Review Relevant Theories or Prior Empirical Studies

A thorough review of relevant theories and prior empirical studies is essential for building a strong research foundation. It helps you understand the existing knowledge, identify theoretical perspectives, recognize methodological approaches, and most importantly, find gaps your research can fill. This process is not about summarizing everything ever written—it's about being strategic, critical, and focused.

1

Start with a Clear Research Focus

2

Identify Key Theories and Conceptual Frameworks

3

Conduct a Systematic Literature Search for Empirical Studies

4

Analyze and Synthesize, Don’t Just Summarize

5

Link the Review Back to Your Own Research

Example:

If you're researching how employee motivation affects productivity, you might explore motivational theories (like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs or Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory) and previous studies on motivation in workplace settings.

Pro Tip:

Write down 3–5 key concepts or themes from your research question and use them as search keywords. This saves time and ensures relevance when you begin your review.

Step 1: Start with a Clear Research Focus

Before diving into articles or books, you must know exactly what you're looking for.

Your research focus—defined by your research problem, aim, and objectives—should guide your search.

Knowing your topic helps you decide whether you need to explore foundational theories, previous findings, or both.

Step 2: Identify Key Theories and Conceptual Frameworks

Once your research focus is clear, the next step is to identify relevant theories and models.

Theoretical frameworks provide a lens through which your study can be viewed and interpreted.

Depending on your topic, this could involve one core theory or multiple models that complement each other.

Example:

If you are studying student learning behavior, you might explore Cognitive Load Theory, Constructivism, or Self-Determination Theory. Choose theories that:

  • Explain the variables you're studying
  • Are widely accepted and cited
  • Have been used in related research

Pro Tip:

Use academic databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, Scopus, and ResearchGate to find review articles—they often summarize multiple theories and save you time.

Example:

If you're studying online learning, you might look for studies like:

  • “The impact of gamification on student engagement in virtual classrooms”
  • “A meta-analysis of online vs. traditional learning outcomes”

Pro Tip:

Create a spreadsheet to track each study—include fields for author, year, sample, method, findings, and relevance. This makes it easier to write your literature review later.

Step 3: Conduct a Systematic Literature Search for Empirical Studies

Now that you have a theoretical lens, search for empirical studies—research articles that involve data collection and analysis—to understand what’s already been done in your field.

These studies help you see:

  • Which methods are commonly used
  • What results have been found
  • What limitations or gaps exist

Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and advanced search tools in databases. For example, searching “employee motivation AND productivity” will narrow results to studies combining both themes.

Step 4: Analyze and Synthesize, Don’t Just Summarize

Many beginners fall into the trap of summarizing each article one by one. Instead, aim to synthesize—that is, compare, contrast, and combine findings from various sources.

Identify:

  • Patterns or trends across studies
  • Conflicting results or disagreements
  • Unexplored or underexplored areas

Example:

If three studies find that online learning improves student performance, and two show no significant effect, discuss why those differences might exist. Were there differences in methodology, sample size, or context?

Pro Tip:

Group your findings into themes or categories (e.g., methodology, key variables, theoretical approaches). This helps you construct a structured, narrative literature review.

Example:

After reviewing studies on online learning, you might say:

“While several studies have examined the effect of gamification on student engagement, few have focused on postgraduate students in rural areas. This study addresses that gap.”

Pro Tip:

End your literature review with a summary paragraph that clearly states:

  1. What is already known
  2. What is not known (the gap)
  3. What your study will do

Step 5: Link the Review Back to Your Own Research

The final and most important step is to connect your review to your own study.

Your literature and theory review should:

  • Justify the need for your research
  • Highlight what gaps you're addressing
  • Clarify how your study builds on or differs from past work

Reviewing relevant theories and prior empirical studies is more than an academic exercise—it's the backbone of a strong research foundation. By following a structured approach, you ensure your review is focused, critical, and directly linked to your research. This, in turn, strengthens every part of your study—from your hypotheses to your methodology and conclusions.

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