RELATED LITERATURE 4. Conciseness.

The materials that the review should have

must be sufficient enough, not too few and not too many, to
A research should have a good review of existing knowledge provide the researcher and the readers strong insight about
that it will stand on. A research topic is more likely to become the general and specific problems that the research is trying to
“researchable” if it is a determined research gap from the address or answer.
available literature and studies from various resources.
The number of related literature that a review should have for
Literature in its conceptual definition refers to a collection of a senior high school research is only 4 to 6 local and
written work with a heightened and artistic use of words may international publications or materials. However, in higher
it be fiction or nonfiction. However, in its operational definition education, graduate and post-graduate level, the number of
in research, this terminology refers to published information in literature will range from 15-50.
a particular subject area which sometimes covers a certain
period of time. Since you are now informed of the characteristics of a
literature that is worthy of citation in the review and the
Related literature can come and be taken from the following commonly set number of materials to be read and reviewed
types of resources (Clemente, Julaton, & Orleans, 2016): for a research, we are now ready to study how to organize
them in an actual review of related literature.
A. General references - books, monographs, conference
manuals, research articles, professional journals ORGANIZATION OF THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
As in all forms of writing, it always pays to have a catchy
B. Primary sources - academic research and university opening or introduction, a wider discussion of the perspectives
research journals and reputable organizations about the topic in the body paragraphs, and a sound closing
paragraph or statement.
C. Secondary sources - articles, analyses, essays, newspaper,
single or multiple authored textbooks In writing a review of related literature, there are three major
approaches in ordering or sequencing the topics and concepts
D. Tertiary resources - books based on secondary sources that that you are to include.
interprets the work of others.
1. Chronological
One of the major tasks of a researcher, like you, is to review This approach in organizing the review puts emphasis on the
various references to survey theories and concepts about your timeline of development or the year the materials were
research interest. This will give you a better perspective of written. In this case, the intention is to show how changes
your research topic and eventually identify the research gap. about the topic occurred from its emergence. This also
presents the evolving mindset and thinking of the authors.
It is sure that you are now ready to delve deeper in reviewing Mostly, this approach is used in qualitative researches.
related literature about your initial research topic! Maintain
that level of enthusiasm and energy as we get into the real Example:
thing! Santos (2017) affirms that literature is an efficient springboard
towards introducing and teaching language skills among Junior
At this point, as you work on searching for information that is High School learners.
related to your research topic, you have to make
considerations of some characteristics that make a material Tesoro (2018), meanwhile, found out that the a literature-
worth taking and citing. Go ahead and read them. based classroom should always consider the context of the
learners, the literature, and the context of the teacher.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MATERIALS TO BE CITED
Having recalled the definition of literature, its purpose, and Further, Solano (2019) reported that there is a wider
sources. It is important to learn how to distinguish a good opportunity when the teaching of language skills is embedded
literature to be cited or included in the review. Calderon and in the teaching of literature.
Gonzales (2014) identified the following characteristics of ideal
materials to be cited. 2. By Topic/Concept
In this case, if many or several authors have a comparable
1. Recency. The materials that should be included in the review opinion about the same topic or issue, it is appropriate to use
should be recent as much as possible. For general references, this approach. This manner of organizing the review highlights
published materials 10 years ago are yet sound and valid. the interrelationship of concepts which support the
Meanwhile, primary, secondary and tertiary references within development of the current study. This approach is applicable
the last five years are ideal. Archived materials may also be in all methods of research.
used as reference for theories and concepts.

