Question 1

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 2

If an important recent research article that you want to include in your literature review is not owned by your library, you might:
A)cite it anyway for the benefit of the reader.
B)obtain it by asking the library to recall the reference.
C)obtain it through an online document delivery service.
D)decide to make do without it.

Accepted Answer

Obtaining the article through an online document delivery service is the best option because it allows you to acquire the article even if your library does not have it. This ensures that your literature review is comprehensive and up-to-date.

Question 3

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

This choice includes both the specific term "attention disorders" and the population of interest "children," making it the best option for a search about attention disorders in childhood. Choice A is too broad and does not specify a population, while Choice B is too narrow and only includes specific types of attention disorders. Choice C is also too broad and does not specify which type of disorders.

Question 4

If a researcher has completed a thorough search of the World Wide Web:
A)the literature search can be concluded.
B)it may also be fruitful to search an electronic database.
C)it may also be fruitful to search the Internet.
D)he/she will find largely redundant information on an electronic database.

Accepted Answer

Even if a thorough search of the World Wide Web has been completed, searching an electronic database may still yield additional relevant information. Electronic databases often contain peer-reviewed and scholarly materials that may not be readily available on the web.

Question 5

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

The answer of Kirby is conducting a literature review in...

Question 6

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 well-written literature review should not only summarize the work of others but also critically analyze and synthesize it in the context of the researcher's own study. This helps the reader understand the gaps and areas of consensus in the existing literature and how the researcher's study contributes to the field. Avoiding evaluations or critiques of the literature reviewed (A) may result in a biased or incomplete review, while avoiding summarizing the work of others (C) may make it difficult for readers to follow the argument or find the relevant information. Emphasizing detailed reporting of each piece of research included (D) may lead to a descriptive rather than a critical review.

Question 7

If an important reference you want to include in your literature review is checked out to another library patron, you might:
A)obtain it through interlibrary loan.
B)obtain it by asking the library to recall the reference.
C)obtain it through an online document delivery service.
D)decide to make do without it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If an important reference you want to...

Question 8

If an important book that you want to include in your literature review is not owned by your library, your best move would probably be to:
A)obtain it through interlibrary loan.
B)obtain it by asking the library to recall the reference.
C)obtain it through an online document delivery service.
D)cite it anyway for the benefit of the reader.

Accepted Answer

Interlibrary loan is the best option if the book is not available in your library. This is a service that allows you to borrow books from other libraries. It may take a few days or weeks to obtain the book, but it is usually the most cost-effective and efficient option. Obtaining it through an online document delivery service is also an option, but it may be more costly. Citing the book without reading it is not a good option, as it may lead to inaccurate information being included in your literature review.

Question 9

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 10

If you want to find statistics on health care spending broken down by state, ______ will probably be your best resource.
A)the library catalog
B)government publications
C)an online database
D)the reference lists of important papers in your area

Accepted Answer

Government publications, such as those from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), often provide detailed statistics on health care spending broken down by state. These publications can be found online on government websites or in print in government depository libraries.

Question 11

If you want to find information about books available in your local library, ______ will probably be your best resource.
A)the library catalog
B)government publications
C)an online database
D)the World Wide Web

Accepted Answer

The library catalog is a searchable database of all the items available in the library's collection, including books. It provides information on the book's title, author, publisher, publication date, and availability. Therefore, the library catalog will be the best resource to find information about books available in your local library.

Question 12

The main purpose of the review of the literature is to:
A)acknowledge the work of others by listing their findings prior to proposing your own project.
B)show how your study is superior to other work done in the area.
C)publicly demonstrate your mastery of the research literature in your area.
D)show how your study is related to, and extends, other work in the area.

Accepted Answer

The main purpose of the review of the literature is to show how your study is related to, and extends, other work in the area. While acknowledging the work of others and demonstrating mastery of the research literature are important, the primary goal is to situate your study within the existing body of knowledge and identify the specific gaps or novel contributions your research will make. Claiming superiority over other work in the area is generally not a productive approach to take.

Question 13

Generally speaking, the best time to begin the literature review associated with a specific research project is:
A)after the research problem has been clearly articulated.
B)after the data have been collected, but before they are analyzed.
C)based on personal preference; there is no single best time.
D)before or during the formulation of the research problem.

Accepted Answer

Beginning the literature review before or during the formulation of the research problem enables the researcher to identify gaps in the existing literature, determine the relevance of the research question, and ensure that the study builds upon prior research. Waiting until after the research problem has been clearly articulated or after data collection may result in missing important information or needing to revise the research question. Personal preference is not the best determinant for when to begin the literature review.

Question 14

______ is an example of an electronic database.
A)Altavista
B)Books in Print
C)ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center)
D)Humanities Index

Accepted Answer

ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) is an example of an electronic database that provides access to educational literature and resources.

Question 15

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 the World Wide Web in preparing 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 16

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

Emphasizing how the studies being reviewed are related to the research problem under consideration is important as it helps justify the relevance and significance of the current study. A literature review should also include studies that are more than five years old if they are still relevant to the research problem, as they may provide important historical context or foundational knowledge. It is also not necessary for the literature review to be limited to work coming out of the very best labs and universities in the country, as there may be valuable contributions from a diverse range of sources. Finally, while a broad overview is important, it is also necessary to delve into the details of particular studies and theoretical perspectives in order to understand the current state of knowledge in the area.

Question 17

If you want to conduct a keyword or author search of research reports published in professional journals, ______ will probably be your best resource.
A)the library catalog
B)government publications
C)an online database
D)the World Wide Web

Accepted Answer

A keyword or author search of research reports published in professional journals can be best conducted through online databases that specialize in the subject area. They typically provide access to a wide range of peer-reviewed journals, which can greatly expand the scope of the search. While the library catalog may provide some information, it is likely to be more limited in scope. Government publications and the World Wide Web are also unlikely to provide access to the same quality or range of sources as online databases.

Question 18

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 literature can be curtailed when the person carrying out the review is no longer encountering new ideas or information. This means that after researching for a while, the person may begin to see similar results, theories, or ideas and this may indicate that there is no need to continue with the review.

Question 19

______ is an example of a search engine.
A)Altavista
B)Books in Print
C)ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center)
D)Humanities Index

Accepted Answer

Altavista is a search engine, while Books in Print, ERIC, and Humanities Index are databases for books and resources.

Quiz 3: Review of the Related Literature

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

If an important recent research article that you want to include in your literature review is not owned by your library, you might:

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?

If a researcher has completed a thorough search of the World Wide Web:

A well-written literature review:

If an important reference you want to include in your literature review is checked out to another library patron, you might:

If an important book that you want to include in your literature review is not owned by your library, your best move would probably be to:

A well-structured literature review:

If you want to find statistics on health care spending broken down by state, ______ will probably be your best resource.

If you want to find information about books available in your local library, ______ will probably be your best resource.

The main purpose of the review of the literature is to:

Generally speaking, the best time to begin the literature review associated with a specific research project is:

______ is an example of an electronic database.

Typically, the literature review should:

If you want to conduct a keyword or author search of research reports published in professional journals, ______ will probably be your best resource.

The review of the literature can be curtailed when:

______ is an example of a search engine.