Writing Chapter II: Review of Related Literature and Studies (RRLS)

This chapter informs the reader of the progress or development of knowledge, from its creation until the present.  Many disciplines require an age limit to sources of no older than x years from present.  This is to ensure that the topic of the researcher is 1) timely, and 2) not tired jaded.  There are few exemptions to the age limit rule. Samples of exemptions are classical sources or the classic material of a particular topic.  For example,  you can’t discuss cultural conflict between nations without mentioning Huntington.  Nor you can’t have a discussion of Realism without Morgenthau.

The Review of Related Literature and Studies surveys what has already been written about your topic.  It creates a map and shows a missing gap where your thesis can fit in.

A good example is going to the library and looking at the shelf.  Have you noticed that all compa books are lumped together in one shelf (sometimes if there's a lot they extend to the next).  The same with the Pol Thought books, and the Pub Ad books.  If you look at the library number, those numbers are assigned based on what they are about.  Sample Political Science is "J" under that Political Theory is "JC"  the books with JC will be JC+ number.  Hence, Aristotle, Augustine, Machiavelli will be in "JC."  Where should Hobbes be?  Somewhere before Machiavelli?  And any shelf will have such a sequence.  But have you ever noticed if "Elazar" is in the sequence?  If you haven't then that means that there's a GAP.  That's what's not yet been added.  Going back to your thesis, what's already been written on the topic?  Has someone already done what you propose now?  If yes then better drop that proposal.  How about, is there a difference between your proposal and all that's been written before?  If yes, then that's the GAP which you are accomplishing.

Difference between Literature and Study:

The best way to distinguish is to begin with Studies.  A requirement of being a study is that it is a scientific, methodical research on the topic.  Most journals and monographs are studies.  Though there are studies that are published in book form.  The basic way to identify is, check out if the material is a journal.  If it is then it is a study.  Anything else is Literature. 

And literature can vary in many ways.  Primarily, they are books.  But they can also be multimedia sources, and internet webpages.

In any research, the headings are basically based on topics.  But for some disciplines, it is required to identify which sources are foreign and which are local.

The identifying mark is the place of publication.  Whether it is a book, journal, webpage, news, media, or a pamphlet.  The place where the material originated is what makes it Foreign or Local.

How does one proceed with writing?

Use topic headings as guided by your variables.  These headings should be in the form of phrases not one or two word terms, not sentence, e.g. Federalism and environmental protection, Gender and voting behavior.  There should be topics talking about your independent variable and your dependent variable.  Again the point of doing this is that you are pointing out what people have already written in the past.  Hence you identify what have they contributed to political science?  To the specific topic you are working on?  These include, where they conducted the study, what they studied, what method they used, and what findings they provided.  Since this is a review or related ness.  You should discuss these in relation to other writers.  E.g.  "Castillo (2005) and Aricheta (2004) conducted studies on gender in Japan.  Castillo provided the following findings .... while Aricheta....  somewhat similar but different because..."   

Aside from the Theoretical Framework, this part is mistaken as another patchwork of paraphrases from various sources.

Again the thesis is yours.  You cite to support yourself.

In the case of the RRLS you are writing about what you know on the development of the ideas or topics.  And you mention each Literature or Study as your identification of the parts of that development.  Since each of these literatures and studies contribute to this progress.

Each topic should begin with an introductory paragraph for that topic.  The same paragraph will enumerate the prominent writers or wittings on that topic. 

e.g.  Human rights is a much discussed topic nowadays.  Among the present literature include….

Or Writters such as xyz (2015), abc (2015), and efg (2016)  each proposed their ideas on TOKHANG phenomenon…

Looking at preceding sample.  Take into mind that the literatures and studies should be enumerated and discussed ad majoritas (from oldest to youngest) to show the chronological development.

After the introductory paragraph.  Give each of the mentioned sources their own discussion.  Again, YOU discuss.  Paraphrase to support what you say about the article.  Again, add paragraphs if there are subsequent ideas in that article that needs discussion (e.g. you are reviewing Almond and Verba who said that that there are three political cultures.  Then based on your discussion, you might have at least two paragraphs for that.  And of course, don’t forget to cite.

Provide a closing paragraph after each topic.