{"id":231,"date":"2017-02-17T00:07:26","date_gmt":"2017-02-17T00:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/modusoperandi.debroucker.com\/?p=231"},"modified":"2017-02-17T00:07:26","modified_gmt":"2017-02-17T00:07:26","slug":"value-of-literature-review-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/2017\/02\/value-of-literature-review-students\/","title":{"rendered":"How to ensure the value of literature reviews for students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><big>Have you&#8230; <\/big><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><big>taken part in a research project lately? <\/big><\/li>\n<li><big>or read a peer-reviewed article?<br \/>\n<\/big><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You certainly came across a literature review, from basic background searches for writing an article to a systematic review or even a meta-analysis. Literature reviews are an essential exercise in research. They allow us to keep building on facts and evidence that preceded us. We get to know the current state of knowledge and what has been done or tried in pursuit of science.<\/p>\n<p>Though, as important as they are, literature reviews are cumbersome to execute. And in my experience, <em>the burden mostly falls on students and research assistants.<\/em><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Now, it&#8217;s one thing to have work done in exchange for compensation. It is another to consider the work done as a valuable experience &#8211; widespread <em><strong>currency<\/strong> <\/em>in academia and internships.<\/p>\n<p>How can we ensure the literature review is indeed a learning experience for our students and research assistants?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-502 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Facebook-link-post-pics-2.png\" alt=\"The real value of lit reviews for students\" width=\"620\" height=\"325\" srcset=\"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Facebook-link-post-pics-2.png 620w, http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Facebook-link-post-pics-2-300x157.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what to do (and not do) to fulfill your promise to deliver a valuable experience when you say the following:<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8220;You will gain a thorough understanding on the topic&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nNot really when:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student doesn&#8217;t use the results of the literature review<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The topic is broad, not well defined or simply not in the student&#8217;s work interests<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The literature review (collection, screening, and data extraction) has to be performed in a short period of time<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The professor \/ supervisor is not available for questions or discussion<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nBut it could work if:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> There is a <strong>tangible outcome<\/strong> for the student: for instance, analyzing and reporting results in a thesis or paper for a class<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The topic of interest is <strong>useful to know<\/strong> in the student&#8217;s field<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student has <strong>enough time<\/strong> to perform the literature review, the subsequent analysis and report on it<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student can <strong>reach out to faculty members<\/strong> for questions, discussion and advice (and maybe a letter of recommendation)<\/p>\n<hr class=\"ttfmake-hr\" style=\"border-style: dotted; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8220;You will learn how to conduct scientific research&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nNot really when:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> Tracking the literature review&#8217;s progress is not rigorous, intentional and systematic<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> Little training or learning opportunities are offered for the student to better grasp difficult issues in literature reviews: developing a comprehensive list of keywords, searching in the right databases, finding and using grey literature, assessing and promoting inter-rater agreement<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student is not directly responsible for the research output and\/or it has little value to her\/him<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The professor \/ supervisor is not available for questions or discussion<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nBut it could work if:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The supervisor and the student are using <strong>the right tools<\/strong> to conduct the literature review (ex: clean Excel workbook for screening, a reference manager)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <strong>Training is offered<\/strong> and, if possible, during work time: access to librarian and informationists, workshops, ecourse, paid training<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student has to create an output that is valuable for her\/him: co-author on a manuscript or official report, capstone paper, thesis<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student can <strong>reach out to faculty members<\/strong> for questions, discussion and advice<\/p>\n<hr class=\"ttfmake-hr\" style=\"border-style: dotted; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8220;You are contributing to advance this project [and Science]!&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nNot really when:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student does not get to see the overall research effort to which her\/his work contributes to<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf057<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student cannot use the results for his own career advancement in Academia<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nBut it could work if:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> The student is <strong>engaged<\/strong> in (or at least gets to see) the overall scope of the project<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <strong>Co-authorship<\/strong> or acknowledgment in a manuscript is offered (and directly dependent on an agreed level of effort from the student)<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf05d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <strong>Presentation of the results<\/strong> at a conference, a seminar or in a university class is offered<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"ttfmake-hr\" style=\"border-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px;\" \/>\n<p><big>Can you think of more examples?<\/big><\/p>\n<p>I will follow this post up with some tools and templates academics can use to make literature reviews feel less daunting, flow better, and be an enriching experience to offer to students and trainees.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"ttfmake-hr\" style=\"border-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px;\" \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><span class=\"ttfmake-icon mceNonEditable fa\">\uf109<\/span> <\/span> Check out what <a href=\"http:\/\/modusoperandi.debroucker.com\/features\/\"><em>Modus Operandi<\/em> can do<\/a> to help you manage your projects.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"border-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font: bold 11px\/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background: #bd081c  no-repeat scroll 3px 50% \/ 14px 14px; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer;\">Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you&#8230; taken part in a research project lately? or read a peer-reviewed article? You certainly came across a literature review, from basic background searches for writing an article to a systematic review or even a meta-analysis. Literature reviews are an essential exercise in research. They allow us to keep building on facts and evidence &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/2017\/02\/value-of-literature-review-students\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;How to ensure the value of literature reviews for students&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[5,6,7,4],"class_list":["post-231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-better","tag-for-phd-students","tag-for-professors","tag-for-researchers","tag-research-assistants"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Facebook-link-post-pics-2.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}