2. Objectivity. Since research is academic and scholarly, the Example:

materials should be fair, objective and bias-free. It should not It is found out that the use of music in teaching mathematics
favor any extreme and obvious vested interest aside from has a significant effect in the motivation of learners which
delivering facts, information, and findings. contributed to their increased numeracy skills (Gonzales, 2016;
Fernandez, 2013; Dionisio, 2012) .
3. Relevance. The weight of relevance of the material to the
current research undertaking must be checked. Before citing
3. By Author/Writer
it, it should bear essential information to clarify and deepen
To build credibility with the claims that the research would like
the issues and concepts of the research being conducted.
to stand on, presenting different authors even though they
Otherwise, the material should not be considered for the
have similar ideas is highly advisable. Each point of view of
review.
every author is explained and expound to back up the main
idea being presented in the review.
Example:
Clemente et al. (2016) stress that research suggests an action
that denotes to look for something again. It is taken from the American Psychological Association (APA)
composition of the word “re” and “search.” • Used mainly in Social Sciences such as Psychology,
Sociology, Education, and Criminal Justice
Calderon and Gonzales (2014) reiterates that research is a • General ideas usually more important than exact words;
purposive, systematic and scientific process of discovering avoid too many quotations, paraphrase ideas
truth. Thus, it entails systematic gathering of data to formulate • Dates important in in-text citations and Reference list;
findings and judgment. places importance on most current research-
• Author’s first names not written out; ideas and research
Always remember that only major findings and conclusions, more important than researchers
concepts, hypotheses, and formulated theories should be
included in the review of related literature. Also, these are
never directly lifted or copied, but summarized and
synthesized.

ETHICAL WAYS OF CITING LITERATURE

In writing the review of related literature, it is expected that a
complete reference should be present in the list of references
or bibliography section of your research paper.

Securing a scholarly reference list or bibliography takes away

violations of the ethical standards in writing. The following are Chicago Manual Style (CMS)
only a few of the related legal charges that may be called There are two Chicago Manual Styles: Notes-Bibliography
against unethical writing. System and the Author-Date System.
1. Notes-Bibliography System is commonly used in literature,
1. Plagiarism. Republic Act No. 8293 otherwise known as the history, and the arts
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines “protects and 2. Author-Date System is often used in the physical, natural, and
secures the exclusive rights of scientists, inventors, artists and social sciences.
other gifted citizens to their intellectual property and
creations, particularly when beneficial to the people.” In 1. The notes-bibliography style consists of mainly two parts: a
number in the text and a footnote or an endnote. A footnote
simple words, claiming and copying a portion of someone’s
necessitates a note at the bottom of the page, while an endnote
written work. This act is never tolerated even in schools and
requires a note at the end of the paper.
universities and violators are subject to failure in the subject
or the worse are expelled.

2. Copyright. This is also covered in Republic Act No. 8293 or

the "Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines." It differs
from plagiarism as it may pertain to the breach of contract
between the authors and the publishers about the coverage or
scope of circulation and distribution of the original work.
These charges are serious and it does not excuse anyone. In
order to avoid this untoward scenario, writers and researchers 2. The author-date system style consists of the author(s)' last
like you should observe ethical standards through name(s) and the year of publication of the study cited. No
acknowledging the original authors of the work where the punctuation is required between the author(s)' name(s) and the
concepts, ideas or information is taken. publication date. The reference list style must be ordered
The making of list of references or bibliography follows specific alphabetically by the last name of the first author of each study
standards and format. The commonly used formats are: cited.

• American Psychological Association or APA Style In-text citation:

• Modern Language Association or MLA Style Parenthetical: (Berkman, Bauer, and Nold 2015)
• Chicago Manual of Style Narrative: Berkman, Bauer, and Nold (2015)

Modern Language Association (MLA) Reference entry:

• Commonly used in Humanities fields such as English and Berkman, Christine A., Bauer, Angelica C., and Nold, Reodelia
Philosophy V. 2015. “The Fat and the Furriest: Morphological Changes in
• Places emphasis on exact words of other writers; quotes are Harp Seal Fur with Ontogeny.” Physiological and Biochemical
often important Zoology 88, no. 2 (March/April): 158–66.
• Page numbers used in in-text citations to help readers
quickly find quotes and ideas
• Author names written out completely in Works Cited list