Getting started with your literature review
Activity 1: Module 1 Discussion Board
This is the second foundational course for your dissertation project. Much of your success is contingent on working closely with your chair. Thus, communication is essential. You will have both formal and informal touchpoints through this course and throughout your dissertation journey. Each touchpoint is aimed to gauge your progress, answer questions, provide and clarify feedback, and to provide general guidance and support.
1. Post the final version of chapter one
2. Post any literature review you completed in the comp exam class
3. Propose ideas for gathering research as you begin the process of developing a literature review
Post your response to the prompt and schedule an appointment with your chair.
Organizing your literature
Activity 3: Module 3 Discussion Board
Complete an initial search of 5-10 research studies to gain ideas for your literature review. Search for key words from your research questions for your initial review. Save the research studies, you find interesting for your literature review. If it is easier for you to complete a summary of the research as you read it, then write a few paragraphs for each study.
Organizing your research is also important as you begin to gather quite a few sources. Think about how you might organize your literature to easily find studies when needed. You can also refer to the file system you created in the Comp Exam class.
1. Discuss your findings from your initial research, what you found interesting and any apparent gaps in the literature.
2. Discuss how you will organize the literature you collect.
Post your response to the prompt.
Submit a detailed outline for your literature review that includes all key ideas for your study. Your chair must approve your outline before moving forward.
Gathering research and writing your literature review
Activity 5: Module 5 Discussion Board
Now that your chair has approved your outline, you can begin to gather research studies for each section of your literature review and write your literature review. You should write at least five pages every week for your literature review. Your completed literature review will be a minimum of 30 full pages. Begin by reading your research, hi-lighting the information you want to summarize, and then in your own words writing a few paragraphs about each reference.
Discuss any issues that arise as you begin to gather your research for the literature review.
Post your response to the prompt
Unbiased research
Activity 7: Module 7 Discussion Board
When writing your literature review, it is important to remain unbiased. You should not develop an idea of where you want the research to go because you will follow your opinion. There is no opinion in a literature review. If you feel strongly about a subject, you may have difficulty seeing the research in an unbiased way.
A literature review is about reporting a summary of the research you read without bias. You may read one study, hi-light information contained in that study, and then summarize the study in your own words while writing several paragraphs for your literature review. Complete research about what bias means as it relates to research.
Write a few paragraphs about what bias means as it relates to research. What can you do to avoid using bias while writing your literature review?
Post your response to the prompt.
The ethical research process.
Activity 9: Module 9 Discussion Board
Giving credit where credit is due means you are ethically using valid research and citing it properly in your literature review. Part of the process of completing your dissertation is to be open and honest when gathering research. It is important that you read the study, summarize in your own words what you read, and write that summary with the proper citations.
Discuss the ethical research process and how that applies to your literature review Post your response to the prompt.
Gaps in the literatures
Activity 11: Module 11 Discussion Board
As you research and write your literature review, you may notice gaps in the literature. When this occurs, it is important that you add a section to your literature review mentioning those gaps. These may become ideas for future research when you are in chapter five of your dissertation.
Discuss the literature gaps you found while researching for your literature review, and how this information might change the direction of your study.
Post your response to the prompt.
Literature review revisions
Activity 13: Module 13 Discussion Board
Using background of the problem information in your study is important, but it should not be the focus of your literature review. Ensure that you use the background information appropriately and that it has a place in your literature review.
Review feedback received from your committee about your literature review.
Discuss the feedback received from your committee with your chair.
Post your response to the prompt.
Literature review revisions
Activity 15: Module 15 Discussion Board
Depending on your dissertation topic, you may identify business systems and themes that need to be covered in your literature review. If needed, you will need to add a section to your literature review for these business systems and themes.
Your committee may have additional changes or updates they would like to see for your literature review.
Discuss any additional chapter revisions with your chair and create a path forward to finalizing the chapter.
Post your response to the prompt.
