Response to discussion question 3

Respond in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
  

• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
  

• Offer and support an opinion.
  

• Validate an idea with your own experience.
  

• Make a suggestion.

• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Article A:  Feiock, R. C., Steinacker, A., & Park, H. J. (2009). Institutional collective action and economic development joint ventures. Public Administration Review (69)2, 256–270. 

Literature Review in Quantitative Research

Creswell (2009) suggested that the literature review accomplishes several purposes within a research study (p. 25).  Cooper and Marshall and Rossman (as cited in Creswell, 2009) identified that a literature review conveys the results of closely related previous studies; and it relates the current study to the broader dialogue to help bridge gaps in the literature (p. 25).  Creswell (2009) also pointed out that studies typically include a section called “Related Literature” or “Literature Review” to convey the review of previous studies (p. 26). Dr. Patton (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009) argued that the purpose of a literature review is to understand intellectual heritage and genealogy to build on the knowledge of some and part from the knowledge of others.

In last week’s discussion, it was determined that Feiock, Steinacker, and Park (2009) utilized a quantitative approach for their study using Creswell’s (2009) criteria for quantitative approach (pp. 55-61). Creswell further identified that a literature review in quantitative research is typically found following the introduction in a section called “Literature Review” (p. 26).  It may be used to lead into the research questions and hypotheses; to introduce a theory and/or describe a theory; or provide an explanation for expected relationships (Creswell, 2009, p. 26). Feiock et al. (2009) did not include a formal “literature review” section but instead used literature throughout an extensive introduction leading up to the “Research Design and Analysis” section. The deductively designed study immediately introduced the research topic by addressing the gap in the literature and then identified several scholars who have addressed it previously.  The discussion of the limited literature led to the identification of the problem followed by the research question and hypotheses.  Feiock et al. further referenced other scholars in defining their variables, which ultimately led to the research analysis.

Creswell (2009) also identified that the scholars often revisit the literature review at the end of the study to provide a comparison between the results of the study at hand with those in the literature (p. 26-27). Feiock et al. (2009) addressed literature for each of the variables tested and compared the findings.   With exception of not including a formal section, Feiock et al. did follow Creswell’s (2009) criteria for quantitative research.

References 

Creswell, J. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Feiock, R. C., Steinacker, A., & Park, H. J. (2009). Institutional collective action and economic development joint ventures. Public Administration Review (69)2, 256–270.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Literature reviews. Baltimore, MD: Author.