LITERATURE REVIEW

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE DISCUSSION:  By the end of this discussion, the learner/reader/medical student will be able to;

1.  Understand the importance of literature in medical research methods

2.  Identify the different sources of literature when it comes to medical research

INTRODUCTION: Researchers almost never conduct a study in an intellectual vacuum; their studies are usually undertaken within the context of an existing knowledge base. Researchers undertake a literature review to familiarize themselves with that knowledge base although, some qualitative researchers deliberately bypass an in-depth literature search before entering the field to avoid having their inquiries constrained or biased by prior work on the topic. Qualitative research: Bias  

In our discussion here, we are looking at the functions that a literature review can play in a research project and the kinds of material covered in a literature review. Suggestions are provided on finding references, reading research reports, recording information, and organizing and drafting a written review.

PURPOSES OF A LITERATURE REVIEW: Literature reviews can serve a number of important functions in the research process as well as important functions for health workers seeking to develop an evidence-based practice. For researchers, acquaintance with relevant research literature and the state of current knowledge can help with the following:

1. Identification of a research problem and development or refinement of research questions or hypotheses.  In most cases if the medical research student have failed to generate a research problem, a very immediate solution will be reading some literature concerning some of the most commonly encountered problems.  For example, I have recently written about the most prevailing researchable problems in Uganda 2023 and you can read about them from here.

2. Orientation to what is known and not known about an area of inquiry, to ascertain what research can best make a contribution to the existing base of evidence.

3. Determination of any gaps or inconsistencies in a body of research.

4. Determination of a need to replicate a prior study in a different setting or with a different study population.

5. Identification or development of new or refined clinical interventions to test through empirical research.

6. Identification of relevant theoretical or conceptual frameworks for a research problem.

7. Identification of suitable designs and data collection methods for a study.

8. For those developing research proposals for funding, identification of experts in the field who could be used as consultants.

9. Assistance in interpreting study findings and in developing implications and recommendations.

A literature review helps to lay the foundation for a study, and can also inspire new research ideas. A literature review also plays a role at the end of the study, when researchers are trying to make sense of their findings. Most research reports include summaries of relevant literature in the introduction. A literature review early in the report provides readers with a background for understanding current knowledge on a topic and illuminates the significance of the new study. Written research reviews are also included in research proposals that describe what a researcher is planning to study and how the study will be conducted.

RELATED;

1. WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

2. MOST PREVAILING RESEARCH PROBLEMS 2023

REFERENCES