Literature Searching and Literature Reviewing

Transcription

1 Society for Research into Higher Education 16 th June 2011 University of Chester, England The agenda : Searching for Relevant Stuff : The prelude : understanding your topic

2 Searching for Relevant Stuff State of confusion and bewilderment (and despair?) Searching for Relevant Stuff State of confusion and bewilderment

3 Searching for Relevant Stuff Overcoming confusion and bewilderment Help is close at hand Ch 1 Searching for Relevant Stuff Brief recommendations Have a plan Get to know the sources and resources Keep on top of the housekeeping Always cite fully the source Questions : Do you use search engines or subject directories? Do you know the difference? Do you know how to use operators to focus your searches? Chs 2 & 3

4 Searching for Relevant Stuff Brief recommendations Do you use search engines or subject directories? Do you know the difference? Your librarian will tell you about subject directories. HISTORY: On Line INFORMINE Eldis Voice of the Shuttle The Scout Archives Open Project Directory Librarians Internet Index Chs 10 & 11 Searching for Relevant Stuff Brief recommendations Do you know how to use operators to focus your searches? Use this format to search +title: topic* +topic +topic When did Marx die and where is he buried? Eg +title: Karl Marx* +died +buried To find when Karl Marx died and where he is buried. +title: Karl Marx* +died +buried Chs 10 & 11

5 Searching for Relevant Stuff Brief recommendations Athens : databases and directories PDF search tools Egs. Pdfqueen Chs 4 & 9 : The prelude : understanding your topic Two Analogies Ponds and Buildings

6 Ponds and Buildings Example : What does the pond look like? Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? What are the consequences of the rocks? Chs 1 & 2

7 What does the pond look like? Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? What are the consequences of the rocks? The phenomenon What does it look like (examples)? What is its history? Where do you find it? Why is it done? How is it done? What are the consequences? Initial questions which set the historical, economic, social and technological contexts. Chs 1 & 2 Example : What does the pond look like? Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? What are the consequences of the rocks? Rock throwers have more impact : positive and negative. Seminal publications / authors / positions that have had an influence on the pebble throwers. How do we identify them? Reading and analysis. Note taking. Chs 3 & 6

8 What does the pond look like? Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? Key texts : how to isolate them Bibliographical analysis Citation analysis What are the consequences of the rocks? Ch 6 Example : Key texts : how to isolate them Bibliographical analysis Citation analysis 1. Construct bibliographies 2. Reference management software 3. Organise your bibliographies according to sub-topic and/or method Ch 6

9 Key texts : how to isolate them Bibliographical analysis Citation analysis Ch 6 Example : Key texts : how to isolate them Citation maps Concept maps Time Lines Ch 5

10 Key texts : how to isolate them Citation maps Concept maps Time Lines Maps : your map of your literature will have common points of reference (nodes) with other maps but will be YOUR UNIQUE MAP Ch 5 Example : Key texts : how to isolate them But what are key texts? All subjects (topics) have a core set of key texts. This is essential knowledge. Important to read the primary works. Then the applications and critiques of them. An item published or unpublished that has had a measurable impact and positive influence on establishing or/and developing a topic. Eg Advertising : the magic system (1980) Raymond Williams. The application of a technique or methodology that has has been used across several disciplines to become generic. Eg Semiology Roland Bathes (1967) Elements of semiology. A work that is seen to have synthesised different theories and/or techniques to provide a new perspective. Eg. Decoding advertisements (1979) Judith Williamson. Ch 2

11 What does the pond look like? Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? What are the consequences of the rocks? Advertising : the magic system (1980) Raymond Williams. Semiology Roland Bathes (1967) Elements of semiology. Decoding advertisements (1979) Judith Williamson. Ch 2 Example : What does the pond look like? Argumentation Analysis Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? What are the consequences of the rocks? Ch 4 Ch 1

12 What does the pond look like? Argumentation Analysis Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? Evidence Claim What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? What are the consequences of the rocks? Toulmin, S. (1958) The uses of argument Warrant Backing Ch 4 Chs 7 & 8 Example : Argumentation Analysis Evidence Look at how people are obsessed with consumerism Warrant Consumerism distracts us from the real problems of society Claim Advertising is dysfunctional for individuals and society Backing The irrational society and individual will result Ch 4

