Literature Review Development Support

Literature Review as an Iterative Process

An iterative process is one in which steps are repeated and adjusted along the way to bring the final output increasingly closer to the desired result. It usually involves breaking an undertaking down into smaller pieces so that each piece can be tested and refined to move the overall project forward.

Image created by Kimberly S. Grotewold using SlideChef Gear Template

Questions to Ask While Searching for & Reviewing Literature

• What do I already know (or think I know) about this topic? Does the information I am finding align with what I thought I knew?
• Am I seeing terms and concepts I recognize, or is there new vocabulary or ideas that I should investigate to improve my understanding?
• For each information source, consider....
  • What is its main idea and its purpose? Does it include a statement of research questions to be answered?
  • What kind(s) of information or evidence is presented?
  • How was the information or evidence collected?
  • Is the information a report of original research, involving data collection and analysis?
  • What findings, results, or conclusions are presented in the source? Do these make sense based on the evidence?
  • How does this information source relate to others you have gathered (time, geography, reinforcement of position, different from what other sources have presented, etc.)?
  • Is the information being presented objectively, or is it potentially biased in favor of specific groups of people or situations?
  • Is there something missing from the information, that if included would make it stronger?
  • How does the information presented by the source fit into your overall research and writing plan?
• Depending on your reading and review of each information source, you may decide you need to search for additional resources to answer new questions that arise, fill in gaps, etc. This is normal!

Types of Sources that Make up the "Information Landscape"

Review some or all of the following resources to better understand different types and formats of information you may encounter while researching and what they have to offer.

• The Information Landscape by BYU Library Online Learning (Video). This very brief (under 2-minute) video explains how the world of information can be thought about like a physical or geographical landscape.

• Understanding & Identifying Source Types by PACE University Library (Video). Part of their 5 Minutes to Better Research Series, this video reviews the types of sources students often use for research assignments including books, newspapers, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and trade journals.

Reflection

• How does the type of information source you are using affect its content and overall usefulness?
• Can you plan your research strategy according to where (source types) you are likely to find the information you are seeking?

Access the quiz for this module:

Engaging with Sources Quiz