Day: August 25, 2023

5 Literature Review Mistakes You Must Avoid

A worried researcher trying to write a literature review

Literature review mistakes? Anyone who has tried writing a research paper, especially for the first time, has a unique story. Yes, the generic views people often share are the difficulties each section of the research presents.

As the core of the research paper, literature review poses many challenges to researchers, especially novices to research. In the “5 Literature Review Mistakes You Must Avoid,” I walk you through the five mistakes you should not fall for when writing your literature review for a thesis or dissertation.

Lack of Focus or Clear Research Objectives

One common mistake is having a vague or overly broad focus. Without clear research objectives, your literature review may lack direction and coherence. 

Ensure you define the research questions or objectives you intend to address in your review. A well-defined focus helps you select relevant sources and keeps your review on track.

Insufficient Synthesis and Analysis

Merely summarizing individual sources without analyzing and synthesizing them is a common pitfall. 

Your literature review should do more than just present a laundry list of studies. Analyze the relationships between different studies, identify trends, patterns, and gaps in the literature, and critically evaluate the methodologies and findings. 

Aim for a meaningful discussion that adds value to the existing knowledge.

Cherry-Picking Sources

Writing a literature review must be a meticulous work.

Another mistake is selectively choosing sources that support your preconceived notions or ignoring sources that present contrasting perspectives. While it’s natural to favor studies that align with your research, a literature review should encompass diverse viewpoints. Including various studies, even those that challenge your hypothesis, demonstrate a balanced and thorough understanding of the topic.

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Failure to Cite and Reference Properly

Inadequate citation practices, improper referencing, or unintentional plagiarism can undermine the credibility of your literature review. Always attribute ideas and findings to their original authors through proper citations. The truth is, the least you can do as a thank you to the author is acknowledge the works you have included in your literature review.

Please familiarize yourself with the citation style required by your institution and adhere to it consistently throughout your review. Plagiarism not only damages your academic integrity but also weakens the scholarly foundation of your work.

Neglecting to Identify Gaps and Limitations

Failing to identify gaps in the existing literature and limitations of reviewed studies is a significant oversight. Addressing these gaps is essential to a literature review, providing a rationale for your research. If you ignore gaps, your study may lack a clear contribution to the field. Additionally, acknowledging the limitations of existing research demonstrates critical thinking. 

To avoid these mistakes, it’s essential to approach your literature review with careful planning, critical thinking, and a willingness to engage deeply with the existing research. Take the time to outline your review, clearly define your research objectives, and create a systematic approach to selecting, analyzing, and synthesizing sources.

Check out a sample of the characteristics of a good and bad lit review

Regularly review and revise your work to ensure that you are presenting a well-structured, balanced, and thoughtful literature review that serves as a strong foundation for your thesis or dissertation.

Writing Research Introduction: 7 Elements to Consider

 

Writing research introduction well in a research paper is undoubtedly the foundation of every insightful research.

Writing research introduction can be described as competing a 100m race at the Olympics. You need to get your starting right to be able to make a good run. Fundamentally, the introduction of your thesis or dissertation is crucial as it sets the stage for the entire document and provides a context for your research. However, many students often do not know where to start from let alone how to go about it. 

In this article, I try to give you a ride through some important things that you must consider when crafting your research introduction. 

Provide Context and Background

Introduce the research topic and provide background information to help readers understand the context and significance of your study. Explain why this topic is important and relevant within the broader field of study. Yes, this serves as a teaser to readers. If you get it wrong, everything goes wrong. So, take note. 

State the Research Problem or Question

Research gap is the basis on which the research or thesis is conducted. The question mark in this picture seeks to explain that research gaps are identified through asking questions.

Clearly articulate the research problem, question, or hypothesis that your study aims to address. This helps readers understand the specific focus of your research and what you intend to investigate. This aspect is more like the sweetener, it whets the reading appetite of the reader. 

Outline Objectives and Scope

Present the objectives or goals of your study. What do you aim to achieve with your research? Additionally, define the scope of your study by indicating what aspects of the topic you will cover and what you will not cover. This helps manage reader expectations. It’s better to manage the readers’ expectations than to give them false hope. 

Highlight Research Gap and Significance

Identify the gap or limitation in the existing literature that your research seeks to address. Explain why this gap is significant and how your study will contribute to filling it. Discuss your research’s potential impact and relevance to academia and practical applications. This is what research is all about. Many students tend to ignore this aspect. An excellent research must trigger the reader’s curiosity. Don’t just follow the wagon of students whose works only beautify the shelves or add to the pool of research “waste.” The start of your ingenuity begins here.

Provide a Rationale and Justification

Explain why your research is worth pursuing. Highlight the rationale behind your choice of topic, research questions, or hypotheses. Discuss the potential benefits of your findings and how they can advance knowledge in the field. It’s as simple as that. 

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Outline Methodology and Approach

Briefly describe your research methods and approaches to gather data, analyze information, and answer your research questions. This gives readers an overview of the methodology and establishes the research’s credibility.

Preview the Structure

Provide an overview of how you organized your thesis or dissertation. Briefly mention the main sections or chapters and explain how they flow together. This helps readers navigate your document and understand its overall structure. Get a pdf of how well you can structure your research and its introduction here

In addition to these considerations, remember to maintain a clear and concise writing style, avoid overly technical jargon that might alienate readers, and establish a logical flow of information. The introduction should grab the reader’s attention, provide the key context, and create enthusiasm for reading the rest of your thesis or dissertation. Writing research introduction doesn’t have to be rocket science, so don’t be too nervous about it. As with any section of your work, revising and refining the introduction multiple times is essential to ensure that it effectively accomplishes its goals.