Once you have formulated your research question, the next crucial step is to conduct a literature review. This step is essential. It helps position your research within the existing body of knowledge. It identifies gaps and refines your question further. Various types of literature reviews serve different purposes. Understanding these can help you choose the most appropriate approach for your study.
Types of Literature Reviews:
Scoping Review
- Definition: A scoping review is a preliminary assessment of the existing literature on a broader topic. It aims to map key concepts, gaps, and evidence available in the literature.
- Purpose: This type of review is particularly useful for exploring complex topics and can help find areas for future research.
- When to Use: Use a scoping review when the topic is broad or not well-defined. It is also useful when you want to summarize the range of literature available.
- Example: If your question focuses on technology use in education broadly, a scoping review can help find all relevant studies. It can also highlight areas needing more research.
Exploratory Review
- Definition: An exploratory review examines literature to gain insights into a specific question, often addressing less-understood topics or emerging fields.
- Purpose: This review aims to explore new ideas, concepts, and theories that have not been thoroughly examined in existing literature.
- When to Use: Conduct an exploratory review for novel area research questions. Use it when you need to understand the current state of knowledge.
- Example: If your research question investigates the impact of digital tools on engagement at different times during the school day, first break down the time periods. Then, conduct an exploratory review. This review could assess the current research landscape related to time-based engagement metrics.
Focused Review
- Definition: A focused review systematically examines a specific area of interest related to your research question. It aims to provide a concise summary of the current state of knowledge and identify key themes or gaps.
- Purpose: This type of review helps to clarify your understanding of a specific aspect of your topic. It can inform the next steps in your research. These steps include hypothesis formulation and study design.
- When to Use: Conduct a focused review when you want to delve deeper into a specific component of your research question. This will enhance your knowledge and refine your approach.
- Example: If your research question involves the effects of digital tools on student engagement, start with a focused review. This review might examine existing studies on particular tools. Examples include digital whiteboards or learning management systems.
Why Do We Need to Conduct a Literature Review?
- Contextualization: A literature review helps place your research within the broader context of the field. It shows how your question aligns with existing work.
- Identifying Gaps: It allows you to discover gaps in the current research. Your study can fill these gaps, making your work more relevant and valuable.
- Methodological Insights: Reviewing existing studies can provide insights into methodologies used, helping you choose appropriate methods for your research.
- Avoiding Duplication: A literature review helps you avoid duplicating studies that have already been conducted. This ensures your research adds to the existing knowledge base rather than repeating it.
Conclusion
A literature review is a critical step in the research process. It allows you to understand the landscape of your chosen topic. Whether you choose a focused review, a scoping review, or an exploratory review, this process will help you contextualize your research. It helps identify gaps. Moreover, it will refine your research question.
