Session 4: Literature: Review, concepts and frameworks, theories’ Flashcards
(8 cards)
What are common criticism of qualitative research?
Too subjective, difficult to replicate, problems of generalization, lack of transparency
Describe the following research designs:
- Case study
- Longitudinal
- Experimental
- Cross-sectional
Case study: In-depth analysis of a single case or small number of cases in context.
Longitudinal: Studies changes over time by collecting data from the same subjects repeatedly.
Experimental: Investigates cause-effect by manipulating variables and controlling conditions.
Cross-sectional: Observes a sample at one point in time to identify patterns or relationships.
Describe these terms: Reliability, Replicability, Validity
Reliability: Consistency of measurement results over time or across researchers.
Replicability: Ability to repeat a study and get the same results using the same methods.
Validity: Accuracy of the measurement—whether it truly measures what it claims to.
Why write literature review?
You need to know what is already known about your research area.
You can learn about different theoretical and methodological approaches
Give you ideas on what to include/what to ask
What is the role of literature?
Frame the problem
Identify relevant concepts, methods, and facts
Position your study
Inform data collection
Aid data analysis
Discuss findings
Describe these terms: Positivist and interpretivist. And how do they relate to systematic vs. narrative review?
Positivist
Based on the belief that reality is objective and measurable.
Focuses on facts, numbers, and observable data.
Uses structured methods to test hypotheses, like experiments and surveys.
Seeks generalizable and replicable results.
Relation to literature reviews: Systematic reviews align with positivist approaches. They follow a clear, objective, and reproducible method to minimize bias and ensure consistency.
Interpretivist
Based on the idea that reality is socially constructed and subjective.
Focuses on understanding meanings, experiences, and context.
Uses qualitative methods like interviews and case studies.
Aims to interpret rather than measure.
Relation to literature reviews: Narrative reviews fit with interpretivist approaches. They are more flexible and descriptive, emphasizing understanding and interpretation of the literature rather than strict comparison.
Explain these ways to structure the literature search:
domain based
trusted sources
snowball
use (with care) AI
Domain-Based: Focus your search around key subject areas or disciplines relevant to your research topic (e.g., education, health, sociology). Helps keep the review targeted and organized.
Trusted Sources: Prioritize peer-reviewed journals, academic databases (like JSTOR, Scopus), and reputable publishers. Ensures credibility and quality of information.
Snowball: Start with a few key sources and use their reference lists to find more relevant literature. Helps discover important and foundational works.
Use (with care) AI: Tools like ChatGPT or semantic search engines can help brainstorm keywords, summarize papers, or suggest sources. Use critically—always verify and cross-check against scholarly databases.
What is a theory?
A way of explaining observed patterns of associations between phenomena.
