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.
