After you have retrieved all the sources that seem to relate to your research problem, you should now critique those sources to be sure that your review of the literature includes only sound research. The reader expects a critical review, not an indiscriminate collection. Though you can make some tentative judgments about research quality from an abstract, you can develop a valid critique only on the basis of a careful reading of the full text. In undertaking that careful reading and keeping a record of the results, you should find the form shown below to be useful. It was developed by reviewing several texts on research methods (McMillan, 2012). Complete the form, and then attach it to your copy of the source. This careful critique of the research will enable you to make some important decisions as you prepare to write the literature review. What is the overall quality of the research on this topic? Which studies should receive major attention? Which studies are so flawed that they should be ignored? Which issues require further study? Conducting a comprehensive critique will be an ongoing process throughout the dissertation project. Though time-consuming, it is an essential step that should not be hurried. Your goal is to know everything published so far on your research problem, and to know which sources satisfy the appropriate criteria. The knowledge you gain will help you write a sound prospectus, write a quality literature chapter, and develop your own professional knowledge. #literaturereview #literature #proposal #dissertation #searchoutline #ResearchSupport