Deck 5: A Closer Look at Evaluating Literature Reviews

Question 1

Instead of citing too many sources for a single point, the researchers can use several possible remedies. Which one of the following is NOT a good strategy?

A) Researchers can break up a long string of references into subgroups.
B) Researchers can cite only the strongest studies.
C) Researchers may randomly select just a few of the references to include.
D) Researchers may refer the reader to a recent comprehensive review of the relevant research.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which one of the following statements correctly reflects what critical literature reviews are about?

A) Criticizing every study's methodology is a requirement for a good literature review.
B) Critical assessment of research literature can be positive, as well as negative.
C) Critical literature reviews are supposed to offer a critical theory of the described findings.
D) Criticism in a literature review refers to specific personalities rather than studies.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which one of the following statements about literature reviews is correct?

A) Literature reviews must cite a range of different sources - from historical literature to contemporary studies.
B) Every literature review must cite sources published within the past couple of years of the review writing.
C) Including contradictory research findings makes the literature review look weak and unclear.
D) If previous studies produced findings unfavorable to the researchers' point, these findings should be included.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

All of the following phrases are used in research literature to indicate that a statement is strongly supported by data or research, EXCEPT:

A) In laboratory experiments…
B) These researchers advocated…
C) Recent test scores show…
D) Data from surveys comparing…

Question 5

The following statements explain what gaps in research literature are. Which one of these is INCORRECT?

A) Gaps point to questions needing more research in the future.
B) Gaps predict the accuracy of findings in forthcoming studies.
C) Gaps indicate areas not fully explored in previous studies.
D) Gaps can be used to justify a study when the purpose of the study is to fill the gaps.

Question 6

When it comes to inherent limitations of scientific research, the following statements are true, EXCEPT:

A) No scientific study can offer a definitive proof.
B) Research results offer evidence of varying strength.
C) Researchers must indicate the strength of each study described in the literature review.
D) If a researcher describes the results of research without indicating its strength, the readers will assume the study is reasonably strong.

Question 7

Which one of the following phrases in a literature review does NOT indicate that the study being reviewed offers solid scientific evidence?

A) "results are pointing towards"
B) "strongly suggest that"
C) "clearly indicate that"
D) "lead any reasonable researcher to conclude"

Question 8

When it comes to using direct quotes in literature reviews, the following rules apply, EXCEPT:

A) Direct quotes should almost never be used in literature reviews.
B) Paraphrasing instead of using direct quotes saves journal space.
C) If a quote expresses an idea or concept so beautifully and so perfectly that paraphrasing would detract from it, then such a quote can be used in a literature review.
D) Direct quotes help interrupt the flow of the text to bring the reader's attention back.

Question 9

Which one of these questions can help you evaluate the quality of a literature review?

A) Are the issues that the literature review discusses useful for a practitioner?
B) Would you want to conduct research on the topic described in the review?
C) Are the key highlights from the literature clearly synthesized in the review?
D) How much time did the researchers spend preparing the literature review?