Question 1

Kirby is conducting a literature review in preparation for his study of "expectations regarding the sharing of financial and practical responsibilities among married and cohabiting couples in which both partners are between the ages of 20 and 29." Conducting a keyword search on "couples" and "responsibility," Kirby has generated a lengthy list of research articles.He decides to shorten the list of potential articles by eliminating all articles that were not published in prestigious research journals.He will include all the remaining articles in his literature review.What is your opinion of Kirby's approach to selecting articles for the literature review? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Kirby is right that the quality of the journal in which articles are published is one factor worth noting when making decisions about what to include in the literature review.However,there were more important distinctions Kirby should have made before taking that particular step.The keywords Kirby used in his search were overly general.His list of articles undoubtedly contains many that are only remotely related to his research problem,as well as many that are closely related.To maintain appropriate focus in the literature review,Kirby needs to first narrow his list of articles to those most relevant to his particular research problem.It may later make sense to eliminate additional articles from the list on the basis of journal quality,but that decision is premature at Kirby's present state.

Question 2

Describe three benefits of conducting a thorough review of existing literature before writing a research proposal.

Accepted Answer

Benefits noted might include -Determining whether the question of interest has already been addressed in some fashion -Discovering new insights,perspectives,approaches,or methodologies that are relevant to the research proposal -Becoming informed about related work done by others -Discovering valuable sources of data -Aiding interpretation of findings -Avoiding the pitfalls encountered by others doing similar research

Question 3

A well-written literature review:
A)avoids evaluation or critique of the literature reviewed,so as not to bias the opinion of the reader.
B)emphasizes critique and synthesis of the work of others that is related to your own research problem.
C)avoids summarizing the work of others so that details of the original work are not lost in the reviewing process.
D)emphasizes detailed reporting of each piece of research included in the literature review.

Accepted Answer

A good literature review should emphasize critique and synthesis of previous research that is relevant to the current study. This means that the review should not only summarize the work of others but also evaluate and synthesize it in relation to the research problem at hand. This helps the reader understand the current knowledge gaps and how the current study contributes to the field. Avoiding evaluation or detailed reporting of each piece of research included can limit the usefulness and impact of the literature review.

Question 4

While reading and taking notes on research in her area of interest,Dana wrote down quotations from each article,along with the page numbers.As she begins to synthesize the information and write her literature review,her best strategy is to:
A)include the quotations and their sources to ensure she's correctly representing the previous findings.
B)paraphrase the quotations to demonstrate she understands the content.If it's paraphrased,she does not need citations.
C)use key quotations,with full references,and then explain what they mean in the context of her research.
D)summarize the main points in her own words and include the relevant citations to the original work.

Accepted Answer

The best strategy would be to summarize the main points in her own words and include the relevant citations to the original work. This shows that she has fully understood the content and can explain it in her own words, while still acknowledging the original sources. This also avoids any issues with plagiarism or incorrect representation of previous findings.

Question 5

While reading articles published in refereed journals about her research topic,Georgia repeatedly comes across references to a series of studies by one particular researcher.She's unable to find those references in the collections of her university library.Her best plan of action would be to:
A)Summarize the research,noting the references were "cited by" the articles she did read.
B)Include the references in her reference list but not cite them in the text.
C)put in a request through the library loan program.
D)Search the Internet for copies that may have been posted.

Accepted Answer

Putting in a request through the library loan program is her best plan of action because it allows her to obtain a copy of the study from another library who may have it. This is more reliable and scholarly than trying to find a copy on the internet or summarizing the research based on citation references.

Question 6

The best way to organize a review of the literature is:
A)Chronologically,with the earliest research first.
B)Chronologically,with the most recent research first.
C)Thematically,with an emphasis on how the literature relates to your question.
D)Critically,identifying flaws in previous studies that make your question relevant.

Accepted Answer

Organizing the literature thematically is the most effective way to show how the literature relates to your research question. This approach allows you to identify common themes and patterns and how they inform your research question. It also enables you to integrate a variety of sources and perspectives into your review of the literature.

Question 7

A well-structured literature review:
A)contains highly detailed descriptions of each work chosen for inclusion in the review.
B)begins with those studies most closely related to the research problem,then opens up to a broader perspective.
C)begins with broad/general information,then narrows the focus to those studies most closely related to the research problem.
D)contains general summaries of each work chosen for inclusion in the review.

Accepted Answer

A well-structured literature review typically starts with broad or general information to provide context and background, then narrows down the focus to studies and works that are most closely related to the specific research problem being addressed. This approach helps to establish the relevance and significance of the research within the broader field.

