CHAPTER VI- THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES

What is a review of literature?

• A literature is a "review" of "the literature" on a topic.
What does that mean?
• "Review" usually means an overview summarizing major parts and bringing them together to build a
picture of what's out there.
• Different fields of study (and different professors) will have different standards on whether a review is
supposed to be more of a straightforward summary or if it is supposed to have a deep analysis and
discussion.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES
The review of the related literature though written in chapter 2 in most thesis/research format, should be the
first step in any research endeavor.
Why is this so? It is through the review of related literature and studies that the researcher is able to
conceptualize and formalize the research title.
The review of related literatures gives the researcher ideas, concepts and principles on the topic he intends to
research.
However, if the problem is already defined, the review of related literature and studies provides the researcher with
the ff:
• It provides the needed information on the theories, concepts and principles which are essential in developing
the conceptual and theoretical framework of the planned topic.
• It provides the investigator with information about past researches related to the topic under study. In other
words, the review of related literature and studies is a proof that the current undertaking is not a duplicative of
any other work.
• It also helps the researcher identify the variables which were already studied in the past and thus, serve as
basis for identifying new or other variables in his present study. In short, it is a proof that the current research is
filling in research gap.
• The sufficiency of related literature and studies also gives the researcher a feeling of confidence or that there is
sufficient reason to pursue the study.
• It gives the researcher information about the research design, the method used, the data gathering instrument,
sampling techniques and others. Therefore, when related literatures and studies are sufficient, the researcher
can proceed writing the proposal without much problem and without much assistance from research adviser.
• It also provides findings, the conclusions and recommendations offered by the researcher by which the present
researcher could relate.
Review of Related Literatures and Studies

See, et. al., 2000 defines review of related literatures as all information which has substantial bearing on the study at
issue whose source/s could be quoted appropriately.
This generic expression is divided into two classes:
• Related Studies (Research Literatures) pertains to unpublished and published reports of actual research studies
done previously and usually referred to as “studies”. Theses and dissertations are example
• Related Literatures (Conceptual Literature) as a class refers to books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers, legal
reports and other unpublished materials containing facts, laws, literature and other documented observations.
Related Literature (conceptual literature) maybe classified as local, if printed in the Philippines and foreign, if printed
outside the country.
On the other hand, related studies (research literature) are classified as either local, if study was done in the Philippines
and or foreign, if the study was done in other countries.
Easy Steps in Writing Related Literatures
You may need to visit a number of libraries for articles related to your investigation.
At the library, look into the card catalogs for titles of articles, books, and if necessary, ask the help of the librarian.
1. The Researcher should always be guided by the topic under investigation. It is suggested that the student should be
able to identify the variables of the study, the problems, the scope and limitation and methodology.

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2. Write the down the in a separate sheet or in an index card the titles of the theses, dissertations and other materials
researched. Write down the call number, the title, the author, date and place of publication, the school (for theses and
dissertations). These will help you find the materials with ease.
3. In the actual searching of the materials, it is advisable that for every topic researched, one index or paper be used.
Label the card with “Related Literature (Local or foreign)” or “Related Studies (Local or foreign)”
4. The researcher must provide at least five (5) materials for each of the following: (for a minimum total of 20 materials
for chapter II).
a. Local Literature
b. Foreign Literature
c. Local Studies
d. Foreign Studies
5. It is customary to present the local literature first before the foreign literature and the local studies before the foreign
studies.
6. Organize the literature and related studies reviewed. Group together similar topics or related studies.
7. Refrain from copying entire chapters without proper documentation or acknowledgements.
Plagiarism is punishable by law.
The researcher as a second party
• According to Dela Cruz…(1999)
• Dela Cruz (1999)averred that…
• … the intrusion of advanced technology and the shipting of civilization into the “ third wave” describe by Alvin
Toffler as the “ Information Age and Knowledge Revolution” paves the way for making education an instrument
to facilitate change. (Dela Cruz, 1999)
The researcher as a third party
• According to Dela Cruz, as cited by Palpalatoc (1999)…
• Dela Cruz quoted Palpalatoc(1999) who averred that…
• … the intrusion of advanced technology and the shifting of civilization into the “ third wave” describe by Alvin
Toffler as the “ Information Age and Knowledge Revolution” paves the way for making education an instrument
to facilitate change. (Dela Cruz cited by Palpalatoc, 1999)
8. Make a summative description of the research literatures and studies. Make a related study on the needs and
relevance of your investigation. Fraenkel, at.al., (1996) outlined the steps for taking notes:
a. Problem
b. Hypotheses
c. Procedures
d. Findings
e. conclusions
9. If you wish to combine professional and related studies, make a theme of your review based on the important
variables of the study.
10. Presentation should be orderly by arranging the materials by variables. Arrangement of variables should be based on
the research paradigm.
A thematic approach to writing a review of related literature makes it logical, systematic and convenient to the
researcher
11. Compare the related studies reviewed with the current study. Always take note of the similarities and differences
between the previous studies reviewed and the present investigation.
General Guidelines in Citing Related literature and Studies
1. The materials must be as recent as possible. The research must not be older than five (5) years. The conceptual
literature must not be older than 10 years. The more recent it is, the better, especially if it is a research
literature.
2. Materials must be objective and unbiased as possible. One sided/highly opinionated materials should be
avoided. There should be objectivity in the presentation, analysis and interpretation of relevant findings.
Materials must not manifest biases against any particular religion, group of people, sex, race, institutions,
profession, certain philosophy or creed.

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 3. 3. The literature and studies to be selected must be relevant to the study. The materials may or may not agree
with findings of the researcher’s own study but such agreement or disagreement are relevant in enhancing the
value of one’s work.

4. 4. Materials must not be too few or too many.

Generally, Chapter II contains the following parts

1. State of the art
Related Literature
Related Studies
2. Synthesis of the state of the art
3. Gap/s or bridged by the present study
Synthesis
This part of the chapter includes a brief summary of the literature and studies reviewed.
It specifically stresses on the subject matter reviewed. From the related studies reviewed , the researcher
should be able to identify the similarities and the differences of the reviewed studies with the present investigation.
It is in this part of the research where one is able to identify whether the research being investigated is a novel
one, a replication or a duplication of another research.
Guidelines in Writing the Synthesis
1. The synthesis is written after the surveyed and chosen materials have been thoroughly read and examined by
the researcher in terms of major findings, conclusions and recommendations of the other authors and
researchers.
2. The synthesis should be concisely written and should not be more than two pages. A one-page synthesis is
usually enough for most papers.
3. Very lengthy or complex sentences should be avoided in writing a synthesis.
4. 4. Brief citations of ideas or findings of other researchers/authors can be done to enhance the researchers own
logical views of the entire materials in chapter II.

5. 5. The synthesis puts the present study in the context or in the light of other studies by other researchers. Both
similar and contradictory findings can be placed in the synthesis in very concise citations.

Gap/s or bridged by the present study

This part of the research/thesis identifies the variables which were not explored by other researchers, thus,
became the focus of the investigation.
The gaps may either be along the subject of the study, the methodology, the scope or coverage of the study or
the subjects or respondents of the study.

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