Literature+Review

=The Literature Review Process=

The literature review process is critical to the research process because it represents your pursuit and investigation into a particular area of study which you will become more informed about. If you are currently in or are pursuing a career in the teaching profession, then your research focus might be centered on a particular aspect of the profession. For instance, you may want to investigate how best to implement a particular teaching strategy. OR, you may want to investigate whether or not a particular strategy that is currently in use is effective. OR, you may want to develop your own teaching strategy which is based on the findings of other researchers. In either case, the research focus you select and identify must be near and dear to you. You must find passion in taking on this endeavor. Select a topic that is worthwhile to you and important to the profession. The following graphic depicts a systematic approach to the literature review process.



In general, there are two different approaches one can take through the literature review process: Systematic or Narrative (see Table 1). Certainly, you have freedom to use either or some combination of both approaches. In fact, your approach may evolve over time as you become more informed regarding your research focus. Your focus may also shift somewhat as you uncover and discover more information that informs your focus. In either case, it is critical for you to identify major themes that exist in the literature that you have uncovered. These themes represent your critical analysis of the readings you have selected from the literature. One tool you may find useful is called the [|critical reading shee]t, which can be used to assist in identifying major points or themes from the readings you are going through.



__Bibliography__:

[|UNC Writing Center's Literature Review Handouts and Links]