A 7-8 page
literature review with primary sources only, recent sources no older than 10
years, and an included introduction page that describes the literature search
that was used. The literature search will follow the below outline and will
coordinate with the included paper that I have already started.
Outline:
From the literature
review you understand how the authors/researchers performed their
methods in order for
you to adopt/borrow them for your proposed project. It is essential
your literature
review supports your PICO from your introduction.
The literature
search was properly conducted to identify appropriate primary sources which
will be reviewed and discussed and synthesized to show the evidence to support
the intervention in
the PICO does indeed
help to improve/decrease the intended
outcome.
As you read your
selected primary sources (quantitative or qualitative studies), NOT literature
reviews, systematic reviews or meta-analyses, take note of:
1. Recurring themes
throughout the literature. Are there studies that use the same
methodology, use the
same tool to measure the outcome?
2. Similarities and
differences? Take note of the similarities and differences of the studies
3. How does each
author support their position?
4. How is the
outcome measured?
5. What are the
study conclusions?
6. Note limitations
and strengths.
7. Note how the
studies’ results varied from each other.
Write down your key
insights and how each source you selected contributes to the existing pool
of knowledge on its
subject. Explore how the sources challenge and contradict each other and
where they agree or
expand upon each other.
The following is an
outline to follow when it time to draft up the literature review.
Theme #1
Paragraph 1-2 –
discuss the similarities and differences of the studies that share theme
#1, synthesize the
information: populations, findings, methods conclusions based on theme.
Paragraph 2-3
authors conclusions- are they the same, different, what are their
concluding thoughts?
Is there any conflicting evidence?
Paragraph 4 – Bring
in your concluding thoughts, questions, and opinions. What could
make the study
better?
Theme #2
Follow the outline
as above.
Theme #3
Follow the outline
as above.
Limitations and
Strengths
Synthesize the
limitations and strengths of the studies. A paragraph or two of limitations
and a paragraph or
two of strengths.
Gaps in Literature
Identify the gaps in
literature. Gaps in literature are areas that are
missing. For
example,
studies are lacking
in understanding how the intervention can be used in the pediatric
population. Or there
is a lack of uniform/universal definition of topic of interest. Another
example is there is
a lack of screening tool or an identified reliable and valid tool to measure
the outcome.
Conclusion
The final concluding
paragraph of the literature review/ capstone paper is the
summation of the
entire capstone project- summing up the problem, why the intervention is
superior to current
standard of care, the theory and how it offers a framework and a grounding
to the project and
the literature review that supports the evidence for the intervention and
intended outcome in
the PICO, hopefully the evidence is indeed supportive.
References start on
separate page.
The paper follows
APA format 7th edition, student paper.
