This is an example of how you can structure your literature study (if you write a quantitative research thesis).
- Dependent variable (DV)
- Give a short introduction of the DV
- What is the DV about and why is the variable relevant in general / academics
- What is the relevance of the DV for your research
- What is the most important literature about the DV
- What is known in the literature about the DV
- Are there different streams of thought about your DV. If so, which ones and how do they differ
- What are the most used definitions of the DV, which one suits your research best and why
- Which models and theories are available for the DV. How do they differ and what is the added value for this for your research
- How is the DV measured in the literature (find articles that have questionnaires to measure our construct) and argue which measurement suits your research best.
- Give a short introduction of the DV
- Independent variable 1 (IDV1)
- Give a short introduction of the IDV1
- What is the IDV1 about and why is the variable relevant in general / academics
- What is the relevance of the IDV1 for your research
- What is the most important literature about the IDV1
- What is known in the literature about the IDV1
- Are there different streams of thought about your IDV1. If so, which ones and how do they differ
- What are the most used definitions of the IDV1, which one suits your research best and why
- Which models and theories are available for the IDV1. How do they differ and what is the added value for this for your research
- How is the IDV1 measured in the literature (find articles that have questionnaires to measure our construct) and argue which measurement suits your research best.
- What is known about the relation between the DV and IDV1
- Which relevant literature discusses the relation between DV and IDV1
- What are the results of studies that determined the relationship between the DV and IDV1
- Is the relationship always in the same direction. If not, why not
- What is the relationship you are going to design your hypotheses on and why do you expect that you will observe that relationship
- Based on what literature did you express your expectation (hypothesis)
- Give a short introduction of the IDV1
- Independent variable 2 (IDV2)
- Give a short introduction of the IDV2
- What is the IDV2 about and why is the variable relevant in general / academics
- What is the relevance of the IDV2 for your research
- What is the most important literature about the IDV2
- What is known in the literature about the IDV2
- Are there different streams of thought about your IDV2. If so, which ones and how do they differ
- What are the most used definitions of the IDV2, which one suits your research best and why
- Which models and theories are available for the IDV2. How do they differ and what is the added value for this for your research
- How is the IDV2 measured in the literature (find articles that have questionnaires to measure our construct) and argue which measurement suits your research best.
- What is known about the relation between the DV and IDV2
- Which relevant literature discusses the relation between DV and IDV2
- What are the results of studies that determined the relationship between the DV and IDV2
- Is the relationship always in the same direction. If not, why not
- What is the relationship you are going to design your hypotheses on and why do you expect that you will observe that relationship
- Based on what literature did you express your expectation (hypothesis)
- Give a short introduction of the IDV2
- etc
Do you need help in structuring your thesis?