Product Description

A clear, understandable six-step method for streamlining the literature review process!

Written in user-friendly language, this resource offers master's and doctoral level students in education and the social sciences a road map to developing and writing an effective literature review for a research project, thesis, or dissertation.

Organized around a comprehensive and detailed six-step developmental model, the book provides guided exercises, graphics, charts, and examples from the everyday experiences of practitioners. Both novice and experienced researchers will find invaluable assistance for:

Selecting a topic

Searching the literature

Developing arguments

Surveying the literature

Critiquing the literature

Writing the literature review (20080221)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41223 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 184 pages

Review
"Machi and McEvoy have crafted a guide to writing a literature review that is absolutely elegant in its simplicity. The writers take the reader from the simple to the complex in an extremely well-written, logical sequence of bite-sized steps. This is the most useful guide to writing a literature review available anywhere." (Leonard O. Pellicer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus 20080221)

"The authors have compiled one of the most authoritative yet practical guides to the literature review process. Novices will rapidly develop needed skills by completing the many exercises and reviewing the excellent end-of-chapter summaries, and any researcher can benefit from the six-step model that acts as a road map for both the academic and the professional writer." (Eugene J. Muscat, Professor of Management and Information Systems 20080225)

"This book presents the frame for the research thought process. The literature review model used throughout the text emphasizes how the literature review is integral to the entire research process, not just the beginning." (Diane Benson, Chair, Department of Nursing 20080226)

"Perhaps the only challenge greater than conducting an effective review of the literature is teaching the novice researcher how to do so. This text meets the need of both student and teacher! Even the experienced researcher will undoubtedly gain some insight within these pages." (Jim Cox, Author, President, JK Educational Associates 20080318)

"The literature review is such a critical component of conducting and presenting good research. Whether the reader is a student preparing to write a thesis or dissertation, or a major advisor overseeing such work, this book provides an array of insights about what an effective literature review looks like and offers specifics about what it addresses in terms of content and structural framework." (Kenneth R. Stevenson, Chair and Professor of Educational Leadership and Policies )

About the Author
Lawrence A. Machi is a professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership at the University of La Verne. He teaches research methods and design and chairs doctoral dissertation research in addition to teaching classes in organizational development. Machi has extensive experience in higher education, having taught in schools of education at the University of San Francisco, St. Mary's College of California, and Sonoma State University prior to his tenure at the University of La Verne. Machi has also been a K-12 educator, having worked as a secondary teacher and served as a school administrator in both secondary and elementary school districts in Northern California. He has held the roles of vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.

Machi has consulted with many California school districts and nonprofit organizations over the years. His specialties have been in the areas of finance, negotiations, and organizational development. He holds an MA in curriculum development and an EdD in organizational leadership.

Brenda McEvoy began her fascination with research and writing at age 15 when she became the “interested amateur” reader for her father’s books on topics including Pueblo ethnology and natural history. Those five years of early experience taught her the importance of careful research that produces logical arguments and that is expressed in clear, understandable language. She has taught high school English and history, including research skills, for the past 30 years. For eight years, she worked for the California State Department of Education leading groups of educators in improving their ability to edit and assess student writing. Also for the state, she was a mentor for beginning English and history teachers. Participation in the California Writing Project extended her knowledge of writing and the difficulties that students at all levels face when producing a major assignment. She has worked as an editor and a proofreader for the books of several associates. Currently, she is doing research on health insurance coverage for two teachers’ associations. Her depth of experience as a practitioner teaching writing and researching at many levels has shown her the many pitfalls that can bedevil student researchers. Her major interest has always been to help writers create work that is clear and logical, guiding student researchers toward producing well-argued and well-written literature reviews.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Book
This book is very useful for students starting their PhD because it helps them develop their ideas and ultimately end up with a well-written literature review. The book leads the reader through the stages of writing a literature review starting from the identification of a topic till you reach the end product. I found it very useful and wished for similar books or I would like to have other mini-books that tell-me-how to do the other chapters in the thesis. This book is really good in clarifying what you should do and what your readers or examiners expect to find in the literature review and how to go about it. Thumbs up for this book!