how to make a literature map

RESEARCH_Literature Mapping

Fr: ro.uwe.ac.uk/Render Pages/RenderLearningObject.aspx?... (headings & underscore mine)

>Definition

= “broadly identifying the key concepts across the literature and how each paper or piece of material fits into the overall conceptual map” (before writing your Review of Related Literature and Studies)

>Importance

--Review of Literature

“Reviewing the literature is a major part of any research process. It is important for many reasons, including

----finding the basis for your research,

----checking the current knowledge and thinking in your subject area, and

----demonstrating that you can find, read and synthesize a range of literature in your subject domain.”

PS: Other related skills: literature sourcing, retrieval and management, including: effective reading, synthesis, rationale-building, organization, and writing.

--Literature Map

----It is useful for dividing your writing into chapters or sections.

----It is easier to manage writing if you break it down into smaller parts such as approaching each of the concepts you have identified individually, before pulling all the information together.

----It can help to identify issues such as proximity and connections in terms of ideas and findings.

>Steps

1. Write down the major themes for the literature which have relevance for your piece of research.

2. Write down any areas of consensus between different authors.

3. Write down any areas of dispute or disagreement between particular authors.

4. State if there are any special reasons which might account for the different views held by different authors.

E.g., conducted at different times and using different techniques

5. Note the implications of both the cases of consensus and disagreements have on your research if applicable.

6. Every time you read new literature ask yourself: Where does this paper fit in and does it alter any of my answers to the previous 5 questions?

7. Once you have reached a satisfactory stage, you might like to consider showing it to your supervisor and asking for feedback.

NB: It is advisable to keep your map as simple as possible: its purpose is to identify key concepts and how literature fits into these concepts.

--Think Map of Literature Mapping

 

>Example of Literature Map (Adapted from Fisher, 2004)

(Source: The Research Observatory (last edited 07/01/08. Bristol, UK: University of the West of England, Bristol) http://ro.uwe.ac.uk/FileStore/LearningObjects/ LearningObject263/syn10.pdf)

Research Q: “Evaluate the impact of the Internet on practices for recruitment and selection used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).”

Legend: bold = key concepts

            numbers = literature list number

            (You may prefer to use the authors’ names or include a little more detail,

              but that can take up more spaces.)

NB:

--The nearer the concepts are together, the closer their association.

--It is possible for an individual piece of literature to be applicable to more than one area.

--Some literature may give a good overview of the whole subject, e.g., a good review paper.