Reasons for conducting a literature review; NURSING RESEARCH SERIES
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Reasons for conducting a literature review
1. Acts as a source for research ideas: The literature review is used to brainstorm what particular techniques can be used to research a specific topic. By reviewing the literature, the researcher can be able to obtain a plethora of information concerning the topic at hand. These ideas are fundamental in building the body of the research.
2. Describes what is already known: Literature review informs the reader concerning what is already known about the topic and how extensively the area has been explored.
3. Provides for a conceptual context: Research generates new ideas and concepts that can be used in the future.
Differences between annotated bibliography and literature review
The purpose of an annotated bibliography is entirely different from that of a literature review. An annotated bibliography comprises of sources gathered for a particular research project that is accompanied by an annotation following the reference. On the other hand, a literature review comprehensively evaluates all the research studies on a specific topic or question that develops the foundation for the entire paper. In terms of structure, the sources in the annotated bibliography are arranged alphabetically and separated from one another. In the literature review, sources are incorporated into the text depending on the progression and logical flow of the work and may even appear more than once.
Differences between research problem statement and research purpose
The research problem statement is a statement that differentiates between what is already known and what the researcher needs to know about the topic and is addressed through research. A purpose statement refers to a declaration of intent. It indicates the general goal of a study and usually describes the direction of inquiry.
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Example of a well-written research question
An example of a well-written research question is “readmission after open-heart surgery can be reduced by utilizing preventative care and patient education”. This question is well-written because the concepts are elucidated and are researchable through quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting data.
How and why the theoretical framework is integrated into the research process
Research cannot be complete until it is attached to a body of knowledge. Theoretical frameworks enable the researcher to build upon another person’s work; thereby building a body of knowledge. Theoretical frameworks significantly help to keep the research in the track by informing the research design and offering clear links from the literature to the research goals and questions.
What is the hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a formal statement that describes the relationship between two or more variables in a particular population. It translates the research purpose and problem into a clear description or predicts the expected results or outcomes of a study.
The type of research design that does not require hypothesis
Descriptive research design: the analyses for this type of design are generated from existing research and does not need the formulation of the hypothesis. Unlike the other types of experimental research, the researcher does not manipulate or control the variables in any way, he only observes and measures them.
