Literature Reviews

Literature reviews are a research method of examining data from a variety of sources that ultimately results in the compilation of known information on a subject. Useful and pertinent information can be extracted from a variety of sources ranging from journal articles to internal agency/organization reports and databases. Literature reviews are often used when a plethora of information already exists on a topic. By compiling information that already exists on a topic into a single source, literature reviews can synthesize information into a concise and highly informative report. When conducting literature reviews, Responsive Management explores a variety of sources, including surveys, journals, databases, and agency/organization publications.

Multiple Responsive Management researchers work both independently and in concert to perform targeted and exhaustive searches on specific identified data sources and databases. In database searches, Boolean searches are performed on variations of the name of the subject being researched, the name of related topics, and topical subject areas that reasonably could include pertinent information toward the research subject.

All data are examined for utility and for use in obtaining other resource materials. The data are then categorized into units of meaning using the method of constant comparison (see Glaser & Strauss, 1971). The units of meaning guide the creation of the report, as does a number of iterations of reviews and rewrites through triangulation methods using confirmations and guidance from individuals and data sources.
Responsive Management has conducted numerous literature reviews as singular projects as well as part of broader research projects. Literature reviews are often used to summarize current research in the field and to allow a better understanding of new quantitative research that will be conducted following the literature review. Many of Responsive Management’s projects are multi-phased, and generally the first phase is to conduct a literature review to better understand the research topic and to make preparations for subsequent data collection components.