Writing Up
Review of Related Literature
Mills, G. E. (2003). Action Research: A guide for the teacher researcher, 2nd ed. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill
Prentice Hall.
Write an Action Research Paper!
Why?
• The process of writing requires the writer
to clarify meaning.
• The act of putting information on paper for
your peers and teachers necessitates
honesty, accuracy, clarity, and thought.
• Research, once written, can be shared with
a wider audience.
Review of Related Literature:
• Search for others’ theories and research
on your topic.
• Give your paper a Theoretical Framework
of theories that support your study.
• Review Research Studies that have been
done by others that pertain to your study.
What is the difference between
Theory and Research?
“It is theory that decides
what can be observed”
(Albert Einstein, Retrieved March 01, 2009).
What can be observed can be supported and
demonstrated through research.
- Florencia Montes, María Patricia Botero, and Tracy Pechthalt (2009)
Steps for creating a good
Theoretical Framework
Based on your Area of Focus …
1. Search for Theories of other people
that relate to your area of focus.
2. Summarize the theories as they relate
to your area of focus.
Search & Summarize Theories
Find information on theories/theorists
related to your topic from:
Friends, teachers, experts, the internet, books, journal
articles, textbooks
Record the References in APA format
(see Worksheet for References)
Summarize them…
• Read the Theories of others.
• Record the reference information.
• Summarize each theory as it relates to
your topic (see Theory worksheet)
Worksheet for References
•
Copy the references exactly from left to right from the
Reference Worksheet onto your reference page. (Make sure
that you copy every comma, period, etc.)
•
Use your computer to make a hanging indent, and put the
references into alphabetical order.
•
Any missing information is not included.
Ovando, C. J., & Collier, V. P. (1998). Bilingual and ESL
classrooms: Teaching in multicultural contexts. Boston,
MA: McGraw Hill.
Theories Summary Worksheet
Steps for creating a good
Review of Research
Based on your area of focus…
1. Search for Research Articles done
by others on your topic
2. Form a Literature Matrix to find
important themes/variables
1. Search for Research Articles
Find related research articles in
journals, EBSCO, ERIC and others.
Summarize them…
•Read and summarize the importance of each
study. (see summary worksheet)
•Be sure to include answers to the following
questions:
Who did the research? (Author, year of publication)
What was the research study about? What did the researcher
DO?
When, where, about whom was the study performed?
Why was the research done?
What were the findings & conclusions of the study?
Literature Review Summary Worksheet
Sample: Literature Review Summary Worksheet
Geier R. & Blumenfeld P. (2007)
pp. 922-939
Standardized test outcomes for students engaged in inquiry-based science curricula in the
context of urban reform
Describe Study
(who, what, when,
where)
Two cohorts of 7th and 8th graders that participated in the project
units are compared with the remainder of the district population,
using results from the high-stakes state standardized test in
science.
Purpose of Study
(why)
The purpose of the study was to examine the effort of one
component of a systemic reform effort in the Detroit Public
Schools, and was centered on highly specified and developed
project-based inquiry science units supported by aligned
professional development and learning technologies.
Findings
Both the initial and scaled up cohorts show increases in science
content understanding and process skills over their peers, and
significantly higher pass rates on the statewide test. Examination
of results by gender reveals that the curriculum effort succeeds in
reducing the gender gap in achievement experienced by urban
African-American boys
Optional: Other/Quote
2. Make a Literature Matrix
Make a Literature Matrix with all of the
research studies you found
•
Write the authors & titles down the first column.
•
Write variables that are considered in the studies
across the top. (Start with the main variables,
and then continue adding if new ones arise.)
Look for patterns…
•
Choose your strongest/most important
variables.
•
Summarize their importance.
Literature Review Matrix
Author (s) and title
Year
Elementary
School
Sociocultural
patterns &
songs
(rules of
intonation)
English
as L2
Songs or
music
included
directly in
the
curriculum
or lesson
plans
Repetition Improve
or
ment
improvisati
Of the
on as tools four skills
for learning
Lg.
patterns
Music &
the brain
Lg.
reading
proficienc
y
v.s.
Early
training
on music
Suk Mei Lo, Regina. Chi Fai 1998
Li, Henry. “Songs Enhance
Learner Involvement
Materials Development”
1. Write the authors & titles down the first column.
2. Write variables that are considered in the studies
across the top. (Start with the main variables, and
then continue adding if new ones arise.)
