Literature Review Proposal
Research Title & Variables
Associations of adverse childhood experiences with insomnia and alcohol use among young adults in a university population
– The main variable will be adverse childhood experiences
o Followed by insomnia and alcohol use
– Please use the attached full-length article as the guideline as the literature review will be similar in its introduction and format.
Overview
The literature review will include:
1. A statement of the purpose and scope of the research
2. A critical review of the relevant literature and rationale for the proposed research
3. A clear statement of the research question, one or more hypotheses to be tested
A list of cited references should be supplied, but an abstract is not required.
The review may take any number of different forms. For example, it may comprise a broad
theoretical framework, or synthesise a large number of background studies. Irrespective of the breadth or depth of the review, the rationale for the proposed research should be clear.
Guidelines on writing the literature review
Providing a clear overview of the purpose and scope of the research project:
⢠Is there a clear, brief statement of the study topic early in the document?
⢠Is the structure of the review of the literature described early in the document?
⢠Are theoretical and technical terms clearly described throughout the document?
Providing a critical review of the relevant literature
This section will describe the theory or conceptual framework relevant to the ensuing Research Report, and any relevant previous studies. A good literature review should be systematic, comprehensive, and analytic.
⢠Is the review up-to-date, and comprehensive, omitting unnecessary extraneous literature?
⢠Is there a clear development of an argument, or rationale for the study?
⢠Is there a clear consideration of the relevance and methodological rigour of studies reviewed, according to relevant criteria, such as sample composition and size, definition and quality of measurement of relevant variables, procedural details, quality of experimental control (where appropriate), and strength of study interpretation?
To take a few examples :
⢠Are independent and dependent variables well-validated and reliable?
⢠Are important independent variables confounded?
⢠In an experimental study, can the experimental procedure be improved?
⢠In a clinical study, are appropriate control samples and patient types utilised?
⢠Is statistical significance distinguished from effect size and both interpreted correctly?
⢠Are there omissions in previous studies, and is there a compelling argument that rectification of the omission would change the interpretation of previous findings?
Providing a clear statement of one or more hypotheses
A clear, logical connection between the reviewed literature and the study hypotheses should be evident and elaborated in sufficient detail for the non-expert reader to understand the reasoning. It should be clear whether the hypotheses are a-priori and directional, or more exploratory.
Benchmark Criteria for a H1 standard Literature Review
The literature review will:
⢠provide a clear overview of the purpose and scope of the research project
⢠review carefully and critically the essential empirical and theoretical literature pertaining to the research question/s;
⢠identify key gaps in the existing literature and/or conceptual or methodological difficulties with previous approaches to the problem;
⢠develop a clearly expressed and cogent rationale for the proposed research plan, taking into
account the relevant literature;
⢠generate clear research aim(s) and/or a set of hypotheses to be tested
– highly developed original thought (e.g., principled suggestions for
modifications to an existing theory or model; the principled derivation of
new research hypotheses from a model or theory; etc.)
Point 1 above plus evidence of:
– writing that is close to the benchmark required for publication in a high
impact, international, peer-reviewed, journal.