13 What does the pond look like? Who has been throwing pebbles and who the rocks? What reasons do the rock throwers give for throwing their rocks? What are the consequences of the rocks? Maps & Diagrams are the building blocks for the review(s) Descriptive analytical maps of the literature (discourse) about advertising Linear relationship maps: the logic of assumptions about advertising Ch 6 What are the effects of advertising? Reinforcement of stereotypes Trivialization of language Social relations based on goods Crime & violence Anxieties & worries Creation of false problems Alienation from the self Marginalization of the poor Distortion of priorities Solution to false wants Notes and Quotes Article A Notes and Quotes Article B Notes and Quotes Article C And so on Claims about the phenomena Language / discourse used to make the claims Other authors / evidence cited in support of the claims Rhetoric & Evidence Ch 6

14 A quote from Raymond Williams It seems to me that... our society is quite evidently not materialist enough... If it were sensibly materialist, in the part of our living in which we use things, we should find most advertising to be of an insane irrelevance The short description of the pattern we have is magic: a highly organised and professional system of magical inducements and satisfactions, functionally very similar to magical systems in simpler societies, but rather strangely coexisted with highly developed scientific technologies. It must not be assumed that magicians - in this case, advertising agents - disbelieve their own magic. They may have a limited professional cynicism about it, from knowing how some of the tricks are done. But fundamentally they are involved, with the rest of society, in the confusion to which the magical gestures are a response. (Williams, 1980:185) Chs 6 & 7 Capitalism as a form of social organization Based on the principles of profit, surplus value and production of many useless, non-utilitarian goods Problem for capitalism How to sell goods Solution and response Institutionalized mass advertising to create false demand by creating false wants by persuading people that personal and social life demands conspicuous consumption for success Use of modern social science Psychology (psychographics); connotation; subliminal messages; hidden codes so people are not fully aware of being manipulated into buying useless goods to remedy falsely created anxieties and fill false needs Maintenance of capitalist consumer society A form of society which thereby makes and consumes goods that are not needed and which does not produce those things in sufficient quantity that are needed. Hence an irrational society and creation of irrational people. Chs 6 & 7 Chs 7 & 8

15 Questions : Do we accept the reasons given by the rock throwers and chuck in some of our own pebbles, in the same part of the pond? Seminal texts are the foundations for the building. We can add to what is already in existence. Work within the existing paradigm of assumptions and methods. Chs 5 & 7 Example : Questions : Or Critically evaluate their reasons, the evidence they give and take up a position in another part of the pond? Create a new kind of building position that challenges the orthodoxy in terms of its methodological assumptions, political bias, data collection, evidence, argument and consequences. Ch 6 & 7

16 Back to the quote by Raymond Williams Is this evidence of magic? The short description of the pattern we have is magic: a highly organised and professional system of magical inducements and satisfactions, functionally very similar to magical systems in simpler societies, but rather strangely coexisted with highly developed scientific technologies. We can therefore critically evaluate Williams assertions by examining his analogy, evidence, language and so on. Ch 6 & 7 Chs 7 & 8 Example : What this example demonstrates : A search and review are an iterative processes. Through investigation you - Answer a number of questions and gain breadth and depth of understanding What are the origins of the problem / topic? How is has been defined? Who defined this as a problem and why? What are the key sources? What kinds of questions has the literature addressed and why? How, using which theories and political standpoints, have the questions been addressed? What kinds of evidence have authors used, how was it collected? Is it reliable and valid? What counter evidence exists? Ch 2 & 3 Chs 7 & 8

17 What does the review contribute to the research? The ability to map the literature Familiarity with the subject area Acquisition of a knowledge base from which previous research can be critically evaluated Acquisition of skills in searching and information management The ability to shift from one perspective to another see how others have made connections how you can undue those connections and make new connections of your own RESEARCH IMAGINATION Ch 1 & 2 Common mistakes in a review The review is a list : a bibliography Covers only outdated materials. Is uncritical and accepts everything at face value. Has inaccuracies. Fails to identify the Key Texts. Is too descriptive and not analytical. Recommendation : obtain a collection of Masters and Doctorate theses. Look at their literature reviews. Critique them. Look to see how you could do better. Appendix 5

18 Summary of Key Points A literature review is the selection of available documents on your topic, both published and unpublished, that contain information, ideas, data and evidence, that have been written from a particular standpoint to fulfill certain aims or express certain views on the nature of the topic and how it is to be investigated, and the effective evaluation of these documents in relation to the research being proposed. Ch 1 Thank You for Listening References