FBA 321

LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODCUTION
A Literature Review is a survey of intellectual sources (such as books, journal, articles, theses etc)
associated with a selected topic or analysis of a question. It's usually written as a part of a thesis,
dissertation, or analysis paper, so as to situate the researcher’s work in relevance to existing
information. It is a survey of existing scholarly writings or published knowledge on a particular
topic. It is not an analysis of a single work of literature.

Literature review involves the systematic identification, location and analysis of documents
containing information related to the research problem being investigated. It should be extensive
because it is aimed at obtaining detailed knowledge of the topic being studied.

PURPOSE OF LITERATURE REVIEW

A literature review will help you to avoid redundancy in your own research and to identify new
problems, possibilities for further research, and to expand upon or ask new questions. The literature
review allows you as a researcher to enter into an ongoing conversation with other scholars and
researchers.
The purpose of the literature review is to discover the gaps in literature. The literature review helps
to form the theoretical basis of the research.

Literature review is important for several reasons:

a) It helps in the selection and definition of the research problem. In some cases, a researcher
may not have narrowed down to a topic at the start of the literature review. In such cases,
the literature review helps the researcher to limit the research problem and to define it better
b) It helps in highlighting the state of the art of the problem of study. This helps to avoid
unnecessary and unintentional duplication.
c) It helps in specifying the conceptual frame work of the study. This forms the framework
within which the findings are to be interpreted.
d) It is useful in guiding the methodology of the study. Literature review reveals strategies,
procedures and measuring instruments that have been found to be useful in investigating
the problem in question. This helps one to benefit from other experiences.
e) Literature review suggests other procedures and approaches that can be used in problem
investigation. This helps the researcher to try them out, especially if they will improve the
research study.
f) It helps in explaining the findings of the study.
g) It helps to resolve conflicts amongst seemingly contradictory previous studies.
h) It helps researcher to locate the research within the context of existing literature.
i) It reveals any gap that exist in the literature.

SCOPE OF LITERATURE REVIEW

A literature review may be comprehensive or selective but should examine seminal or principal
works and works that have been consequential in the field. The scope of a literature review will
vary by assignment and discipline.

The literature review covers the following:

 i. Compares and contrasts various authors’ works
ii. Identifies areas of consensus and dissent
iii. Points out trends, approaches, methodologies, theories, and frames of analysis
iv. Discusses major debates in the field of study
v. Examines methodological or theoretical strengths and weaknesses of the research.
vi. Reveals gaps or oversights
vii. Indicates areas needing further research

FORMULATING THE THEORETICAL, CONCEPTUAL & EMPIRICAL FRAMEWORKS

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A theoretical framework is a collection of interrelated theories that guides the research,
determining what things to be measured, and what statistical relationships to look for. It is the
structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study. The theoretical
framework introduces and describes the theory that explains why the research problem
under study exists.

A theoretical framework consists of theories, together with their definitions, and existing
theory/theories that are used for your particular study. The theoretical framework must
demonstrate an understanding of theories that are relevant to the topic of your research paper and
that will relate it to the broader fields of knowledge in the class you are taking.
It is not something that is found readily available in the literature. You must review course readings
and pertinent research literature for theories and analytic models that are relevant to the research
problem you are investigating. The selection of a theory should depend on its appropriateness, ease
of application, and explanatory power.
The theoretical framework strengthens the study in the following ways.

1. An explicit statement of theoretical assumptions permits the reader to evaluate them

critically.
2. The theoretical framework connects the researcher to existing knowledge. Guided by a
relevant theory, you are given a basis for your hypotheses and choice of research methods.
3. Articulating the theoretical assumptions of a research study forces you to address questions
of why and how. It permits you to move from simply describing a phenomenon observed
to generalizing about various aspects of that phenomenon.
4. Having a theory helps you to identify the limits to those generalizations. A theoretical
framework specifies which key variables influence a phenomenon of interest. It alerts you
to examine how those key variables might differ and under what circumstances.

Strategies for developing an effective Theoretical Framework:

1. Examine your thesis/project title and research problem. The research problem
anchors your entire study and forms the basis from which you construct your theoretical
framework.
2. Brainstorm on what you consider to be the key variables in your research. Answer
the question, what factors contribute to the presumed effect?
3. Review related literature to find answers to your research question.
 4. List the variables that might be relevant to your study. Group these variables into
independent and dependent categories.
5. Review the key theories that you come across in your course of readings and choose the
theory or theories that can best explain the relationships between the key variables in
your study.
6. Discuss the assumptions of this theory and point out their relevance to your research.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Conceptual framework is defined as a network of interlinked concepts that together provide a
comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon. The concepts that constitute a conceptual
framework support one another, articulate their respective phenomena, and establish a framework-
specific philosophy.

A conceptual framework represents the researcher's synthesis of literature on how to explain a

phenomenon. It maps out the actions required in the course of the study given his previous
knowledge of other researchers' point of view and his observations on the subject of research. e.g
Concept of Cost Accounting, Concept of Financial Reporting,

A conceptual framework illustrates what you expect to find through your research. It defines the
relevant variables for your study and maps out how they might relate to each other. You should
construct a conceptual framework before you begin collecting data. A conceptual
framework includes one or more formal theories (in part or whole) as well as other concepts and
empirical findings from the literature. It is used to show relationships among these ideas and how
they relate to the research study.

