review fall into three categories:

 

• General theoretical literature

   

  • This literature establishes the importance of your topic/research.   These sources generally define abstract concepts, discuss the relationships between abstract concepts, and include statistics about the problem being investigated.  Landmark and classic articles are also included.

     

• Literature on related topic areas

   

  • These sources identify general themes that run throughout the literature.   For example,  a database search on the topic of student cheating will find articles on cheating and gender, cheating related to age, and cheating and academic achievement.  

     

• Literature specific to your research focus

   

  • This literature is highly relevant.  The sources isolate the issues and highlight the findings you expected when you articulated your research question or formulated your hypothesis.    

     

     

Structure of a Literature Review

 

The literature review consists of  the introduction, the body, and  the conclusion. 

 

In the Introduction   

 

·         Define the problem or state the thesis.   

 

·         Identify overall trends in what has been published on the topic.  Identify conflicts in theory, methodology, evidence, conclusions and gaps in research and new perspectives on the topic. 

 

·         State the reason for reviewing the literature; explain the criteria to be used in analyzing and comparing the research articles; explain why certain literature is or is not included.

 

In the Body  

 

·        Describe the articles or documents in detail.   

 

·         Group articles together according to types, such as case studies, reviews, empirical studies,  or according to the conclusions of the authors, or the specific purposes or objectives. 

 

·         Compare and evaluate the articles or documents.

 

In the Conclusion

 

·     Summarize the major contributions of the significant articles or documents to the topic under review.   

 

·     Evaluate the current state of the research for the topic under review.  Explain inconsistencies in theory or conclusions, gaps in research, and point out issues that need to be studied further. 

 

·    Provide insight into the relationship between the topic under review and the larger discipline of which it is a part.  Provide implications of the studies or documents discussed for the profession or discipline at large.    

 

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Literature Review Worksheet  

 

• This worksheet can be used to organize your research articles or book chapters. 

   

Literature Review Worksheet.doc

 

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 Examples of Literature Reviews

• Sample APA paper from Purdue
• Sample APA paper from the Bedford Handbook

 

• Another example  from Brandeis University

 

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Finding Information on Your Topic: 

 

The Encyclopedia of Social Work is the primary resource used by researchers and social workers.    The library has the print version in the reference collection. (Ref HV12 .E53).  The electronic version is also available through CAVALOG.   

  

 

Search for background information in your textbook, library books, in Cavalog and  Credo Ref, the collection of e-Reference books.

 

Find specific and current research by searching the primary periodical databases, PsycArticles, PsycINFO, and Social Work Abstracts.  You can access the databases by selecting the subject Social Sciences from the Databases link on the 

• PsycArticles: Learn more about the database.  View a  tutorial. 
• PsycINFO:     Learn more about the database.  View a  tutorial. 

• Social Work Abstracts:  Learn more about the database.  

 

Information Sheet:  (Resources and database search tips)  

Research+in+Social+Work[1].doc 

 

 

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Saving and Accessing Articles Found in EBSCO:

 

PsycArticles, PsycINFO, PsycBOOKS, Social Work Abstracts, and SocINDEX are relevant databases that can be searched simultaneously through EBSCO.  Create a folder in EBSCO to save articles from your searches.

 

Power Point:  My EBSCOhost Tutorial: Creating Folder on EBSCO.ppt 

 

 

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Writing Helps:

 

APA Style:   The preferred style for the Social Sciences. 

 

Style Guides:  APA and others.  (Check with your instructor to make sure you're using the appropriate citation style)  

 

The Writing Center :  Located in Room 110 of the Iadarola Center for Science Education and Technology.

 

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 Overview of Session:  Research in Social Work.ppt

 

Evaluate the IL session: 

 

 

 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=vSgirtsjkqKPJaOEA9neAg_3d_3d

 

Credits:

APA formatting style guide ©: The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue University http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Literature Review Worksheet Â©: A. Schwelm, Holy Spirit Library, Cabrini College www.cabrini.edu/library

Sample APA Paper from the Bedford Handbook ©:Diana Hacker, Bedford St. Martin's http://www.dianahacker.com/

Sample APA Paper Â©: The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue University http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

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