Administrative Information
| Title | Conducting a Literature Review |
| Duration | 90 mins |
| Module | D |
| Lesson Type | Lecture |
| Focus | Ethical Research in Practice |
| Topic | Literature |
Keywords
Literature Review,Research Context,Source Evaluation,Synthesis Techniques,Academic Integrity,Structural Organization,Effective Communication,
Learning Goals
- Define what a literature review is and explain its role in scientific research.
- Understand the process behind conducting an effective literature review.
- Describe the essential components of a literature review, including introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Differentiate between different types of literature reviews (e.g., systematic, narrative, scoping) and their respective structures.
- Understand the principles of academic integrity, plagiarism, and proper citation.
- Understand the importance of applying principles of effective scientific writing, including clarity, conciseness, and precision.
Expected Preparation
Learning Events to be Completed Before
Obligatory for Students
- Review the things learnt in the expected learning events.
Optional for Students
References and background for students
Lesson materials
Instructions for Teachers
This lecture aims to introduce students to the concept of a literature review. The core goal for the teachers is to provide general insights into what is a literature review, how to define the research topic and set a realistic scope. Teachers are encouraged to edit the lecture materials or the structure of this lecture to best fit their own experience or their audience.
Outline
A sample breakdown of the proposed lecture topics follows below:
| Duration | Topic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 15 mins | Introduction | Briefly introduce the purpose and importance of literature reviews in scientific research. Define some common steps involved in conducting literature reviews. |
| 15 mins | Choosing a Research Topic | Discuss the importance of defining research questions. Outline some strategies for creating a novel research idea or identifying gaps in previous research. |
| 10 mins | Defining the Scope | Deciding on the scope of the research. Strategies for balancing specificity and breadth in the context of the literature review. |
| 10 mins | Selection of Databases | Explanation of the significance of selecting appropriate databases. Overview of commonly used databases for peer-reviewed publications, exploration of some available databases, such as IEEE, ACM, browsing the university library, accessing thesis of former students, etc. |
| 25 mins | Structured Literature Search | Techniques for a structured and effective literature search. Demonstrations of using keywords, Boolean operators, and advanced filtering. Discussion of tools and methods for organizing and managing the literature search. Importance of record-keeping and citation management. Justifying research questions based on the literature. |
| 10 mins | Questions and Discussion | Open the floor for participants to ask questions and seek clarifications on any of the covered topics. |
| 5 mins | Concluding Remarks | Summarize the key takeaways from the tutorial, reinforce the importance of each step in the literature review process, and encourage participants to apply the learning in their research, or, if applicable, through a small assignment or activity related to searching and organizing literature. |
This plan provides a balanced approach to cover essential aspects of writing a literature review. Depending on the pace of your presentation and the level of interaction you desire, you can adjust the timing for each section. Additionally, incorporating real-world examples and case studies can enhance the practical understanding of the concepts discussed.
Acknowledgements
The Human-Centered AI Masters programme was Co-Financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union Under Grant №CEF-TC-2020-1 Digital Skills 2020-EU-IA-0068.