Writing a literature review Global and local levels

Writing a literature review: Global and local levels Richard Watson Todd

Writing the literature review • What is the purpose of a literature review? • Does a ‘literature review’ have to review literature? • Theoretically v. practically justified research

Quantity of references • Theoretically based research – e. g. Applied Linguistics – 20 -100 references per article • Practically based research – e. g. Forum – 5 -10 references per article • Quantity of references is not a basis for evaluating quality of research

Justifying your research • YOUR argument is more important than the literature • References to the literature are used to show that YOUR argument is valid • The literature only takes precedence over YOUR argument when you are explaining necessary background knowledge

Writing a global argument • In 2007 we produced a mobile learning application and conducted research into it • We wrote an article about the application • To see the application, go to http: //arts. kmutt. ac. th/mom/detective. php

Writing a global argument • For the article about Mo. M, what will be the main topics to cover in the literature review? • General pattern: – General to specific – Familiar to unfamiliar

Global argument for Mo. M • What do we need to justify? – Value of making an MPALL game – Value of Mobile Mazes as an MPALL game – Value of investigating certain aspects of Mo. M

Value of making an MPALL game • Ubiquity of mobile phones • Importance of mobile phones to students • Potential of mobile phones as a language learning device • BUT dangers of technology-driven innovations

Value of Mobile Mazes as an MPALL game • Previous work in MPALL • Drawbacks with previous applications • What needs to be improved – Note: This section will be stronger with a coherent framework – CALL in the 1980 s • Justification for using action mazes in Mo. M

Value of investigating certain aspects of Mobile Mazes • Difficulty of investigating learning from MPALL • Need to confirm benefits of MPALL identified in previous research • Need to fill gaps in MPALL literature • Need to investigate key features of Mo. M (e. g. motivating gameplay) • Lead to Research Questions

One process for writing a literature review • • Read 3 or 4 key texts (and put to one side( Make YOUR rough argument Read other texts (and put to one side( Remake YOUR rough argument Identify points needing support Find references covering those points Match references to YOUR argument Revise your argument if necessary

Make YOUR rough argument – Value of making an MPALL game – Value of Mobile Mazes as an MPALL game – Value of investigating certain aspects of Mo. M

Match references to YOUR argument References matching argument Stage in argument

http: //callej. org/journal/10 -1/Watson-Todd. html • Value of making an MPALL game – – Ubiquity of mobile phones Importance of mobile phones to students Potential of mobile phones as a language learning device BUT dangers of technology-driven innovations • Value of Mobile Mazes as an MPALL game – – Previous work in MPALL Drawbacks with previous applications Directions for improvement: CALL in the 1980 s Justification for using action mazes in Mo. M • Value of investigating certain aspects of Mo. M – – Difficulty of investigating learning from MPALL Need to confirm benefits of MPALL identified in previous research Need to fill gaps in MPALL literature Need to investigate key features of Mo. M (e. g. motivating gameplay(

Principles for the literature review • Do not be biased (it’s not persuasive( • Present both sides of an argument and show why your side is more important • Acknowledge problems, weaknesses and assumptions • Mix argument with explanations • Write at the level of your audience • Use a more specific heading than ‘Literature Review’ • Use clause-final citations where possible (rough rule: 80+% of citations( • Sentence-initial citations are used where: – Author is important – Explanations of theory (not YOUR argument) • Use multiple citations where appropriate

Searching for literature • Especially to get an overview of an unfamiliar topic • To find example articles on Google Scholar specific points • To find articles identified in Science. Direct etc. Google Scholar for which pdfs are not available RMD • To justify methodology Google (web) • To find background facts • BALD • •

Writing a local argument • Justify all points in an argument • Use citations judiciously – Expected number of citations based on article style – General use of clause-final citations • Write a paragraph on a given topic – – – Construct argument Identify points needing justification Find references Match references to argument Write the paragraph