How To Evaluate Literature Review In PhD Proposal Defense: Series 3

Review of the literature is the life cycle of every proposal. Literature review connotes a systematic account of documented literature by qualified and accredited scholars and researchers. When writing review of the literature you must show to your examiners and readers that what knowledge has been documented about your problem statement and what knowledge has not been documented yet so that you are about to document it. Your piece of literature must speak loud and clear about your research objectives, questions and your problem statement. As thus, your literature review should define and strengthen your research. It should not be a long list of bibliographic references or a summary of rearticulated materials to persuade your readers.

When evaluating literature review in PhD proposal defense, you must ask yourself:

Does the literature review discuss about authenticity of his problem statement?
Does the literature review significantly support the severity of his problem statement? Does the researcher agree or disagree with existing knowledge, and why?
Is his/her final judgment or conclusion is sound, logical and persuasive?
Does the researcher find literatures that prove or disprove his problem statement?

Dr. Faryadi (FST)