Business Research Methods for Distance Learners

“A literature review is a description of the literature relevant to a particular field or topic. It gives an overview of what has been said, who the key writers are, what are the prevailing theories and hypotheses, what questions are being asked, and what methods and methodologies are appropriate and useful" (Emerald Insight).

A literature review is not just a summary of everything you have read on the topic.  It is a critical analysis of the existing research relevant to your topic, and you should show how the literature relates to your topic and identify any gaps in the area of research. Our Learning Hub has lots of useful guidance for carrying out a Literature Review.

It's on a much larger scale from your research for previous modules.

You may need to devise new ways of searching and managing your results.

Think about:

• Using RefWorks to manage your references
• Setting up alerts to retrieve new results for your searches

1. Devise a search strategy
2. Search systematically
3. Read critically – i.e. deconstruct the material
4. Put it all back together – reconstruct

Think about the sort of research that would help your project.

1. What subject areas does you topic fall into?

2. What possible sources could you use? Think broadly, for example:

• Company reports
• Industry profiles
• Market research
• Financial reports
• Newspaper articles
• Journal articles

3. What don't you want?  What are the limits? For example, geographical restrictions or time periods.

1. Plan your search first, thinking about your keywords
2. Use the pages on this LibGuide to identify quality resources
3. Use the tutorials and advice on those pages to improve your searches
4. Use the Inter Library Loans service to borrow books or to obtain copies of papers which aren't in the library
5. Speak to the Business Librarians for help with your searches, or to recommend new items for library stock
6. Look at the programme of Succeed @ Tees workshops, and attend any which are relevant.

Read Critically

Argument: 

• What is the main argument?
• Is the main argument clear and logical?

Evidence:

• What is the evidence?
• Is the evidence valid?
• Does the evidence support the conclusions?

• Briefly summarise key findings

- See Phrasebank for suggestions of how to phrase your sentences.

The following workshop will help you to develop your skills in writing a literature review:

Writing a literature review