3.2 Relating literature to your research
It is easy to write a bad literature review and difficult to write a good one. The main mistake that a lot of people make is to write a literature review that looks like this:
LITERATURE REVIEW
Until recently many researchers have shown interest in the field of coastal erosion and the resulting beach profiles. They have carried out numerous laboratory experiments and field observations to illuminate the darkness of this field. Their findings and suggestions are reviewed here.
JACHOWSKI (2008) developed a model investigation conducted on the interlocking precast concrete block seawall. After a result of a survey of damages caused by the severe storm at the coast of USA, a new and specially shaped concrete block was developed for use in shore protection. This block was designed to be used in a revetment type seawall that would be both durable and economical as well as reduce wave run-up and overtopping, and scour at its base or toe. It was proved that effective shore protection could be designed utilizing these units.
HOM-MA and HORIKAWA (2008) studied waves forces acting on the seawall which was located inside the surf zone. On the basis of the experimental results conducted to measure waves forces against a vertical wall, the authors proposed an empirical formula of wave pressure distribution on a seawall. The computed results obtained by using the above formula were compared well with the field data of wave pressure on a vertical wall.
SELEZOV and ZHELEZNYAK (2009) conducted experiments on scour of sea bottom in front of harbor seawalls, on the basis of the theoretical investigation of solitary wave interaction with a vertical wall using Boussinesque type equation. It showed that the numerical results were in reasonable agreement with laboratory experimental data.
3.2.1 Consider again the purposes of writing a literature review. See if you can answer the following questions about the literature review above:
1. What questions does this literature review answer?
2. What questions doesn't it answer?
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3. Which method has the writer used to organize the literature review?
4. Is it a good literature review? Why?
3.3 Avoiding plagiarism
3.2.1 Below are two versions of the same information, adapted from the Introduction by McNeill et al. (2007). Decide which version has the problem of plagiarism and identify where the writer has plagiarized
Version 1:
Russell and Fillery (2006), using a stem-feeding technique, have shown that in situ 15N-labelling of lupin plants growing in soil cores enabled total belowground N to be estimated under relatively undisturbed conditions, but they indicated that the technique was not adaptable to all plants, particularly pasture species.
Version 2:
Russell and Fillery (2006), using a stem-feeding technique, have shown that in situ 15N-labelling of lupin plants growing in soil cores enabled total belowground N to be estimated under relatively undisturbed conditions. However, this technique is not adaptable to all plants, particularly pasture species.
4. Writing Project
Write a literature review for your research by the following steps:
1. Problem formulation—which topic or field is being examined and what are its component issues?
2. Literature search—finding materials relevant to the subject being explored
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3. Data evaluation—determining which literature makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the topic
4. Analysis and interpretation—discussing the findings and conclusions of pertinent literature
5. Relate the review to your research topic
You are preparing to write an essay entitled “The social effects of tourism on developing countries”. Read the following abstract and then try to write a literature review relating to the topic according to the above mentioned steps:
Abstract
Tourism is the fastest growing industry internationally. Popular areas of study are the economic, environmental and sociocultural impacts of tourism in developing countries. Very few studies have been conducted on the impact of tourism on the hosts? health status. Nowadays, the emergence of new infectious diseases or the
re-emergence of diseases are causing concern and travel is a major contributor to their spread. The objectives of this study were: to review literature related to the topic as a background for future research; to explore if findings from a field trip to Easter Island/Chile and Peru support the hypotheses derived from the analysis of
publications; to recommend a range of research topics based on the outcome of this study; and to propose elements of a framework for the assessment of health impacts of tourism. The findings suggest that there are considerable gaps in the current
knowledge on tourism?s health impacts. Potential indirect and direct health impacts have been identified. Workplace health and safety concerns in relation to local tourism employees have been raised. A wide range of research topics has been suggested based on these findings. Finally, elements of a possible framework for understanding tourism?s health impacts and their interrelationships have been identified.
Sources from: Irmgard Bauer, THE JOURNAL OF TOURISM STUDIES Vol. 10, No. 1, MAY ?99 11
5. Final Checklist
Here is a final checklist for writing Introduction (including literature review). Use it to check what you have written in the previous task.
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1. Do I have clear relevant opening sentences to attract readers? attention? 2. Do I include the following parts to start with: a. Stating the importance of the subject; b. Mentioning previous work done on the subject; c. Pointing out the absence of such work as a justification for dealing with the subject? 3. Does the literature review demonstrate that I am critical of and familiar with the literature relevant to the study? 4. Is there a logic to the way I organized the material? 5. Is my citation appropriate in tenses? 6. Have I indicated the relevance of each reference to my research? 7. Do I have a clear thesis statement to show the research objective? 8. Does the introduction justify the significance of my research? 9. Do I have a plan of development that is clearly linked to the thesis sentence? 10. Do I make clear a statement of the limitations of the work? 14