Music &
kinesthetic
learning
Literature Review Matrix
Author (s) and title
Year
Suk Mei Lo, Regina. Chi Fai 1998
Li, Henry. “Songs Enhance
Learner Involvement
Materials Development”
Blodget, Tom.” Don’t throw 2004
out the baby with the
bathwater: the
indispensable role of
memorization in Language
Acquisition”
Danielson, Elaine. “The
2000
importance of nursery
rhymes”
Elementary
School
Sociocultural
patterns &
songs
(rules of
intonation)
X
X
X
X
English
as L2
X
Songs or
music
included
directly in
the
curriculum
or lesson
plans
Repetition Improve
or
ment
improvisati
Of the
on as tools four skills
for learning
Lg.
patterns
X
X
X
X
X
Music &
the brain
Lg.
reading
proficienc
y
v.s.
Early
training
on music
Music &
kinesthetic
learning
3. Mark and X under the variables that were considered
in each study.
Author (s) and title
Elementary
School
Sociocultural
patterns &
songs
(rules of
intonation)
2004
X
X
2000
X
X
1995
X
X
2002
X
X
X
Condis, Pat and others,
2000
“Enhancing Vocabulary and
Language Using Multiple
Intelligences.”
Sirinides, Thomas, W.
1997
“Spirituals: A Historical and
Linguistic Analysis.”
Zimmermann, Lynne S. “A
Descriptive Study of the
Relationship between
Language Reading
2006
Proficiency and the
Age at Which Music
Lessons Are Begun”
X
X
X
Suk Mei Lo, Regina. Chi Fai
Li, Henry. “Songs Enhance
Learner Involvement
Materials Development”
Blodget, Tom.” Don’t throw
out the baby with the
bathwater: the
indispensable role of
memorization in Language
Acquisition”
Danielson, Elaine. “The
importance of nursery
rhymes”
Soh, Yong-Kian and others.
“Chinese Language and
culture curriculum and
student Activitybook”
N.A. “3...2...1...Liftoff!: An
Educator's Guide with
Activities in Science,
Mathematics, Technology,
and Language Arts.”
Year
English
as L2
Songs or
music
included
directly in
the
curriculum
or lesson
plans
Repetition Improve
or
ment
improvisati
Of the
on as tools four skills
for learning
Lg.
patterns
X
X
X
X
X
Music &
the brain
Lg.
reading
proficienc
y
v.s.
Early
training
on music
Music &
kinesthetic
learning
1998
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Look For Patterns
• Look at Matrix: What patterns are there?
– What variables are considered by most/few
studies?
– Which studies considered each variable?
 Look at Year of Studies


Which studies came first for that variable?
Which followed?
Author (s) and title
Suk Mei Lo, Regina. Chi Fai
Li, Henry. “Songs Enhance
Learner Involvement
Materials Development”
Blodget, Tom.” Don’t throw
out the baby with the
bathwater: the
indispensable role of
memorization in Language
Acquisition”
Danielson, Elaine. “The
importance of nursery
rhymes”
Soh, Yong-Kian and others.
“Chinese Language and
culture curriculum and
student Activitybook”
N.A. “3...2...1...Liftoff!: An
Educator's Guide with
Activities in Science,
Mathematics, Technology,
and Language Arts.”
Year
Elementary
School
Sociocultural
patterns &
songs
(rules of
intonation)
2004
X
X
2000
X
X
1995
X
X
2002
X
X
English
as L2
Songs or
music
included
directly in
the
curriculum
or lesson
plans
Repetition
or
improvisati
on as tools
for learning
Lg.
patterns
X
X
1998
X
X
X
X
X
X
Variable Summaries
• Quickly write 1-2 sentences about the
importance of each variable based on
all the research studies regarding that
variable.
• This will help you later with your
introduction to that variable within your
review of related literature.
Author (s) and title
Suk Mei Lo, Regina. Chi Fai
Li, Henry. “Songs Enhance
Learner Involvement
Materials Development”
Blodget, Tom.” Don’t throw
out the baby with the
bathwater: the
indispensable role of
memorization in Language
Acquisition”
Danielson, Elaine. “The
importance of nursery
rhymes”
Soh, Yong-Kian and others.
“Chinese Language and
culture curriculum and
student Activitybook”
N.A. “3...2...1...Liftoff!: An
Educator's Guide with
Activities in Science,
Mathematics, Technology,
and Language Arts.”
