The literature reviews of existing dissertations can readily be mined for information regarding who is publishing in a given field and what themes are being explored. In the literature review, themes are the common ideas being discussed across the literature on a given topic. In this assignment, you will mine the literature reviews of three dissertations to guide your own search for information on your intended dissertation topic.
General Requirements:
Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:
The ProQuest Dissertation database has resources that may be helpful for this assignment. You can access the databasae by clicking here. Instructors will be using a grading rubrics to grade the assignments. It is recommended that learners review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment in order to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.
Directions:
Locate three dissertations on topics related to your own dissertation research. These may be the same dissertations you located for your second discussion question in Module1.
For each dissertation, locate the literature review (typically Chapter 2) and mine it by constructing an outline of it. Use the given headings as Roman numerals and the subheadings as capital letters in your outline. Follow standard APA outlining format to add additional levels of detail.
Compile a single list of the authors you see cited in each literature review, and identify the topics on which each is writing. A table that identifies the author in one column and a broad topic in a second column is an excellent way to preserve this information.
Write a brief summary (125-250 words) of the literature reviews you mined to submit along with your outlines and author/topic list that you created. Address the following questions about the literature reviews you have just mined:
What do you notice about the organization of the literature reviews of the three dissertations? Are they organized chronologically, thematically, or in some other form (if other, identify)? Why might the researcher have chosen this organizational structure? As you observe the content of the three studies, what common ideas (themes) do you see? How do these themes relate to your dissertation topic?