Features of Conceptual Frameworks

The main features of conceptual frameworks are as follows:
1. A conceptual framework is not merely a collection of concepts but, rather, a construct in which
each concept plays an integral role.
2. A conceptual framework provides not a causal/analytical setting but, rather, an interpretative
approach to social reality.
3. Rather than offering a theoretical explanation, as quantitative models do, conceptual frameworks
provide understanding.
4. A conceptual framework provides not just knowledge of “hard facts” but, rather, “soft
interpretation of intentions”.
5. Conceptual frameworks are indeterminist in nature and therefore do not enable us to predict an
outcome. Levering (2002) has suggested that “the idea that human behavior can be explained and
predicted is roughly based on the concept of external factors being caught in an accidental
cohesion, and the idea that human actions can be understood, but not predicted, is based on the
concept of freedom” (p. 38).
6. Conceptual frameworks can be developed and constructed through a process of qualitative
analysis.

EMPIRICAL LITERATURE
An empirical literature review is commonly called a systematic literature review and it examines
past empirical studies to answer a particular research question. It is a summary of research that has
been conducted in the past on a certain subject of interest.
Characteristics Empirical Literature.
i. Systematic Observation and Methodology.
The hallmark of empiricism is “repeated or reinforced observation of the facts or phenomena”
(Holosko, 2006). In empirical literature, established research methodologies and procedures are
systematically applied to answer the questions of interest.

ii. Objectivity.
Gathering “facts,” whatever they may be, drives the search for empirical evidence (Holosko,
2006). Authors of empirical literature are expected to report the facts as observed, whether or not
these facts support the investigators’ original hypotheses. Research integrity demands that the
information be provided in an objective manner, reducing sources of investigator bias to the
greatest possible extent.

iii. Transparency and Replicability/Reproducibility.

Empirical literature is reported in such a manner that other investigators understand precisely what
was done and what was found in a particular research study—to the extent that they could replicate
the study to determine whether the findings are reproduced when repeated. The outcomes of an
original and replication study may differ, but a reader could easily interpret the methods and
procedures leading to each study’s findings.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING LITERATURE REVIEW

Writing a literature review involves finding relevant publications (such as books and journal
articles), critically analyzing them, and explaining what you found. There are five key steps:
i. Search for relevant literatures
ii. Evaluate sources
iii. Identify the gaps
iv. Outline the structure
v. Write your literature review
A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources – it analyzes, synthesizes, and critically
evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.

Layout/Format of Literature Review

1. Introduction: State the topic and provide a brief overview outlining the central points
covered.
2. Theoretical framework
3. Conceptual Framework
4. Empirical Framework
5. Gaps in Literature
6. Conclusion
7. References
PLAGIARISM IN BUSINESS RESEARCH
What is plagiarism?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the verb “to plagiarize” means “to steal and pass
off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own : use (another’s production) without crediting the
source”

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent,
by incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement. All published and unpublished
material, whether in manuscript, printed or electronic form, is covered under this definition.
Plagiarism may be intentional or reckless, or unintentional.
In our tech-forward culture, the simple act of copy-and-paste can seem harmless, but it has serious
consequences in academic and professional settings.

5 ways to avoid plagiarism

1. Cite your source: When alluding to an idea or wording that’s not your own, add a citation in
your writing that identifies the full name of the source, the date it was published, and any other
citation element that’s required by the style guide you’re adhering to.

2. Include quotations: If you insert a source’s words into your writing, verbatim, one of the most
simple yet obvious ways to avoid plagiarism is by using quotation marks around the text to denote
that the words aren’t your own. A direct quote should also cite the source so that readers know
who the quote is from.

3. Paraphrase: Paraphrasing is rewriting a source’s ideas or information into your own words,
without changing its meaning. But be careful—paraphrasing can slip into plagiarism if done
incorrectly. Successfully paraphrasing without plagiarizing involves a bit of a dance. Reword and
format your writing in an original way, and try to avoid using too many similar words or phrases
from the source. The key is to do so without altering the meaning of the idea itself. Remember,
you’re still using another’s idea so you’ll need to include a citation to the source.

4. Present your own idea: Instead of parroting the source’s ideas or words, explore what you have
to say about it. Ask yourself what unique perspective or point you can contribute in your writing
that’s entirely your own. Keep in mind that if you’re alluding to a source’s ideas or words to frame
your own point, you’ll still need to apply the guidelines above to avoid plagiarizing.
If you’re writing on the same topic for multiple assignments, it can be tempting to recycle some
of your previous words—this is called “self-plagiarism”. The risk involved with self-plagiarism is
just as high if the publisher or your instructor didn’t give you permission to reuse your old work.

5. Use a plagiarism checker: While conducting your research on a topic, some phrases or
sentences might stick with you so well that you inadvertently include them in your writing without
a citation. When in doubt, using an online plagiarism checking tool can help you catch these issues
before submitting your work. e.g Grammarly, Turnitin