Abstract
In this book, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie and Rebecca Frels present a chronological and practical approach for conducting literature review. The book offers a comprehensive viewpoint to showcase the significance of the literature review within the research process and propose seven steps on how to undertake literature review. It aims at Masters and Doctoral researchers especially for social, behavioural and health sciences research.
This book is divided into four segments—Overview, Exploration, Integration and Communication. As the name suggests the book presents seven consecutive steps of Comprehensive Literature Review (CLR) within last three segments: the Exploration segment which covers first five steps (Exploring Beliefs and Topics; Initiating the Search; Storing and Organising Information; Selecting/Deselecting Information; and Expanding the Search); the Integration segment comprises of step 6 (Analysing and Synthesising Information); and the Communication part interprets last step (Presenting the Comprehensive Literature Review Report). These steps are not linear but are dynamic integrated parts of a comprehensive process for searching and reflecting on the new knowledge acquired in crafting a literature review.
The overview section covers three foundation chapters and emphasizes on historical origins and prominence of conducting literature review, and how three research traditions (i.e., quantitative, qualitative and mixed) differ in approach to understand knowledge. The authors identify the 10 common myths surrounding traditional literature reviews which should be avoided by researchers. Comprehensive literature review is represented as a tool for research, a method, a mixed research study and a methodology-yielding a meta-framework.
Journey of seven steps begins from the fourth chapter onwards. First step ‘Exploring beliefs and topics’ governs the directions because beliefs (research beliefs, discipline specific belief and topic specific beliefs) influence the way literature is interpreted. Second step ‘Initiating the search’ involves multiple tasks and documentation of these tasks to identify potential literature databases, to perform an initial search, to explore information about the selected topic, to identify key terms associated with the topic and to focus the search. Information sources should be contextualized so that they are not misinterpreted. The authors propose to identify keywords, use Boolean operators and limiters to focus or to reduce the scope of a search and it should be documented as part of audit trail.
‘Storing and organizing information’ is the third step of CLR and is described in detail in the sixth chapter. It allows reviewers or those conducting an audit to keep track of both the CLR process and products. The book describes storing information at three different levels of complexity, namely, basic, intermediate and advanced strategies. A number of tools, such as, Index cards, word processing software progams, spreadsheet programs, EndNotes and computer assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS), can be used to document information. In addition, Google Drive and Dropbox allows researchers to store CLR effectively and without any financial cost. One of the interesting aspect in this chapter is a three-dimensional model (on the basis of complexity, technology and collaboration) for categorizing strategies for storing and organizing information extracted from the CLR.
‘Selecting/deselecting information’ is step 4 of the process and involves establishing a set of criteria for choosing to use a source. The authors put emphasis on differentiating whether the source is to be trusted or not on the basis of sound argument, evidence and consequences. This step also integrates the ethical guidelines for assessing worthiness of information and in order to avoid promoting any fallacies. To understand better the scrutiny process for evaluating claims, the chapter describes claim credibility meta-framework based on six types of claims—claim of fact, claims of value, claims of policy, claims of concept, claims of interpretation and claims of observation. Each of these claims is established on information that is deemed as believable and credible in the selection/deselection process. Due importance is given to recognize (i) evidence to support claims, (ii) warrant that links the claim and its evidence and (iii) backing, which comprises the context and assumptions used to provide justification for the warrants and evidence.
Discussions mentioned in steps 1–4 provide a traditional review of the literature. The focus of CLR goes further by expanding information searches which is described in steps 5–7. The eighth chapter on step 5 ‘Expanding the search’ introduces a new layer to the CLR process to enhance the severity and integrity of the process. The authors present five broad sources of information as MODES which deciphers as Media, Observation (s), Documents, Expert (s) and Secondary data. This step differentiates it from traditional literature reviews which are one-dimensional whereas the usage of MODES transforms the literature review process to comprehensive literature review that is multidimensional, collaborating, promising, dynamic and holistic. Adopting MODES augments the representation and legitimization in the literature review process. The authors recommend that while expanding the search, reviewers should not only implement a multimodal approach via use of MODES, but also follow both a culturally progressive approach and ethical research approach.
The ninth chapter describes step 6 ‘Analyzing and synthesizing information’ which involves formal analysis and synthesis for selected works. This chapter describes how to analyze qualitative and quantitative data broadly on the basis of analytic approaches, analytic method and analytic techniques. The authors discuss usage of constant comparison analysis in grounded theory research, discourse analysis and qualitative comparative analysis. Further, the chapter comprehends on qualitative methods for analyzing and synthesizing information sources including Miles and Huberman’s 19 within-case analyses and 18 cross-case analyses. It also guides reviewers to use Bayesian meta-analysis to determine the likelihood of something occurring through one type of research evidence and then to establish it more reliably via another type of research evidence.
Concluding section covers last step of CLR ‘Presenting the CLR report’ in Chapters 10 and 11. This is most exhaustive step as it compiles all other previous steps. This step is discussed in two parts, namely, planning and writing of report. While planning the report, the high point is how literature reviewer communicate in a way that establishes credibility, integrity, connexion and value. The plan should result into a logical, consistent and clear pattern of concepts. Before writing the CLR report, the literature reviewer should create a theoretical, conceptual and practical framework and relate the synthesized information to the selected framework to provide a holistic interpretation and argument. The authors address the most common mistakes which should be avoided while writing CLR and recommend several suggestions for effective writing, such as, following the funnel shape approach (V-shape approach) for organizing reports, specifying databases and the analyses, comparing definitions and providing a topic timeline. At the end of last chapter, the authors present a list of checkpoints which literature reviewer should follow to audit first and subsequent drafts of final report.
The book ends with postscript where the authors provide five illustrations on how to conduct theory-driven and model-driven CLRs which clearly indicate the integration of all seven steps presented in the previous chapters.
The uniqueness of this book is amalgamation of theoretical and practical discussion of research processes, practices and products, discussion on culture and digital technologies and how they influence literature review process and the trail it follows to address large number of research methodologies, approaches and techniques. The sub-title of this book ‘A Multimodal and Cultural Approach’ also describes this integration. This user-friendly book meticulously provides tables, figures, examples and frameworks throughout the chapters to explain the chronology of steps to elaborate literature review process. It can be used as a reference book for research methodology as it comprehends the steps of research process across varied research traditions—qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. It could be an important resource book for novice and experienced scholars, academicians and practitioners involved in carrying out literature review in the social, behavioural and health sciences.