The best PhD literature review the world has ever seen

phd.academy
When I started my PhD back in 2003, one of the first things my supervisor asked me to do was write a literature review. Wanting to impress my new boss, I decided that I was going to write the best literature review the world had ever seen. So I started reading and writing, but very quickly got overwhelmed by the amount of material that was available, much of which I didn’t really understand…
So I didn’t end up writing the best literature review the world had ever seen, and in fact that particular review never even got finished. This was an early knock to my confidence… it didn’t crush me, but it just fed that little voice at the back of my head that said I wasn’t good enough.
Much later I did write a very good literature review, but it was only after figuring out how to work with work with the literature in a more efficient and effective way.
So in this video I’d like to talk about why working with the literature is so stressful, and introduce you to some other ways of thinking about it.
0:00 Intro; The best literature review the world has ever seen
1:33 About me
2:13 The sheer number of sources
3:15 Academic papers aren't written to teach
4:53 Working on the edge of knowledge
6:05 Not all published research is good
7:55 The psychological factor
9:25 How to use the literature effectively without getting overwhelmed
11:54 Most research is incremental
14:56 Writing about the literature as a way of building knowledge
17:09 Closing

[@SociotechnicalSystems]

Very helpful, indeed. I started my literature review on systems theories the same way - I wanted to embrace a century's worth of theoretical development and came across the same issues you described. I'm a lot more systematic with it now (the irony of the term!). In my experience, delimiting the scope is key.

[@James_Hayton]

It's not just about delimiting the scope- it's about selecting the right sources to help you build your knowledge. Even a narrow scope might have 1000s of papers

[@tamoghnodas5906]

I have been following your content for a long time. While it's extremely genuine and helpful in general, since it is clear you are reflecting upon your own journey, in a lot of videos including this one, the key takeaways are not clear. It might be a bit more helpful if you just summarized the key takeaways at the end.

[@James_Hayton]

Fair point about the summary of key takeaways! I'll make sure I add one to future videos.

[@user-dn5hi4dy7k]

Thank you for the video. It is very helpful. Could you please have a video on the writing part of literature review as well. Perhaps the different types of literature reviews and how one decides to choose a particular type.

[@MeechNubla]

This pls, Dr Hayton. As well as tips on how to structure a literature review. Really find your videos helpful, Dr. Hayton. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@SydneyRover]

Thank you Dr. Hayton for your time and energy in providing a wonderfully helpful video. I am a PhD student in structural engineering, and I can certainly relate to being enthusiastic while at the same time not knowing anywhere near enough of what is in the literature.

[@PeterIntrovert]

I am not PhD student and don't plan to work in academia. But I still watch your videos because I am interested in topics of learning and research. You seems to grasp big picture and think like a craftsman that embodied what he know, which I liked. It would be nice if you feel like it you broader your content a little on topics like "how to do effective research as independent researcher?" (which mean how to do research in general) and "how to master theoretical topic?" ect. ect. I have some reflections about what you said in this video. It seems that switch in skills you mentined is like a jump between ordered complicated and closer systems to a chaotic, complex and open systems. There are frameworks to work with complexity and chaos that seems they could be a matrix to solution you are giving. Rationality need to change to fit demand of the field. From best rule based practice to rule of tumbs and other heuristics, feedback loops, setting boundries and occasionally introducing a "noise" (a little of offtopic discussion with colleagues). I wonder what would you think and say about advices like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKWsq4CXgdB2l68 about writing scientific papers. There is perspective that I heard for first time and change the way I think. Maybe it's something widely used, I don't know.

[@chillkroeteYaYa]

Super helpful! Thank you!

[@preethivlogs7]

Thank you! It's really helpful:)

[@rameshmahadeo1700]

Thank you. I am writing my PhD Law Literature Review Chapter.

[@ekundayothompson4410]

A very clear explanation made with great erudition.

[@AhmadAli453]

Dear Sir, You are doing great job. Am a new PhD student and have not a strong background. Can you please suggest me the best way / roadmap to become a good researcher. How to dot connecting the literature to get an idea, etc......... I have lots of confusion. I know my research topic but am stuck how to start and where to take start to write my first research paper.

[@user-cn8di7wl9c]

Could you please make a “10 best first sentences in the literature ”

[@eashavazi40]

I how I wish I had seen this video ten years ago, when I started the phd journey... 😢

[@skjamaludin]

Hi Dr., for a STEM-related PhD, how long do you think the duration should be? Do you think 4-5 years is too long? Would appreciate your views, thank you.

[@James_Hayton]

It depends where you are. In the US, for example, it often takes longer. In the UK, full time, 3-4 years is common. It's good to speak to people currently doing a PhD wherever you are

[@skjamaludin]

@@James_Hayton Thank you for your opinion, Dr.

[@ogechukwublessing141]

This is huge information. Thank you. Am done with my P.hD, but I love academics, so I want to develope myself more so I can help many more students coming to me. Pls how do I go about it.

[@ogechukwublessing141]

@@Blunttalker yes I have PhD

[@user-pn2wg6kl6i]

I am writing an MA thesis in literature. I am struggling with finding the most critical material for my branch of research. Any tips for someone in the MA dasertion stage.

[@James_Hayton]

What do you mean by most critical, in your case? And how are you currently trying to do it? As I said in the video, the approach depends on the stage you're at and what you're trying to achieve with the literature, so I can't give useful advice without knowing what you're trying to do

[@vijaypatilsataramaharashtr3417]

Respected sir, I am subscriber of your channel. I submitted Ph.D by your motivation i need book How I get

[@James_Hayton]

www.amazon.in/PhD-Uncommon-Guide-Research-Writing/dp/0993174108/

[@vijaypatilsataramaharashtr3417]

I got this book from Amazon l started to read now..