GUIDELINES FOR THE LITERATURE REVIEW PA 6665 Overall Format Basic Guidelines Margins: 1 inch on all sides Font: Times New Roman, 12-point font Spacing: Double-spaced Indentation: Indent paragraphs 5 to 7 spaces (use the tab key). Alignment: Left align all text. Exceptions: headings Page numbers: Begin page numbers on the title page. Page numbers should appear in the upper right-hand corner of the header (page requirement: 12-14 pages: includes title page, the text, and the reference pages). Title Page (single-spaced, one page, no abstract is needed) (page 1) • Title • Name • PA 6665 • Term 2, 2023 • Above all suitably capitalized, centered, and spaced on the page Abstract is NOT required. I. Introduction (starts in page 2) • Identify the research problem or research topic; • Expand the problem/topic explaining: –Introduction of the problem/topic –Historical data, current issues, and increases in demand –The need for research on the problem/topic –Your evaluation of the problem/topic II. Literature Review (How to write a literature review) Review other research of the same/similar topic • Are there similar studies of the problem/topic? • How does the literature define the problem or hypotheses and its variables? • What are the findings of similar studies? Evaluate and criticize the existing literature What are the strengths and weaknesses of the existing literature about the problem/topic? What is the evolution of the topic (leadership theories, styles or approaches) What are the methods of the previous studies on the topic and their strengths and weaknesses? What parts of the previous studies are most valuable and important? What are the suggestions for the future research on the topic? Tips to write a good literature review: Organize by topic or theme rather than by authors. When compiling multiple sources, a tendency can be to summarize each source and then compare and contrast the sources at the end. Instead, organize your source information by your identified themes and patterns. This organization helps demonstrate your synthesis of the material and inhibits you from creating a series of book reports. Avoid direct quotations. You will want to paraphrase all of the material you present in a literature review. This assignment is a chance for you to demonstrate your knowledge on a topic, and putting ideas into your own words will ensure that you are interpreting the found material for your reader. Paraphrasing will also ensure your review of literature is in your authorial voice. III. References Include all references cited in the study Use APA style (https://apastyle.apa.org/Links to an external site.) At least 12 references. References must be from professional and academic journals or official webpages of governmental agencies and legitimate organizations. Newspaper articles and other webpages should be used with great care and never as the primary source as the accuracy of the information can be an issue. Wikipedia is not a legitimate reference.
