Critical Analysis of Literature Review on Chosen Topic

Research Methodology, Design, and Analysis

Use approximately 900 words to critically analyse the quality of the studies included in your literature review e.g. research methodology, design and analysis.

• A critical review of the literature on your chosen topic, identifying, highlighting and comparing any key findings, key issues, different viewpoints, areas of ambiguity and controversies.

• Summarize and evaluates the current state of knowledge in the field. Refer to major themes or topics, important trends, and any findings about which researchers (from the different research papers) agree or disagree.

• Ensure that you analyse a range of different research methodologies. Key points / questions to consider when writing critically:

• Answer the research question posed - what does the research say about the topic / question you are trying to answer?

• What are the main themes and findings prevalent in the literature?

• Consider the quality of the evidence and argument you have read – consider both strengths and weaknesses and how valid and reliable is it?

• Are there any discrepancies, ambiguities? I.e. do the articles you have read agree with each other or highlight differing opinions

• Are there any gaps in the research – is there a question you can’t answer, is anything unclear?

Make links with practice and wider populations where appropriate Remember to reference all your ideas and key points to ensure you support your answer with research and evidence.

Make recommendations for practice change based on the findings of your literature review.

Analyse of your recommendations and how it might be implemented in practice and any potential barriers to implementation, and also possible solutions to those barriers. Justify and support your recommendations with wider literature and reading.

Key Questions to consider:

• Are there any consistencies or inconsistencies between what the research recommends should happen in practice, and what actually happens in practice?

• Include advantages for your practice as well as identifying any barriers, or limitations, you think could be associated with implementation of any changes you suggest?

• Why is change important? Why is change difficult to implement? Are there any barrier to implementing change? What strategies can be used to implement change?

• How do the findings / recommendations of the literature review link compare with what you experience in practice?

Your conclusion should summarise the discussions or arguments discussed in the main body of your reflective account and should link back to the module learning outcomes.

Your conclusion should…

• The conclusion is the paragraph that ‘wraps up’ your assignment.

• Your conclusion should summaries the discussions, main points and key themes put forward in the main body of your work (Main Body 1 and 2 ). Your conclusion should not…

• Your conclusion should not include any new information or material.

• Your conclusion should not include references – this suggests that you have not completed your discussion.

Key points to consider:

• Refer directly back to the assignment question

• Ask yourself what the most important things are you have discovered about the topic and summarize i.e. an overview of findings and recommendations for practice change.