Literature review The aim of a literature review is to show your reader that you have read, and have a good grasp of, the main published work concerning a particular topic or question in your field. In the assignment guidance we suggest two key questions to answer in this section: • What bodies of literature can inform your research? • What have people already said about the issue? To answer these questions you first need to decide what is your specific focus (ie. the scope) – you should be drawing on literature that is specific to the career theories and concepts that will inform your analysis. You may also bring in examples of research of particular relevant to your participant. For example, if you are focusing on boundaryless career theory and your interview participant is a female engineer, you could focus the literature review on what people have said about boundaryless career theory, and what research has shown about women’s experiences in engineering/male dominated professions. Remember you have limited space, so it will be necessary to be selective in the literature you include. It is very important to note that your review should not be simply a description of what others have published in the form of a set of summaries, but should take the form of a critical discussion(as per the ‘critical thread’ discussed in week 8 lecture) and synthesis of material, showing insight and an awareness of differing arguments, theories and approaches. To help with this some people populate a literature matrix as they read the material. Here are a couple of examples of what these look like: Main idea/topic Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 In this box you insert the idea that you are reading about Here you will use quotes or argument summaries from source 1 that are specific to the main idea Here you will use quotes or argument summaries from source 2 that are specific to the main idea Here you will use quotes or argument summaries from source 3 that are specific to the main idea Reference Method Main finding(s) Limitations/comments Here you insert the reference In this box you insert the research method, (eg. 10 interviews with managers) Here you list one or two of the main findings of the research In this box you reflect on the limitations of the research and any other comments you wish to make Taking this kind of approach with your reading notes can help you write a synthesis of literature when you write up the review section. I think option one is probably the most appropriate for the assignment. I hope this information is helpful. – Dr Sarah Barnard