Wri$ng a Literature Review Part Four: Cri$quing the Literature

Transcription

1 Wri$ng a Literature Review Part Fur: Cri$quing the Literature Cpyright Heather McWhinney, 2017 Graduate Wri;ng Help Specialist, Student Learning Services

2 Learning Outcmes fr Part Fur By the end f this presenta+n, yu shuld be able t: Cri+que the literature in yur literature review. Knw what t lk fr in cri+quing a research paper.

3 Overview f Screencast (Part Fur) 1. The imprtance f cri+quing in a literature review. 2. Finding infrma+n t help yu cri+que the literature. 3. Sample paragraphs that cri+que the literature.

4 The Imprtance f Cri$quing Yur literature review demnstrates hw the literature yu discuss supprts the chices yu have made abut yur study. Yur review expses gaps, shrtcmings, incnsistencies and debates. It shws hw the gaps r shrtcmings led t yur wn research ques+ns and research methd. In this way, yur literature review cri;ques the literature. Reading fr a literature review requires ac+ve and cri+cal reading. Surces: Lcke, L.F., Spirdus, W.W., & Silverman, S.J. (2013). Prpsals that wrk, 6 th Edi+n. Ls Angeles: Sage. p. 69, and Bitchener, J. & Turner, E. (2011). Assessing the effec+veness f ne apprach t the teaching f thema+c unit cnstruc+n f literature reviews. Assessing Wri;ng: Studies in Wri;ng Assessment in New Zealand and Australia, 16(2), Di: /j.Asw

5 What t Lk fr When Reading Cri$cally What is the main argument r cnclusin? Has the authr examined cunterarguments and cunterevidence? Des the argument build n the ideas r theries f thers? Is the methdlgy apprpriate and sufficient fr addressing the research ques+ns r bjec+ves? Des the evidence supprt the cnclusin r main argument? Is there pten+al bias r cnflict f interest? Has the ar+cle advanced knwledge in the field? Hw des the ar+cle relate t thers in the field?

6 Where Can Yu Find Infrma$n t Help Yu Cri$que? In the intrduc+n and literature review sec+ns f the paper yu are cri+quing, lk fr iden+fica+n f the gap and shrtcmings f exis+ng research. In the results and discussin/cnclusins sec+ns, lk fr the main cnclusin, cmparisns with thers results, and discussin f limita+ns. In reviews and in general review papers, lk fr cri+ques f the ar+cle. In the research papers and literature reviews f ther authrs lk fr cmpe+ng perspec+ves, alterna+ve causal claims, cunterarguments, and cri+ques.

7 A Paragraph that Cri$ques the Literature A number f studies have claimed that crrec+ve feedback n ESL student wri+ng is effec+ve. Hwever, the design f very few has included a cntrl grup, s it has nt been pssible t make a cmparisn between thse wh d and thse wh d nt receive crrec+ve feedback. Studies that fail t cmpare the effects f crrec+ve feedback and n crrec+ve feedback d nt prvide evidence f the effec+veness f crrec+ve feedback (Ferris, 1999, 2004; Trusch, 1996, 2004 ). Of thse that have made the cmparisn (Ashwell, 2000 ; Fathman & Whalley, 1990 ; Ferris &Rberts, 2001 ; Kepner, 1991 ; Pli, Fleck, & Leder, 1998 ), three claim that crrec+ve feedback had a psi+ve effect n accuracy but, in each case, there were design issues that need t be taken int accunt when cnsidering the value f their claims. Bitchener, J. (2008). Evidence in reprt f wrihen crrec+ve feedback. Jurnal f Secnd Language, 17(2), di: / j.jslw

8 A Student Paragraph That Cri$ques the Literature Althugh Caldwell (2008) has prpsed an interes+ng mdel f Abriginal educa+n, she prvides lihle evidence t back up her claim that schls have ruined cmmunity life n reserves. Schlars have pinted ut that, far frm ruining cmmunity life, schls in fact bring cmmuni+es tgether by teaching students units that are based n life in their regin (Bear, 2005; Jenkins, 2007). Others have drawn ahen+n t the many schls that nw cllabrate with cmmunity Elders t teach and demnstrate indigenus knwledge (Hgue, 2008). By ignring this evidence f psi+ve change, Caldwell has nt presented a cmplete picture f Abriginal educa+n. Curtesy f a frmer student.

9 Summary A literature review shuld d mre than review the literature; it shuld als cri+que it. Cri+quing a research ar+cle invlves ac+ve reading. Yu can find infrma+n t help yu cri+que in par+cular parts f research papers. Yu can als find infrma+n in reviews and in research papers and literature reviews f ther authrs.