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Writing a literature review: Global and local levels

Writing a literature review: Global and local levels. Richard Watson Todd. Writing the literature review. What is the purpose of a literature review? Does a ‘literature review’ have to review literature? Theoretically v. practically justified research. Quantity of references.

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Writing a literature review: Global and local levels

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  1. Writing a literature review: Global and local levels Richard Watson Todd

  2. Writing the literature review What is the purpose of a literature review? Does a ‘literature review’ have to review literature? Theoretically v. practically justified research

  3. Quantity of references Theoretically based research e.g. Applied Linguistics 20-100 references per article Practically based research e.g. Forum 5-10 references per article Quantity of references is not a basis for evaluating quality of research

  4. Justifying your research YOUR argument is more important than the literature References to the literature are used to show that YOUR argument is valid The literature only takes precedence over YOUR argument when you are explaining necessary background knowledge

  5. Writing a global argument • In 2007 we produced a mobile learning application and conducted research into it • We wrote an article about the application • To see the application, go to http://arts.kmutt.ac.th/mom/detective.php

  6. Writing a global argument • For the article about MoM, what will be the main topics to cover in the literature review? • General pattern: • General to specific • Familiar to unfamiliar

  7. Global argument for MoM • What do we need to justify? • Value of making an MPALL game • Value of Mobile Mazes as an MPALL game • Value of investigating certain aspects of MoM

  8. Value of making an MPALL game Ubiquity of mobile phones Importance of mobile phones to students Potential of mobile phones as a language learning device BUT dangers of technology-driven innovations

  9. Value of Mobile Mazes as an MPALL game Previous work in MPALL Drawbacks with previous applications What needs to be improved Note: This section will be stronger with a coherent framework CALL in the 1980s Justification for using action mazes in MoM

  10. Value of investigating certain aspects of Mobile Mazes Difficulty of investigating learning from MPALL Need to confirm benefits of MPALL identified in previous research Need to fill gaps in MPALL literature Need to investigate key features of MoM (e.g. motivating gameplay) Lead to Research Questions

  11. One process for writing a literature review Read 3 or 4 key texts (and put to one side) Make YOUR rough argument Read other texts (and put to one side) Remake YOUR rough argument Identify points needing support Find references covering those points Match references to YOUR argument Revise your argument if necessary

  12. Make YOUR rough argument • Value of making an MPALL game • Value of Mobile Mazes as an MPALL game • Value of investigating certain aspects of MoM

  13. Match references to YOUR argument References matching argument Stage in argument

  14. http://callej.org/journal/10-1/Watson-Todd.html • Value of making an MPALL game • Ubiquity of mobile phones • Importance of mobile phones to students • Potential of mobile phones as a language learning device • BUT dangers of technology-driven innovations • Value of Mobile Mazes as an MPALL game • Previous work in MPALL • Drawbacks with previous applications • Directions for improvement: CALL in the 1980s • Justification for using action mazes in MoM • Value of investigating certain aspects of MoM • Difficulty of investigating learning from MPALL • Need to confirm benefits of MPALL identified in previous research • Need to fill gaps in MPALL literature • Need to investigate key features of MoM (e.g. motivating gameplay)

  15. Principles for the literature review Do not be biased (it’s not persuasive) Present both sides of an argument and show why your side is more important Acknowledge problems, weaknesses and assumptions Mix argument with explanations Write at the level of your audience Use a more specific heading than ‘Literature Review’ Use clause-final citations where possible (rough rule: 80+% of citations) Sentence-initial citations are used where: Author is important Explanations of theory (not YOUR argument) Use multiple citations where appropriate

  16. BALD Google Scholar ScienceDirect etc. RMD Google (web) Especially to get an overview of an unfamiliar topic To find example articles on specific points To find articles identified in Google Scholar for which pdfs are not available To justify methodology To find background facts Searching for literature

  17. Writing a local argument • Justify all points in an argument • Use citations judiciously • Expected number of citations based on article style • General use of clause-final citations • Write a paragraph on a given topic • Construct argument • Identify points needing justification • Find references • Match references to argument • Write the paragraph

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