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What are the most common pitfalls in literature review and synthesis for Research Management?

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Literature review and synthesis are essential steps in any research project, but they also pose many challenges and risks for research managers. A literature review is a systematic and critical evaluation of existing sources related to a research question, while a synthesis is a process of integrating and interpreting the findings from different sources to generate new insights or recommendations. Both tasks require careful planning, execution, and communication to ensure quality, relevance, and validity of the research output. However, there are some common pitfalls that can undermine the effectiveness and credibility of literature review and synthesis for research management. In this article, we will discuss six of these pitfalls and how to avoid them.

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Lokesh Joshi

GroKalp H2CNT | CNT Innovations

1 Pitfall 1: Lack of clarity

One of the most common pitfalls in literature review and synthesis is lack of clarity about the purpose, scope, and criteria of the review and synthesis. Without a clear and specific research question, a well-defined search strategy, and a transparent selection and appraisal process, the literature review and synthesis can become unfocused, biased, or inconsistent. To avoid this pitfall, research managers should clearly articulate the research question, the objectives and scope of the review and synthesis, the sources and keywords to be searched, the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the quality assessment methods. They should also document and justify their decisions and assumptions throughout the review and synthesis process.

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Lokesh Joshi

GroKalp H2CNT | CNT Innovations
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I admire the approach of the Tata Group in navigating the pitfalls of literature review and synthesis for Research Management. One common pitfall is the lack of clarity, where researchers may fail to clearly define their research questions or objectives. The Tata Group, known for its diversified businesses, exemplifies clarity by fostering a culture that emphasizes precise articulation of research goals across its various subsidiaries. This ensures that literature reviews align with the specific needs of each research endeavor, preventing the ambiguity that often hampers effective synthesis in research management.

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2 Pitfall 2: Over-reliance on secondary sources

Another common pitfall in literature review and synthesis is over-reliance on secondary sources, such as reviews, meta-analyses, or summaries, without critically examining the primary sources, such as original studies, reports, or data. Secondary sources can provide useful overviews and syntheses of existing literature, but they may also contain errors, omissions, or misinterpretations of the primary sources. Moreover, secondary sources may not reflect the most recent or relevant evidence for the research question. To avoid this pitfall, research managers should always consult and verify the primary sources, especially when they use secondary sources as a starting point or a reference for their review and synthesis. They should also update their search and synthesis regularly to capture new and emerging evidence.

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Lokesh Joshi

GroKalp H2CNT | CNT Innovations
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I read about the common pitfall of over-reliance on secondary sources in literature review and synthesis for Research Management. This occurs when researchers excessively depend on existing reviews or meta-analyses without critically evaluating the primary studies. Much like how Johnson & Johnson, a renowned corporate group, emphasizes diverse perspectives in decision-making, researchers should avoid a singular reliance on secondary sources to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the current research landscape and to prevent potential biases in their synthesis.

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Md. Kariul Islam

ALA Fellow, Griffin University, Australia INED Fellow, Paris, France PhD Course work (Completed) , Aalborg University, Denmark
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Need to be more careful on primary sources. Due to the availability of multiple sources through internet. Try to find out the origin of the sources and then refer to your literature review

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3 Pitfall 3: Confirmation bias

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek, interpret, and favor information that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses, while ignoring or discounting information that contradicts them. Confirmation bias can affect literature review and synthesis in several ways, such as selecting or excluding sources based on their alignment with the research question, emphasizing or downplaying the strengths or weaknesses of different sources, or drawing conclusions or recommendations that support the desired outcome or agenda. To avoid this pitfall, research managers should adopt a critical and objective attitude towards the literature, challenge their own assumptions and expectations, and consider alternative perspectives and explanations. They should also seek feedback and input from other researchers, stakeholders, or experts to reduce bias and increase validity.

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Lokesh Joshi

GroKalp H2CNT | CNT Innovations
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We should avoid confirmation bias as a common pitfall in literature review and synthesis for Research Management. This occurs when researchers selectively include or interpret studies that confirm their pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses, leading to a skewed synthesis of evidence. A notable example is the Enron scandal, where the company's collapse revealed a literature review pitfall as executives focused on positive reports and selectively ignored critical ones, contributing to a catastrophic failure in research management and decision-making. To mitigate this pitfall, researchers must consciously seek diverse perspectives and objectively evaluate all relevant literature.

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4 Pitfall 4: Poor organization

Poor organization is another common pitfall in literature review and synthesis that can compromise the clarity, coherence, and comprehensiveness of the research output. Poor organization can result from inadequate or inconsistent structuring, formatting, or labeling of the review and synthesis, such as missing or unclear headings, subheadings, tables, figures, or references. It can also result from insufficient or excessive summarization, synthesis, or analysis of the literature, such as omitting or repeating key information, failing to integrate or compare different sources, or providing irrelevant or superficial details. To avoid this pitfall, research managers should follow a logical and consistent framework for organizing, presenting, and discussing the literature, such as using thematic, chronological, or methodological approaches. They should also use appropriate tools and techniques for summarizing, synthesizing, and analyzing the literature, such as tables, matrices, diagrams, or software.

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Lokesh Joshi

GroKalp H2CNT | CNT Innovations
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We should avoid poor organization as a common pitfall in literature review and synthesis for Research Management. An example of a corporate group facing this challenge is Siemens AG. In their extensive research endeavors, scattered information and disjointed review processes hindered the seamless synthesis of existing knowledge. Improving organization methods ensures a more cohesive understanding of the literature, enabling effective research management and strategic decision-making.

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5 Pitfall 5: Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using or presenting someone else's words, ideas, or work as one's own, without proper acknowledgment or citation. Plagiarism can occur intentionally or unintentionally in literature review and synthesis, such as copying or paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, or sections from other sources, using or adapting figures, tables, or diagrams from other sources, or failing to cite or reference the original sources. Plagiarism can have serious ethical and legal consequences for the research output and the research manager, such as loss of credibility, reputation, or funding, or legal actions or penalties. To avoid this pitfall, research managers should respect the intellectual property and contribution of other authors, use quotation marks or indentation for direct quotes, use their own words and style for paraphrasing or summarizing, and provide accurate and complete citations and references for all sources.

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6 Pitfall 6: Ineffective communication

Ineffective communication is the final common pitfall in literature review and synthesis that can affect the impact and value of the research output. Ineffective communication can stem from poor writing skills, inappropriate language or tone, or unclear or inconsistent messages. It can also stem from lack of awareness or consideration of the target audience, their needs, expectations, or preferences. Ineffective communication can reduce the readability, accessibility, and persuasiveness of the literature review and synthesis, and limit its usefulness and applicability for decision-making or action. To avoid this pitfall, research managers should adopt a clear, concise, and coherent writing style, use appropriate terminology and vocabulary, and avoid jargon, acronyms, or technical terms. They should also tailor their communication to the target audience, their level of knowledge and interest, and their purpose and goal.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the most common pitfalls in literature review and synthesis for Research Management?

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1 Pitfall 1: Lack of clarity

2 Pitfall 2: Over-reliance on secondary sources

3 Pitfall 3: Confirmation bias

4 Pitfall 4: Poor organization

5 Pitfall 5: Plagiarism

6 Pitfall 6: Ineffective communication

7 Here’s what else to consider

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