Islamic University Nursing College

A literature review involves the systematic

identification, location, search, and

summary of written materials that contain

information on a research problem.

Purposes of A literature Review

1. Source of research ideas

2. A search of previous work acquaints the

researcher with what has been done in a

field, there by minimizing the possibility of

duplication and increase the probability

that a new study will make a distinctive

contribution to knowledge.

3. Information on research approach.

4. Assessment of feasibility.

Scope of a literature reviews

I- Types of information to seek.

A-Research findings

C-Methodological information.

D-Opinions and view points.

E- Anecdotes and Clinical descriptions.

II- Depth and breadth of literature coverage.

The extensiveness of the literature

review depends on a number of factors:-

a- The nature of the document being prepared.

b- The researcher’s own level of knowledge.

c- Relevancy : research that is highly related to

your problem usually merits rather detailed

coverage.

D- Sources for the literature review

A. A primary source is a description of a research

study that is written by the original researcher

(s)

B. Secondary resource: IS a description of a study

prepared by some one other than the original

researcher.

The literature review should utilize primary source

whenever possible.

Card catalog: contains an alphabetical

listing of books under 3 categories:

a- Title.

b- Author

c- Subject heading.

Indexes: contains reference materials on

books and periodicals.

Example:

- Nursing intervention and pain relief for post operative

patients, (Joun), north Am. 11 (2): 283-95.

Nursing intervention and pain relief for post

operative pts (article title).

-(Joun) (author).

-North Am (Journal number).

-11 (volume number).

-(2) (issue number).

-283-95 (page number).

-Jun. 76 (date of issues).

-(research) (type of article).

1. International nursing index.

A articles from more than 275 nursing Journals,

more that 2700 non nursing journals covers

form 1966 to the present (quarterly)

2. Index medicus.

Nursing research index

Nursing studies index

Current index to journals in education

3. Abstracts:

provide a summary of a study rather than just a

title.

The abstract is a brief description of the study

placed at the beginning of the journal article. In

about 100 to 200 words.

The abstract answers the following questions,

what were the research questions? What

methods did the researcher use in answering

those questions? And what did the researcher

discover?

5.The summary:

Presents the high lights of the findings of a

study and is placed at the end.

4.Computer searches:

able to produce an immediate search, this is

called on –line search.

MEDLINE covers all areas of biomedical literature

with added coverage of nursing and dental

literature.

1. Identifying and locating relevant references.

2. Abstracting and recording notes:

- Examine the abstract or summary of a report in

order to determine its potential value.

3. Once the document is considered relevant, the entire

report should be read critically.

4. Use index cards:-

Separate cards should be used for each new reference to

facilitate organization and sorting.

Direct quotes should be avoided.

- It is important to paraphrase.

If the reference is a research reports the following kinds of

information should usually be recorded:-

1- The problem statement.

2- the procedures and methodology.

3- The results and conclusions.

4- The researcher’s own criticism or comments.

The review should point out both consistencies and contradictions in the literature.

Studies that are relevant to your study should be described in detail.

The summary should point out any gaps or areas of research inactivity.

The review should be as objective as possible.

The literature review should conclude with a summary or overview.

The critical summary should demonstrate the need for the new study.

1. Does the review seem thorough? Does it appear

that the review includes all or most of the major

studies that have been conducted on the topic of

interest? Does the review include recent

literature?

2. Is there an overdependence on secondary

sources when primary sources could have been

obtained?

3. Is there an overreliance on opinion articles

or anecdotes and an underemphasis on

research studies?

4. Is the review a summary of past work, or

does it critically appraise the continuations

of key studies? Does it discuss weaknesses

in existing studies and identify important

gaps in the literature?

5. Does the review conclude with a brief

outline of the state of the art of the

research on the Topic?

6. Is the review organized in such a way that

the development of ideas is clear? If review

is part of anew study, is the material

organized in such a way that the review

builds a case for conducting the new study?

7.Is the review paraphrase adequately, or is it a

string of quotations from the original sources?

8. Does the review use appropriate language,

suggesting the tentativeness of prior findings?

9. Does the review appear to be sufficiently

objective?