Question 8

You are reading a literature review written by a novice researcher in your field.You notice that the researcher seems to have relied heavily on an Internet search while conducting the literature review.Your hunch is supported when you glance at the reference page and find a long list of Internet addresses.What goes through your mind regarding the quality and adequacy of the literature review in this situation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are reading a literature review written...

Question 9

Typically,the literature review should:
A)include few or no works more than five years old to avoid having the work become prematurely obsolete.
B)be limited to work coming out of the very best labs and universities in the country.
C)give a broad overview of the area,without getting bogged down in the details of particular studies or theoretical perspectives.
D)emphasize how the studies being reviewed are related to the research problem under consideration.

Accepted Answer

The literature review should emphasize how the studies being reviewed are related to the research problem under consideration. This helps to establish the relevance and importance of the review to the research topic. Option A is not true, as it is necessary to include older works that have laid the foundation for current research. Option B is not true, as important work may come from a variety of sources. Option C is not true, as some details of particular studies or theoretical perspectives may be necessary to understand and contextualize the broader overview.

Question 10

The review of the literature can be curtailed when:
A)you are no longer encountering new ideas or information.
B)all of the work done by top researchers in the area has been reviewed.
C)all published work related to a topic has been reviewed.
D)two to four weeks have been devoted to the search.

Accepted Answer

The review of the literature should continue until the researcher is no longer encountering new ideas or information. It is not necessary to review all of the work done by top researchers in the area or all published work related to a topic. The time spent on the search can vary depending on the topic and the amount of literature available, so dedicating a specific length of time is not a reliable criterion for curtailment.

Question 11

Shar has read only about 20 refereed articles that relate to her primary research topic,but she's finding that they tend to focus on the same basic patterns and arguments.Her best plan of action at this point is to:
A)stop reading; it's time to bring the literature review to a close.
B)reconsider her search terms and look more broadly for additional research articles.
C)search for non-refereed articles that may contain useful information.
D)email the authors of the articles she's found and ask for additional sources.

Accepted Answer

If Shar is finding that the articles she has read are focusing on the same basic patterns and arguments, it may be time for her to reconsider her search terms and look for additional research articles. By broadening her search terms and looking beyond her initial sources, she may be able to find new perspectives and arguments that will strengthen her literature review. Stopping reading or searching for non-refereed articles may not be as effective in addressing the issue of limited perspectives in her research. Emailing authors for additional sources may also be a helpful strategy, but it should be done after she has exhausted other options for finding new research articles.

Question 12

Jane wants to search for information about the variety of attention disorders that are seen in childhood.Which of the following sets of keywords would best get Jane started on an effective and efficient search?
A)"attention disorders"
B)"ADHD," "ADD," and "children"
C)"disorders" and "children"
D)"attention disorders" and "children"

Accepted Answer

Choice D includes both "attention disorders" and "children" which are directly relevant to the topic that Jane wants to search for. Choice A is too broad and does not specify that it is for childhood disorders. Choice B is also relevant, but it only includes specific types of attention disorders (ADHD and ADD), while there are other types of attention disorders that Jane may want to consider. Choice C is too general and does not specify anything about which disorders are being referred to.

Question 13

The primary purpose for completing a thorough literature review as part of a research study is to:
A)become an expert in your area of interest.
B)provide evidence that your hypothesis is correct.
C)help you interpret your own findings.
D)point you toward the proper method to use.

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of a literature review is to become an expert in your area of interest. It helps you understand what research has already been done, identify gaps in knowledge, and inform your research questions and methodology. While a literature review may help inform your findings and interpretation, its primary purpose is to provide a comprehensive understanding of previous research in your field. It is not intended to provide evidence that your hypothesis is correct or point you toward a specific method.

Quiz 3: Review of the Related Literature

Describe three benefits of conducting a thorough review of existing literature before writing a research proposal.

A well-written literature review:

While reading and taking notes on research in her area of interest,Dana wrote down quotations from each article,along with the page numbers.As she begins to synthesize the information and write her literature review,her best strategy is to:

While reading articles published in refereed journals about her research topic,Georgia repeatedly comes across references to a series of studies by one particular researcher.She's unable to find those references in the collections of her university library.Her best plan of action would be to:

The best way to organize a review of the literature is:

A well-structured literature review:

Typically,the literature review should:

The review of the literature can be curtailed when:

Shar has read only about 20 refereed articles that relate to her primary research topic,but she's finding that they tend to focus on the same basic patterns and arguments.Her best plan of action at this point is to:

Jane wants to search for information about the variety of attention disorders that are seen in childhood.Which of the following sets of keywords would best get Jane started on an effective and efficient search?

The primary purpose for completing a thorough literature review as part of a research study is to: