Literature Searching for Research: Writing About Your Research

Use the Matrix Method to manage your review!

The Matrix Method of Literature Reviews OhioLINK EJC access
This 2004 article by Goldman and Schmalz summarizes the method!

As you plan your review of the literature, consider these questions:

• What is my central question or issue that the literature can help define?
• What is already known about the topic?
• Is the scope of the literature being reviewed wide or narrow enough?
• Is there a conflict or debate in the literature?
• What connections can be made between the texts being reviewed?
• What sort of literature should be reviewed? Historical? Theoretical? Methodological? Quantitative? Qualitative?
• What criteria should be used to evaluate the literature being reviewed?
• How will reviewing the literature justify the topic I plan to investigate?

As you write your review, consider these ways of expressing your ideas:

• Compare and contrast views of different authors.
• Criticize previous work.
• Highlight gaps in existing research.
• Show how your work relates to previous work.
• Identify problems, conflicts, debates, gaps.
• Define a research area in a new way.
• Question previous results.

From: Writing the successful thesis and dissertation (Chapter 6) by Irene L. Clark
You can read this book online through OhioLINK!

These sites share tips and tricks for writing a literature review:

Follow these "rules" to communicate the ideas that you want to share in your research paper!

From: Mensh & Kording, Ten simple rules for structuring papers
PLoS Computational Biology 2017 Sep 28;13(9):e1005619
Read the full article here.

Focus on Rule 3: C-C-C!

Structural Elements of a Paper:
Across sections, across paragraphs, and within paragraphs

You can download a copy of this figure here!

Consider taking a "narrative" approach when writing!

"If you want to tell a story in your paper, think of the six plot elements (character, setting, tension, action, climax, resolution) and the other three story essentials (main theme, chronology, purpose). In no time you’ll have outlined the backbone of your narrative and be ready to create a paper that is concise, compelling, and easy to understand."