What could greatly simplify the literature review process in the dissertation? Chapter 2 in the dissertation is the dreaded literature review. Sure, you could hire a company to find all your research and distill the key themes or pay thousands for a complete literature review. Better yet, follow these 7 cool hacks which your dissertation chair failed to mention:
Purchase reference management software. Check out Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote. Check out prices, and see if your university offers the program free of charge. You can assign topics, web locations, and easily organize and take notes. I remember the days of notecards, and modern technology can greatly save time and effort. Most allow a free trial to compare. [Doing a qualitative literature review? Most programs either have their own reference management program or interface with other programs.]
Most websites, like Google Scholar, have automatic citations. Newsflash: Those citations are often wrong or incomplete. Get the correct citation the first time. Also, include a location (the website might be different than the citation's location). The most commonly missing items/problems are the following: incorrect capitalizations, missing volume or number, page numbers absent (especially with online first editions), and by far most common, the doi. Get all this information from the website the first time.
Systematic searching. Save and track the keywords you use. Examine multiple databases, and examine keywords in articles (the problem of disambiguation). Search engines often recommend words or phrases. Many websites also have related articles. There are also websites, such as ERIC, which give you keyword help. If you do not know Boolean logic for searches, look them up. There is also someone who is trained to help, which most people overlook: the librarian. That's right--ask for help!
Recency matters. Start out finding anything and everything, but dissertation committees and peer reviewers check to see if most references are new (usually within the past 5 years). That does not mean you cannot have older or seminal articles, but if you do not specifically look for newer material, you will have to update your bibliography. Since most students take 4-5 years to complete a doctorate, expect to have to update if you write your literature review early in the program.
Take notes, ask questions, and try to assign a possible topic each time you review an article, BUT look for problems, doubt, and be critical! You will need 3-7 key areas. Since you need 20-40 pages, on average, you will probably need 50-100 references. The literature review is not a summary or book report--there is a synthesis, which includes examining problems, contradictions, and needs.
Methodology/methods, sample size, and location. Unlike undergrad and master's studies, how the research was conducted, the number of people, and where, all matter. For example, a sample extremely dissimilar to yours should not be overgeneralized. A sample size in a study with n = 5 is a lot different than a study of 10,000. How the study was conducted matters, and the methodology/methods can also give you ideas for your own study (as well as problems to avoid).
The coolest hack: Every class, every assignment, connect--even tangentially--to your literature review. Become fully immersed in your topic, and your coursework will assist your dissertation.
I hear two problems frequently. First, many students claim there is no research on a topic. That is rarely the case--one usually does not know what to look for. Secondly, you will collect many articles and ideas which will not make it into your dissertation. Be ok with knowing not everything will fit.
Dr. David Coker is a prolific author, researcher, and experienced research methodologist. He is the CEO of DissertationPro, which offers comprehensive services to complete your dissertation with editing, APA format, research, and chapter development. Besides teaching K-12 and graduate school, he regularly consults and peer reviews research articles nationally and internationally. He can be followed on LinkedIn and Medium. There is a free consultation if you need help.
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