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6.6: When to Stop Searching

  • Page ID
    298911
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    Saturation

    Quote

    “You know, that’s a struggle with, with research in general is they don’t tell you what’s enough. You know like no one, no one tells you like, this is good enough, or like, this is where it should be.” (Graduate student participant as cited in Droog et al. 2024, p. 835).

    It's natural to feel a bit stuck at this step (particularly for dissertations and publications) because there's no magic number for how many sources you need.

    A 'comprehensive' literature review does not mean citing everything, which would be impossible given the outpouring of scholarly literature. Rather than aiming for a number, your goal is saturation: the point at which additional searches yield the same authors, ideas, themes, and do not provide new insights.

    Saturation will vary depending on your topic, scope, and type of study. Before starting to write, you should be able to articulate:

    • Who & what the leading theorists/theories are; and
    • What patterns you've found in the research on your topic
    • Where further research is needed

    Research Question(s)

    Throughout this process, you've been refining your topic. Now is the time to fully zoom in and ensure your topic is now a question that's clear and actionable. Watch the following 12 minute video on creating research questions:

    Dr. Amina Yonis. (2022 Nov 8). How to write a research question/hypothesis & template - The research process beginners guide. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYlSzNyrVO8

    Research with Dr. Saeed. (2023, July 1). How to write research objectives and research questions like a pro: A step-by-step guide. [Video] YouTube. [14:00] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni_1dUDaVM0

    Activity: Finalize your research questions\(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Write your research question(s).

    Text Box

    Consider:

    • Has the research already addressed this question adequately? If so, how can you further the conversation?
    • Can you realistically answer the question(s) within your time frame and the populations you're able to access?
      • Time frame (e.g., longitudinal studies are generally not advisable for dissertations)
      • Population(s) (are they part of a projected group? If so, how will you reach them?)
    • Do your questions start with question words such as How, What, Why, Which?

    Does your literature demonstrate:

    1. Why this question is worthwhile studying
    2. Where your question has not yet been adequately answered?

    If not, you probably need to continue iterations of finding sources, reading, and connecting patterns.

    Create an Outline

    Even if you're unsure if you've reached saturation, drafting an outline now will help you note what you know so far, and also prepare you for writing.

    Literature reviews can be organized in different ways, depending on your field and the best way to describe the conversation on your topic.

    • Thematic
    • Chronological
    • Method
    • Theory

    Watch the following videos for more information about creating an outline.

    Scribbr. (2020 May 18). Outline your literature review's structure. [Video] YouTube. [2:40] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOK1-H8Vafs

    Dr Amina Yonis. (2020 Nov 1). The structure of a literature review - Thesis writing guide. [Video] YouTube. [10:13] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So48qIHDLVY

    Activity: Write your outline \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Review how your sources structure their literature reviews for ideas. By now, you may already have a sense of how to organize yours.

    Write your outline.

    Text Box

    Supports

    If you're doing a thesis or dissertation, make an appointment with your faculty to share your research questions and outline with them. They might want to wait to meet with you until after you've written a draft of your literature review. In that case, you'll move forward to write your draft, and then check in with them. If your faculty think you did not go into enough depth or breadth, they will let you know what further information you need. It's important to check in with your advisor/chair to ensure they approve of your research question(s).

    If you're working on a class assignment, your instructor might have provided enough parameters that you'll be able to move forward at this stage without connecting with them first.

    Next Steps

    Once you have determined that you're ready, you'll start writing your literature review.


    This page titled 6.6: When to Stop Searching is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Frances Brady.

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