Sources of Information

Sources of information refer to materials already in existence that can help you
think about the problem you have identified in an expanded and general way.
1. Existing literature this is useful because it can give some good
background information. Sources include: books, journals, newspapers,
leaflets/brochures, magazines.
2. Internet sources the internet is a medium where much of the
information has not been verified or analysed by other experts. It is
useful for bringing a closely related set of materials before you but you
need to exercise caution and good judgement in choosing the materials
that you think are reliable.
3. Archived materials in libraries, museums or private collections as print,
video, audio or artefacts.
4. People experts, witnesses, oral histories, participants

Criteria for Selection of Sources

1.
Relevant to the issue that is the data are not off-focus or dated.
2.
Degree of objectivity whether in quantitative or qualitative
approaches researchers want to be assured that the data they
3.

obtain are truthful and honest.

Adequacy the data should address the dimension that the
researcher wants to study.

Literature Review
1

This is a summary of what you have read and you consider pertinent to your
study. It helps us to clarify our thoughts about the issue of investigating and
how we should go about investigating it. The literature review should contain
the sources of information that are considered relevant, reliable and accurate.
Out dated sources should not be used, but current and up to date
information. The literature review only makes sense in the context of the
problem statement, statement of the problem and research questions. It shows
that empirical research is a systematic and logical undertaking.

Purpose of Literature
1. To demonstrate that you have read widely on the problem and that you
have adequate knowledge of the context and background to the problem.
2. To highlight studies that are similar to your own to show that others feel
that the problem is also a significant one.
3. To show that a body of findings exists to compare with yours.
4. To compare the methodologies that various researchers have used to
investigate this issue with the one that you intend to use.
5. To provide an opportunity to see your research as part of a larger body of
work.
6. To glean insight about issues and methods from previous researchers.
7. To help in fine tuning and focussing in other words getting clear about
the specific issue or aspect of the problem that you intend to investigate.
A Well Written Literature Should have the following:
1. Summaries of research studies which investigated the same or related
issues to the one that you are investigating.

2. A definite sense that the researcher is trying to integrate aspects of his or

her study with the summaries being presented both content and
methods.
3. A focus on the aspects of the problem that are outlined in the statement
of the problem otherwise the review would not be a logical development
from the statement of the problem and the research questions.
4. A mix of research questions from both industrialised countries and the
Caribbean.
5. Identification of the gaps that occur in the body of the literature that
exists especially if it directly pertains to what you are investigating.
Example, there may be some information about Tourism in Nevis but a
gap exists in researching its impact on the country.
6. A mode of presenting the information that closely resembles a
discussion. The discussion is largely about what exists in terms of
information or findings and the methodologies used by the researchers
compared to what you intended to do.
7. It should be written in the past tense and as the essay for the project.