The Anatomy of Chapter II of a Dissertation

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The Anatomy of Chapter II of a Dissertation

• Dr. Sharon A. McDade
• GSEHD, GWU

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Types of Literature Reviews

• Annotated bibliography
• Bibliography critique essay
• Short format lit review
• Long format lit review

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Purposes of Literature Reviews

• To trace the history of a topic
• To investigate the scope of a topic
• To provide a context of theory related to the
  topic
• To assess previous research
• To assure the reader that the researcher has a
  full grasp of the subject

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Purpose of Literature Review in Dissertation

• To justify selection of the problem
• To aid in the selection of research methodologies
• To address duplication
• To generate a bibliography
• To convince the committee that the researcher has
  a grasp of the big picture
• To build the foundation for the research
  instrument

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Parts of a Literature Review

• Introduction
• Purpose
• Definition/limitation of the topic
• Criteria for inclusion/exclusion
• Body
• Conclusion

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What You Need to Get Started

• Most up-to-date computer you can afford
• Endnotes software
• Most recent version of your preferred word
  processing software
• Access to WordPerfect (for the grammar checker)
• Filing cabinet, file folders
• Notepad

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More of What You Need

• Participation in at least one library tutorial
  session on searches
• Library copy card
• A dedicated desk/work area
• A door that closes against rest of world/family
• A colleague who will read and critique

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Steps of the Process

• Figure out the topic/s of the review
• Write a definition/problem statement
• Determine the variables for follow-through
• Peruse the secondary sources
• Select an appropriate index and do a trial run

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More Steps of the Process

• Expand your search to related bibliographic
  databases and indices
• Read and take notes
• Collect bibliographies
• Search for the primary sources behind the
  secondary sources
• Write often
• Get lots of feedback

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Notes on Process

• Review versus reproduction
• Assertions
• Reinventing the wheel
• Style of writing
• Finding your own voice

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Organization

• The first organization of the lit review is never
  the best one
• Experiment with several organizational formats
• A solution but not the best one--Put it all in
  and let your chair give you guidance

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Dont Forget

• Each major section is a paper unto itself
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Each paragraph needs a
• Topic sentence
• Concluding sentence
• Dont cheat a conclusion of one section by
  introducing the next topic

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The Circle Method of Concept Organization
Tasks
Women
Theory
Leadership
Vice Presidents
Tasks
Develop ment
Career Develop ment
Paths to Presidency
Measure ment
Higher Education
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Finding the Good Stuff

• How to start? Start
• Where to start? Anywhere
• What should be included? Initially, everything
• Why cant I find much? You havent looked long,
  hard enough

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More on Finding the Good Stuff

• When have I looked enough? When you come back on
  yourself
• How far back in the lit should I go? As far as
  necessary
• How many references are enough? When youve read
  the majority
• Why do I have to read what I wont be including?
  So you know its there

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Even More . . .

• How many primary sources? Virtually all
• How can I keep track of my reading? Try Endnotes
• Do I need to tell about the studies that I cite?
  For the key studies
• Long long should it be? Long enough (find out
  what your chair thinks is an appropriate length)

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The Biggest Trap

• Jones said . . .
• Smith said . . .
• Hudson said . . .
• Booth said . . .
• And then Jones again said . . .

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Hints for Success

• Take advantage of resources available to you
• Keep a log of key terms
• Think of it as small sections instead of one big
  project
• Use all of the capabilities of your computer
• Take advantage of the groundwork laid by others
• Look at other dissertation lit reviews on your
  topic

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More Hints for Success

• Record a complete citation for everything you
  read (Endnotes helps)
• Be clear in your note taking
• Keep everything in one place
• Tell others what you are working on
• Contact researchers in the field (only after you
  really know what you are talking about!)

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How Not to Insult your Chair

• Do not submit a draft that has not been properly
  formatted
• Do not submit a draft that has not been
  spell-checked
• Do not submit a draft that has not been grammar
  checked (Microsoft Word grammar checker is a weak
  eye)
• Use APA style format, citations, headings
• Do not submit a draft that has not been read and
  critiqued by a colleague

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How It All Fits Together
Research Questions 1 2 3 4 5 Etc. Chapter I
Literature Review Section 1 Section 2 Section
3 Section 4 Etc Chapter II
Theoretical Constructs Chapter III
Items On Data Collection Instruments Chapter III
Data Presen- tation Chapter IV
Data Analysis Chapter V
Con- clusions Chapter V