Selecting related literature is an important part of any research project. The following are some criteria to consider when selecting related literature:
Relevance:
Literature should be relevant to the research question or topic being investigated. The selected literature should be able to address or contribute to the research question.
Currency:
Literature should be up-to-date and recent. The currency of the literature is important because research topics are continuously evolving and new research findings are constantly emerging. Recent literature is important to ensure that research is based on current and relevant information.
Credibility:
Literature should be from reputable sources, such as peer-reviewed journals, books, and conference proceedings. The credibility of the literature is important as it provides confidence in the validity of the research findings.
Diversity:
Literature should be diverse, meaning that it should cover a range of perspectives and approaches. This helps to ensure that the research is balanced and thorough, and that potential biases are identified and addressed.
Clarity:
Literature should be written clearly and concisely. Clear and concise literature is important to ensure that the research findings are easily understood by others.
Accessibility:
Literature should be accessible, meaning that it should be easily available to the researcher. This includes both the physical accessibility of the literature and the availability of the literature in terms of cost and language.
Research Gap:
Literature should address the research gap identified in the research question. The research gap refers to the area that has not been studied or researched adequately. The literature should provide insights on this gap and suggest areas for further research.
Theoretical Framework:
Literature should have a theoretical framework that relates to the research question or topic being investigated. This framework should be clearly explained and supported by the literature.
Methodological Relevance:
Literature should be relevant to the research methodology used. This includes the research design, data collection, and data analysis methods. The literature should provide insights into the methodological approach used and how it has been applied in similar studies.
Literature Review Quality:
The literature reviewed should be of high quality, and the review itself should be conducted in a thorough and systematic manner. This ensures that the literature review is comprehensive, informative, and provides a clear understanding of the research area.
In summary, selecting related literature involves considering the relevance, currency, credibility, diversity, clarity, accessibility, research gap, theoretical framework, methodological relevance, and literature review quality. By carefully selecting related literature, researchers can ensure that their research is grounded in relevant and reliable information, and that it contributes to the body of knowledge in their research field.