Your task is to choose one of the social issues listed below and conduct a literature search to identify 3-4 research studies that have used differing approaches to studying that social issue. You will then compare, contrast and critically review the paradigmatic, epistemological, theoretical and methodological approaches taken reflecting on the strengths and limitations of these and of the research design and methods.
1) Educational attainment of ‘at risk’ children (select one or more from the following: a) children in care otherwise known as children who are looked after by their Local Authority b) disabled children c) children with special educational needs [SEN])
2) Migration to the UK
3) Child poverty
4) Father involvement/engagement with their child(ren) (the focus could be influences on…, effects or outcomes of….etc.)
5) Health and wellbeing of people who are a) refugees b) LGBTQ or c) Living in poverty (select one or more of these options)
Once you have chosen one of the above social issues you will need to narrow the focus on a specific aspect of that social issue and define the topic of the literature review. This refinement will help define your criteria for searching for literature such as key words and concepts and also will inform your assessment of the appropriateness of the paradigmatic, epistemological, theoretical and methodological approach to studying your chosen topic.
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An example of refining a broad topic into a more specific focus:
Broad topic: Intimate relationships Refining this topic to have a particular focus: The intimate couple relationships of first time parents
Top tip: Identifying paradigmatic, epistemological and theoretical speak in literature: You will need to identify the paradigmatic, epistemological and theoretic approach on which the study is based. This may not be explicitly stated in the literature, but you should be able to make an informed judgement or inference from reading the background/introduction section of the articles/chapters and using the lecture and key readings to identify the relevant characteristics of paradigmatic positions and theory/concepts. Remember from the lecture notes and readings that paradigmatic approaches are not limited to positivism and interpretivism – many others occupy the middle ground between these; e.g. realism, pragmatism, critical theory etc.
Theories may also not be explicitly mentioned, the authors may describe these in the background/introductory section of the literature. They may be in the form of knowledge and explanations produced by previous research studies and which offer a starting point or direction for the reported study. These explanations can constitute theories and influence the study. Also look for the key concepts mentioned by the author as important or influencing the study they have conducted.
Specifically, you should focus your review on and incorporate the following aspects of the research literature conducted on your chosen social issue:
How the paradigmatic approach has influenced the methodology of the study: see above for tips on identifying paradigms; use your knowledge and understanding from the lectures and readings about the characteristics of paradigmatic positions to make an informed critical assessment of the paradigmatic position of each study and how it has informed and influenced the way the researchers have conducted the research including research questions set, research methods used, researcher positioning/reflexivity.
How theory has shaped the nature of the research conducted: describe the theoretical orientation of the research conducted on the social issue – key concepts or ideas that have underpinned the research conducted, that can help explain the social issue and how the authors operationalize these in their research study.
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The appropriateness of the paradigmatic, epistemological, theoretical and methodological approach (including sampling) for the social issue under investigation and the claims and conclusions the studies make: You will need to critically reflect on the strengths and limitations of the approaches taken by the studies (also think about researcher positioning). Use criteria covered in readings to assess the quality of research designs – look at the limitation section of articles if there is one.
You will need to consider the aims and objectives of the respective research studies and
a. assess the suitability of the research design/methods to achieving these.
b. critique the ‘evidence’ (claims/conclusions) produced by the study approach. Think about appropriateness of research findings/conclusions drawn from methods used, using criteria covered in module and key readings
c. assess the extent to which the aims and objectives have been met by the research design.
The assignment should also contain a brief introduction describing your chosen social issue and a brief conclusion that considers the knowledge gaps that remain in research on this social issue and what kinds of research need to be conducted in order to address the limitations you have identified in the literature you have reviewed.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE:
When you are making critical/analytic points in your literature review assignment e.g. the strengths and limitations of the paradigmatic and methodological approaches of the 3-4 research studies you have chosen to focus on, you need to back up these points by citing/referencing key and additional readings from the module (this is essential when making an evidenced academic argument). Your reference list at the end of your assignment will therefore include your 3-4 selected research studies as well as key and additional readings you have used to back up your arguments.
This particular literature review differs from a typical literature review in that you are asked to focus your review primarily on paradigmatic, epistemological, theoretical and methodological aspects of the literature AND NOT the study findings.
The following criteria should be adhered to when searching for literature to include in your assignment:
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? Peer reviewed academic literature e.g. journal articles, book chapters, research reports undertaken by academics (if in doubt check with tutors).
? Publication date 2000 – present