Year
Elementary
School
Sociocultural
patterns &
songs
(rules of
intonation)
2004
X
X
2000
X
X
1995
X
X
2002
X
X
English
as L2
Songs or
music
included
directly in
the
curriculum
or lesson
plans
Repetition
or
improvisati
on as tools
for learning
Lg.
patterns
X
X
1998
X
X
X
X
X
X
Steps for Writing
Review of Related Literature
Based on your Area of Focus …
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Make a Cluster Diagram of theories and research
read, based on the most important variables from
your Literature Matrix.
Outline the paper.
Draft the paper from your outline.
Review, revise, edit.
Add Reference Page (APA format).
Check citations, references, format.
1. Make a Cluster Diagram
a)
b)
c)
Gather your Theory Summaries, Research Study
Summaries, Variable Summaries, & Literature Matrix
Choose the most important common variables from
your literature matrix.
Put your area of focus in the center, and then attach
the variables extending out.
Variable
Variable
Area of
Focus
Variable
Variable
d) Attach the theories, studies and details to
the appropriate variable.
Variable
Variable
Theory
detail
detail
Research 1
Research 1
Research 2
Research 2
detail
detail
detail
detail
detail
Theory
Theory
Area of
Focus
Variable
detail
detail
detail
Variable
detail
Research 2
Research 1
Research 2
detail
detail
Research 1
detail
detail
detail
detail
detail
detail
2. Write the Outline
a) Make each variable a sub topic in
your outline.
• The variable summary becomes the
introduction to the sub-topic.
I.
Sub-topic: Emotions in Learning
Summary: Studies of emotions in sports performance are
very valuable and applicable to how emotions influence
learning.
b) Under each sub-topic…
• Outline a theory related to the sub-topic
(include its citation) from your theory
summaries.
• Outline each research study related to
the sub-topic (include its citation) from
your research review summaries.
(see example)
I.
Sub-topic: Emotions in Learning
Studies of emotions in sports performance are very valuable and applicable to
how emotions influence learning.
A. Theory: Zull (2002)
1. Background: We build neural networks on the physical experience
of living
2. Background: Emotion influences motivation, attitude and
behavior in the teacher-learner relationship.
B. Study: Glaser-Zikuda, Fu’, Laukenmann, Metz, and Randler (2005)
1. Background/What: Used the Emotional and Cognitive Aspects of
Learning approach (ECOLE)
2. Background/Who: Classroom interventions with 8th and 9th
graders when implementing a student centered instruction that
increased positive emotions and avoided negative ones.
a. goal orientation
b. Appraisals
c. differentiation, etc.
3. Found: Students had more positive emotions and hence greater
engagement and learning.
3. Draft the Paper
From your outline, write the first draft of your
Review of Related Literature It should…
• Review, analyze and synthesize important theories and
previous research studies regarding the topic.
o Compare/Contrast theories/studies
o Note which studies are newer/older to see changing trends
o Include correct APA citation
• Be organized by theme.
• Inform and support the importance of the theme/variable to
the theory & previous research, and then to your own
research.
• Written mostly in 3rd person, past tense (what did,
theorized and/or found,)
Begin with the BODY of the paper…
a) Each sub-topic is a new section of the body of
the paper.
•
•
Write your first sub-topic in italics.
On the next line, introduce the sub-topic with the
variable summary sentence.
b) Support the sub-topic with paragraphs about
the theories and research from your outline.
c) Conclude the section with a sentence (or
more) summarizing the importance of the subtopic.
(see example)
Emotions in Learning
Variable & summary
Theories to support
Studies of emotions in sports performance are very valuable and applicable to how
emotions influence learning. Jones’ (2003) theories are supported by others like
Lazarus and Deci (as cited in Lazarus, 1995) who believe that … This is why
emotions can affect learning directly or indirectly, in a positive or negative way,
and they may respond to stimuli consciously or subconsciously.
According to Zull (2002), we build neural networks on the physical
experience of living. This means… In education, this influence may come from...
In one of his theories he states that emotion influences motivation, attitude and
behavior in the teacher-learner relationship… Glaser-Zikuda, Fu’, Laukenmann,
Metz, and Randler (2005), research supports this theory. The researchers used the
Emotional and Cognitive Aspects of Learning approach (ECOLE) during
classroom interventions with 8th and 9th graders along with a student centered
strategies (such as goal orientation, appraisals, differentiation, etc.) that increased
positive emotions and avoided negative ones. In their study, they found that by
using this method, students had more positive emotions, and hence, greater
engagement and learning.
