Transcript Reviews of Research - University of British Columbia

Research Synthesis
Approaches to research
synthesis
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Narrative reviews
 A discursive analysis of
multiple research
studies
 May include both quant
and qual studies
 May include theoretical
or philosophical work
Meta-analysis
 A statistical technique
for combining the
results of multiple
studies
 Only applicable for
quantitative studies,
ones where effect sizes can be
calculated
Qualitative research studies
Narrative reviews of
research
Meta-analysis
Quantitative research studies
Forest plots (the key to understanding a metaanalysis)
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Effect size is the difference between two groups
Effect size =
mean of exp group − mean of control group
_______________________________________
standard deviation
What would you conclude
about the effect of DARE
on drug use from looking
at this Figure?
More info on meta-analysis
A good source on meta-analysis is the Cochrane
Collaboration, an international non-profit academic
group specializing in meta-analyses of healthcare
interventions.
http://www.cochrane.org
Simpler reference:
Bergman NG, Parker RA (2002). Meta-analysis:
neither quick nor easy.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/2/10.
Research reviews…
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 Are organized by topic
 Summarize what is and
is not known
 Identify areas of
controversy
 Acquaint readers with
existing research on a
topic
 Illustrate trends in
research
 Illustrate the need for
further research
Doing Literature Reviews

 Be focused
 Clarify the thesis, topic, question
 Collect relevant research
 What sources
 journals, books, websites, dissertations, conference
proceedings
 Does publication date matter?
 Read and summarize
 12 step summary
 annotated bibliography, old school or RefWorks
Doing Literature Reviews
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 Evaluate the pieces
 Set criteria for inclusion in review
 Create an organizational structure for the review
 Group studies by
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Research questions
Results
Characteristics of research participants
Methods used
Doing Literature Reviews
 Write the review
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 Discursive prose
 Thematic organization
 Synthesize and evaluate, rather than summarize
 Things to keep in mind
Use evidence
Be selective… select the most important points
Use quotes sparingly
Use caution when paraphrasing… fair representation &
avoiding plagarism
 Start paragraphs/sentences with the idea, not a citation
 Find and keep your voice
 Use proper style… usually APA style
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Organization of review of
research
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TOPIC: How is home understood, defined and described across
theoretical and empirical literature?
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House and home
Ideal house and home
Between the real and ideal, the actual and remembered home
Home as haven
Mallett, S. (2004). Understanding home: A
Home and family
critical review of the literature. The
Home and gender
Sociological Review, 52(1), 62-89.
Home and journeying
Being at home in the world
Home, self-identity, and being
Common errors
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 Being in a hurry… overlooking studies
 Relying too heavily on secondary sources
 Focusing only on findings, at the expense of
methods, instrumentation, research design
 Using only journal articles… not books, handbooks,
encyclopedias
 Too broadly or narrowly conceived
 Summarizing studies, rather than synthesizing and
evaluating what is learned