Use as many sources as possible for the literature review. Here I am going to provide some suggestive points on how to start the LR please read through it and keep in mind that these points might be helpful throughout the process \of writing the LR: What has been done (knowledge is cumulative) versus what needs to be done (from the baseline):
delimit the research problem and define the research gap legitimating the research question pointing out the potential research contribution What are the relevant variables and discussions Understanding vocabulary.
Understanding how theory and methods have been applied to investigating the topic
Think about your planned business research project, and how the literature review is going to help you to improve the quality of your project.
The focus here should be: Research outcomes (more common)
Research methods
Theories
Practices and applications
Try to avoid these mistake of the LR: Poor link between the LR and own research (add this to analysis and discussion)
Poor sources.
Lacks critical perspective.
Description of literature without analysis.
List of authors/works instead of synthesis and analysis.
Lacks details on search and selection procedures.
Lacks alternative perspectives.
Explain how you have done the literature review.
Choice of sources/databases.
Forms of searching the databases.
Criteria for filtering references.
Framework for classifying (when used)
Tools used.
Limitations and biases.
Explain the methods used to search references. Be systematic in explaining data sets, key words, dates, citations, and any criteria which shows your method is robust.
Demonstrate that the research question is connected to previous research, and that there is a gap in the literature.
Demonstrate you covered key papers in the area, and you have selected the most important aspects of the conversation on the topic.
Demonstrate you have understood the key topics, theories and methods used in the previous research.
Demonstrate insight and capacity of synthesis when presenting the data and analysis.
Make clear how your literature review contribute to the debate.
Those are the suggestive points to pay attention to when writing the LR. Please if you’re going to conduct any interviews with people let me know because there is a special form that has to be signed prior the interview by the interviewee. I am looking forward to see a very good work, and please call me anytime if you have any questions or concerns. It would be very helpful if you could appoint to me later what methodology you’re going to use and the questions you’re going to define and work on through the LR. Thank you!
