Chapter 5: Reviewing the Literature Flashcards
(10 cards)
Why review the literature in research?
To understand what is already known and identify gaps your research can address.
Example: Discovering no studies on how remote work affects junior employees.
What is a systematic review?
A structured and comprehensive approach to identifying, evaluating, and summarizing literature.
Example: Searching five databases using keywords and inclusion criteria to review leadership research.
What is a narrative review?
A flexible and descriptive review that summarizes and interprets existing studies.
Example: Writing a story-like account of what has been written on employee motivation.
What is an integrative review?
Combines insights from both qualitative and quantitative studies to provide a full picture.
Example: Merging case study insights with survey data on organizational culture.
What does it mean to read critically?
Evaluating sources for credibility, relevance, and bias rather than accepting them at face value.
Example: Noting that a paper on job stress is outdated and lacks a strong sample size.
What are key search strategies for literature reviews?
Using databases, keywords, Boolean operators, and filters to find relevant studies.
Example: Searching “employee wellbeing AND performance” in Scopus.
What are inclusion and exclusion criteria?
Rules for deciding which studies to keep or discard in a literature review.
Example: Including only peer-reviewed studies from the last 10 years.
What is a conceptual framework?
A structure of linked concepts that guides your research design and analysis.
Example: Connecting employee satisfaction, leadership style, and turnover.
What are literature gaps?
Missing areas in existing research that your study can explore.
Example: Noticing that past research didn’t study Gen Z workers’ attitudes.
What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?
Primary sources present original research; secondary sources summarize others’ work.
Example: A journal article reporting a new study is primary; a textbook explaining it is secondary.
