Underlying Theoretical and Philosophical Assumptions    (pt)            1000w

Although, literature review as a desk-base research method has been flourishing for centuries now, the emergence of systematic review and meta-analysis have raised questions about the academic credibility of literature review as a research method with some claims that the method is sloppy, biased and incomplete (Greenhalgh, 1997). It is probably in response to such criticisms, that the importance of approaching literature review systematic have been argued by some (Aveyard, 2007), while others have sought to develop systematic reviewing techniques. However, Neale (2009) argued that the purpose and use of literature review is very different from that of a systematic review and so should be regarded as two important and diverse methods in their own right. He added that whereas systematic reviews are more suited for addressing very specific questions on the effect of particular policy, practice or medical intervention; literature view (which should be referred to as critical literature review because it is also carried out systematically and critically) is more suited for addressing broader and more complex topics by providing a map of research in a particular field.

2.5.1 Searching the Literature

Having undertaken a preliminary literature review and identified a clear research question that can be answered by a literature review research method; the next step is to develop a search strategy to guide the literature searching, locating and identifying relevant literatures that can address the research question. But in order to focus the literature searching process, predefined selection criteria that will narrow the literature search towards literatures that can address the research question will also be needed. The criteria will include both inclusion and exclusion criteria, both of which depend on and are specific for every individual research question of a study (Aveyard, 2007). Aside, focusing the literature search process, inclusion and exclusion criteria prevents a researcher from becoming distracted by interesting articles that are not relevant to the research question under investigation. Aveyard (2007)