Sometimes concept mapping also helps. MMcK On 1/30/2012 6:02 PM, Sheri A. Massey wrote: > Kate and Charles, > > I use a spreadsheet to write my own literature reviews. I am trying > to communicate the concept and spreadsheet method to a student. So > far we have been successful. It is my responsibility to help her work > through the idea of a lit review and offer some guidance in writing > one. In addition to the spreadsheet, I think a text of some sort > would help. > > -SM > > ______________________ > > Sheri Anita Massey, Ph.D. > > Lecturer > > College of Information Studies > > 4117L Hornbake Library, South Wing > > University of Maryland > > O: (301) 405-4580 > > F: (301) 314-9145 > > [log in to unmask] > <applewebdata:[log in to unmask]> > > > From: Katherine McCain <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> > Reply-To: Open Lib/Info Sci Education Forum <[log in to unmask] > <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> > Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:09:02 -0500 > To: "[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>" > <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> > Subject: Re: Literature Review Text > > Sheri and Charles, > > In one sense, there is a “best way” but it won’t be the kind of > step-by-step approach that seems to be desired. > > * Consider a set of documents that discuss one or more themes on the > subject of the review > * You can model the documents as a matrix — each row is a document, > each column is a topic potentially discussed by that document > (this is not unlike a document/term matrix). > * An annotated bibliography would “write across the rows” -- dealing > with each document in turn. This is a way to write a very bad lit > review > * A better lit review would be to “write down the columns” -- taking > up each theme in turn and discussing it with reference to the > documents. > > > Kate McCain > > > On 1/20/12 11:00 PM, "Charles Hildreth" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Sheri, > > There is no single "best" way of doing a literature review. Much > depends on the aim, scope and length of the research study being > reported. Also, different literature reviews have different > purposes. If you want a recipe, I suggest you consult a cookbook. > Then, again, there is no single best recipe for any dish or food > offering, except, of course, my wife's. You write, "I wanted one > that’s been tested among our group." I wonder, just who are the > members of your group? > > Charles R. Hildreth, Ph.D. > 146 Marks Avenue > Lancaster, Ohio 43130 > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:*Sheri A. Massey <[log in to unmask]> > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Sent:* Friday, January 20, 2012 2:59 PM > *Subject:* Literature Review Text > > > Hello All, > > I am looking for a book or manual that walks a person through > the steps of doing a literature review— very detailed, > replicable steps. There are many lit review books available, > but I wanted one that’s been tested among our group. Also, I > am not looking for a complete guide to research, just > something on literature reviews. > > Thanks in advance for your help! > > -SM > > ______________________ > Sheri Anita Massey, Ph.D. > Lecturer > > College of Information Studies > 4117L Hornbake Library, South Wing > University of Maryland > O: (301) 405-4580 > F: (301) 314-9145 > [log in to unmask] > > > > > > > -- Michelynn McKnight, PhD, AHIP Associate Professor Schoolof Libraryand Information Science LouisianaState University 269 Coates Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803 225-578-7411 /Health Science Librarians: Doing better what they’ve always done well./