Topic: Child abuse
Paper details:
choose 6 articles that are (1) original research studies [these have a METHODS section, and can be exploratory, quasi-experimental, and/or explanatory designs], and (2) published in peer-review journals.
That combination of those 6 articles can include:
5 quantitative (original research studies) and 1 qualitative (original research study)
OR
6 quantitative (original research studies)
*Remember, quantitative studies can be either exploratory, quasi-experimental or explanatory. However- in general- qualitative studies are usually just exploratory.A literature review requires a synthesis of the research articles you have
reviewed- you should not discuss each article separately! In the literature
review, you should critically analyze and synthesize the literature of a topical
area of interest. Use the following outline to format your paper. Use the below
headings in your paper, and address each item within each heading, in the order
presented below:
INTRODUCTION
*Introduction of the topic/problem
*Provide a brief explanation about why this issue is important
*Provide a brief description of what your paper is going to address
SCOPE OF PROBLEM
*Describe the breadth and depth of the problem
*Discuss the population(s) affected most by this problem
*Describe how the population(s) are affected
*Define your variables of interest
*Explain why this problem is important to explore and address
PREVIOUS FINDINGS
*Describe previous studies about your chosen problem
– findings
– research designs
– sampling methods
– participants utilized in studies
– operationalization of independent and dependent variables
– theories used
– hypotheses tested
-major findings
CRITIQUE OF LITERATURE
*Describe the strengths and weaknesses of previous studies methodology (i.e,
generalizability, measurement, cultural sensitivity, research design, threats to
validity, threats to reliability, theory, ethics, etc)
CONCLUSION
*In general, describe what previous research has contributed to this topic of
interest
*Based on limitations of previous studies, describe how future studies can be
address the weaknesses you identified
*Describe possible suggestions for future research by identifying potential
research questions or relationships between variables that need further
exploration
*Close the literature review with a discussion of implications: Why is your
suggestion for future research important?