RESEARCH METHODS

Research Methods

Research Methods

Task 1

Why is it important for your research investigation that you be critical when reviewing the literature?

For any research to be apprehensive and reliable, it is required that literature is reviewed. This helps in conducting the research is an effective and efficient way. People, who are involved in the research process, should make sure that while they are conducting research, they should include the literature review. Literature review provides with an insight that is helpful for the person who is conducting the research. It provides with an insight over the research topic, as well as, helps in learning more the research topic. Literature review is one important aspect of conducting a research.

The person who is conducting the research should make sure that he or she is critical about the literature that is being reviewed because it helps in learning more because the learning process is enhanced. It also helps the person in ensuring that the critical analysis is done in a way that will help the researcher in gaining more knowledge about the research topic. This is an important aspect because people who are involved in the research process should know what research has already been done on the topic that they are conducting their research on. Being critical helps the researchers to negate what the authors have said, but this does not mean that whatever they have said is wrong. The researcher should provide justification for what he thinks has been quoted wrongly by the author in their previous research.

What might Sarah's project tutor mean by suggesting that a critical literature review should be balanced?

Sarah's project tutor wants the students to adopt an approach that is balanced i.e. not under critical or not over critical. He wants the students to include a section of critical analysis in the research because it will help the students in ensuring that they learn more about the research topic and will ensure the credibility. The tutor has made sure that he makes his students work hard so that they develop the habit of critically analyze all readings. He does not want his students to only be critical of the literature that they will use in the research, but wants the students to develop a habit that will help them in the future, even when they are not doing research.

A balanced critical analysis of the literature review helps the individual in ensuring that he is critical enough of the literature that he is reviewing. This means that the individual applies his own understanding, as well to the literature that he is reading. A balanced approach will help the students in thoroughly understanding the literature that they have found about the topic and the research that has already been done on the topic. This will help the students in undertaking a suitable approach for conducting research and will also them to expand their knowledge. This is why the tutor emphasized that the review of the literature should be critically ...