Research to support
Conclusion summarizing importance of sub-topic
…
These studies are important to the research because they
broadened the spectrum of influence of emotions and their close
entanglement with the brain. It is not only because the way we feel
affects the brain and the way we think affects the body, it is also a
matter of understanding that other environmental and social factors
may be of influence, but most importantly, may be manipulated to
achieve better results in the learning and concentration of the
students.
Control Strategies
The ultimate objective of the emotional control strategies is
developing emotional intelligence. …
next sub-topic
Transitions when you compare/contrast
Hogue, A. (2003). The essentials of English: A writer’s
handbook. NY: Longman
Add the Introduction…
Tell the readers what you are going to tell them…
Begin outlining the first paragraph…
Include:
– A clever “hook”
– State Area of Focus
– Introduce variables & connect them to Area
of Focus
First paragraph
Hook- something to make your readers want to read
your analysis (short account of an important moment
that made you interested).
Example: I have often wondered why students resist
writing a literature review as though they were
being pushed to walk the dry, hot Sahara desert
barefoot.
First (or Second) Paragraph
State your Area of Focus or research question.
Example: Due to the confusions I had in my
practice, I decided to study the following
question: What are the areas of resistance to
writing a literature review and what
instructional activities help students move
along the process?
Second (or Third) Paragraph
Introduces the general variables that are related to the
area of focus and the general conclusions that have
been identified in the research literature.
Example: I found four areas of study on this subject.
• Theories that support… are…
• Some studies analyzed the role of…
• Other studies focused on the effects of…
• Yet others looked at the importance of…
• Lastly another group of studies analyzed how…
Section of Paper
Introduction to RofRL
Review of Related Literature
Theory 1
Variable
This review will explain the physiological side of emotions based
primarily on Zull’s (2002) theories determined from
comprehensive reviews and empirical evidence from other
studies. Following the physiological understanding, it is
Variable
important to view the emotional organization the brain
Theory 2
establishes, Bower (1992). Subsequently the influence of
Variable
emotions in learning will be clarified, and will present strategies
that help control emotional outbursts. Finally the review will
Variable
explain the specific strategy implemented in the actual action
research project.
Variable
Add the Conclusion…
Tell the readers what you told them…
Begin outlining the first paragraph…
Include:
– A clever “hook”
– State Area of Focus
– Introduce variables & connect them to Area
of Focus
Conclude…
• Summarize the various sub-topics
• Discuss any gaps in the research
• Show how the study you will do fits or
connects with the theories and previous
studies.
Conclution to RofRL
Themes/sub-topics
Theory and prior research show that… Emotions affect learning,
and the instruction of emotional control strategies are helpful for
students. According to White and Epston (1990) this makes it easier
for people to identify their emotions, problems and the possible
outcomes the “story” can lead to… In the narrative method, the
problem is named, and once named it is externalized and people are
able to see that the problem is having an effect on, rather than
existing in, the person. Although the narrative method has been
used with psychologists, it is not commonly used in schools. For
these reasons, we have chosen to apply the narrative method in our
classroom and study the results of its application.
YOUR research
Physiological Understanding
Understanding that there is a physical side to emotions makes it more
real and somehow more tangible for the purpose of this study. Zull
(2002) establishes theories…
Emotional Organization
Emotions may be positive or negative, each composed of more
specific and individual characteristics. Each distinctively affects us
physically and psychologically, and leads to emotional outbursts or
reactions. A good way to identify emotions is through Shaver’s
Emotion Hierarchy (as cited in Bower, 1992) (see Figure 1). …
3. Review, Revise and Edit
Read over your paper and have someone else
read over your paper.
Look for …
a)
b)
c)
d)
Cohesion and clarity
Word choice and sentence structure
Spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
Correct reference to theory and/or research, and
correct citations in APA format.
e) Make sure that all citations match a reference on the
reference page and visa versa.
4. Reference Page
• Type references on a separate page.
• Put references in alphabetical order and in
APA style formatting.
• Make sure that every citation has a reference
and every reference has a citation. Only
references that refer to a citation are included
• Check Formatting:
– The title References is written on the top center of the
page.
– All are double-spaced. References have a hanging indent.
Reference Page
•
•
•
Copy the references exactly from left to right from the
Reference Worksheet onto your reference page. (Make sure
that you copy every comma, period, etc.)
Use your computer to make a hanging indent, and put the
references into alphabetical order.
Any missing information is not included.
Ovando, C. J., & Collier, V. P. (1998). Bilingual and ESL
classrooms: Teaching in multicultural contexts. Boston,
MA: McGraw Hill.