CHAPTER FIVE
REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
Knowledge does not exist in a vacuum, and your work
only has value in relation to other people’s. Your work
and your findings will be significant only to the extent
that they are the same as, or different from, other
people’s work.
(Jankowicz 1995, pp.128–9)
PURPOSES OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW
• To demonstrate your knowledge of the subject.
• To provide an outline of the relevant theories and
concepts.
• To focus the research question.
• To determine the extent of past research into the subject.
• To develop a hypothesis.
• To identify methodologies and methods that have been
successfully utilised in the past.
• To help ensure all relevant variables are identified.
• To allow comparison of your findings with those of others.
SOURCES OF LITERATURE
• Peer-reviewed journals.
• Conference papers.
• The Internet.
• Past theses.
• Newspapers/magazines.
• Trade journals.
ASSESSING THE LITERATURE
• What is the source of the literature?
• Who are the authors? Are they experts in the field?
• What other work have they published in a similar area?
• Is that piece of literature referenced elsewhere in other
articles on the subject area? If so, are such references
positive or critical?
• When was the article published? Is it a recent article or has
it been superseded by other research?
• Using your own knowledge, how good do you think the
article is?
ASSESSING WEB SITES
• Who produced the page? Was it:

An academic institution or publisher?

An official company or organisational web page?

A personal web page?
• What are their qualifications for producing such material?
• What was their purpose in producing the page?
• Who was their intended audience?
• Has the content undergone any form of refereeing
process?
• When was the page last updated?
WRITING THE LITERATURE REVIEW
The literature review should start with an introduction,
identifying the topic under investigation and providing a
context for the review.
This should be followed by the main body, where the
literature is reviewed.
Begin the review with a broad overview of the relevant
ideas, concepts and definitions, before narrowing down to
more relevant works. Past research should be grouped
together under appropriate categories, for example:
• Studies involving similar research problems.
• Studies involving similar methodologies.
• Studies coming to similar conclusions.
Demonstrate:
• What do we know?
• What don’t we know (research gap)?
• How your study fits the research gap.
• What you may expect to find (hypotheses).
• Relate the literature to your study.
Be critical if appropriate.
MISTAKES OFTEN MADE IN THE LITERATURE REVIEW
• Making the review simply a list of past studies, or producing
an annotated bibliography.
• Not relating the literature review to the study, and making it
simply a general review of the subject matter.
• Not taking time to identify the best sources, and give such
sources due emphasis, while at the same time overemphasising weaker or less important sources.
• Failing to appreciate the relevant wider (i.e. beyond just that
which is sports related) literature.
• Relying on secondary rather than primary sources of
literature (textbooks rather than journal articles for example).
• Uncritically accepting the findings of existing literature rather
than critically evaluating them.
• Not considering contrary findings and alternative
interpretations.
• Raising problematic issues but not addressing them.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE COMPLETED MY
LITERATURE REVIEW?
• Have I covered the key literature?
• Is the literature review up to date?
• Have I covered recent sources?
• Do I relate that literature to my research question?
• Have I included literature that contradicts, as well as
supports my viewpoint?
• Have I produced a critical assessment rather than a
descriptive review?
• Have I organised the review into a logical and coherent
structure rather than simply producing a list of literature?
• Have I identified the gaps/weaknesses in existing
literature?
• Does my research question emerge clearly from the
literature?
SUMMARY
1. It is important that you develop your own expertise in
the subject matter at an early stage in the research
process. This is done through locating, reading and
reviewing relevant literature.
2. The written review of this literature also forms an
important part of your written report.
3. In your search for literature, you should not restrict
yourself. Broaden your search at the beginning, and be
prepared to seek out different sources. You should then
gradually focus your review towards your particular
research objectives.
4. Always relate your review to your own research
question, rather than simply making it a review of the
state of knowledge in the area per se.
5. Existing literature may, in certain cases, provide you
with existing data with which you can achieve your
research objectives.