How to Write
Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature and Studies
• Related readings, literature and studies must
directly bear or related to the present study. In
research writing, review of related literature is
divided into three parts, these are:
• Related readings and literature
• Related studies
• Relevance or justification of the reviewed
literature and studies to the present study.
Related Readings
• The major sources of related readings are laws and
department directives such as circulars, orders and
memoranda which are related to the present study.
These laws and department directives serve as legal
bases for the paradigm of the study. This is also
presents as having direct or indirect implications to
government thrusts in presenting the related readings.
• The researcher has to arrange related readings
chronologically either from the past readings to most
recent readings or vice versa.
Related Literature
• Literature may be defined as written works collectively,
especially, those enduring importance, exhibiting creative
imagination and artists’ skill which are written in a particular
period, language and subject. In other words, any written
matter such as books, journal, magazine, novel, poetry,
yearbook and encyclopedia are considered as literature.
• The elements of good writing style of literature review
adhere to the basic rules of clarity or organization, content
and grammar in order to present the report in an acceptable
format.
Related Literature
• The following guidelines on effective writing of the literature
and review can guide the researcher.
1. Research papers must be written in formal style, which is in
the third person, not the first person.
2. Avoid highly descriptive writing style, not appropriate for a
scholarly research.
3. Use the active voice for direct impact and easy
understanding.
4. Avoid the use of jargon; use familiar terms in place of
terminologies.
Related Literature
• The following guidelines on effective writing of the literature
and review can guide the researcher.
5. Language should be neutral gender, no sexy language like
his.
6. Make the conclusions and contradictions found in the
literature clear in the report.
7. Use short sentences; avoid elongated and run-on
expressions.
8. Use proper grammar and proofread the work.
Related Literature
• The following guidelines on effective writing of the literature
and review can guide the researcher.
9. Never plagiarize; give credit to the original author of ideas.
10.Pay attention to the structure and form of published
articles, which are good examples of how literature reviews
can be written.
• Most literature reviews should use a standard formula for
verb tense.
Related Studies
• Related studies in contrast to related literature are works
based on empirical data. In reviewing related studies, one
must be careful to the (1) problem, (2) methodology
including the sampling plan, (3) instruments used, (4)
findings and (5) conclusions. The researcher reviews such
studies by commenting on the research design used.
• At the end of the researcher’s review, he explains how the
study being reviewed relates to the present study and
identifies similarities and differences with the present study.
Related Studies
• In reviewing related studies, the researcher carefully notes
the following points:
1. The researcher’s motivation for conducting the study.
2. The statement of the problem
3. The variables involved in the study, including their
quantifications
4. The research design, including the sampling plan utilized by
the investigator
5. The major results and conclusions
Related Studies
• Both local and foreign studies are normally
reviewed on chronological order to establish
the time-order progression of the topic.
Conflicting results may be observed because of
the differences in (1) population frame, (2)
research design, (3) statistical test employed
and (4) absence or presence of appropriate
controls.
Relevance or Justification of the Reviewed
Literature and Studies
• This is one of the sections of the proposed study in
which the proponent has to justify the direct bearing
and relevance of the related readings, related
literature and related studies to the proposed study.
It justifies the difference between the proposed study
and the past related studies. It should be made clear
that there is no duplication of the studies.
