Literature Review Support – How to Evaluate Theories

Starting a literature Review or any piece of critical writing can feel like a daunting task for a novice, so here are some useful questions to consider to start you off in some useful directions; helping you to get your writing, going:

Supporting Evidence

  • Does your chosen theory have evidence to support it? Supporting/Contrasting?

  • What published studies are there into this and what were the results?

  • Reference and cite in-text.

Evidence Quality

  • How good is the evidence from the studies you have found in this area? For example, what is the reliability and validity of the results? What was the sample size? Were there any control measures? Can/has the study been replicated?

 

Contradictions - Studies

  • Are there any studies that contradict your chosen theory?

  • Are there other explanations proven elsewhere that were not taken into account by your theory?

 

Contradictions – Theories

  • Does your theory contradict any other theories?

  • Vice versa?

Explanation

  • Does the theory explain, clearly, all aspects of the target phenomenon?

  • If not, why not?

  • If so, how?

  • Is there something gaping that cannot be explained?

 

Practical Applications

  • How might the theory or its principles be practically applied?

  • What’s the use of doing so?

  • How might it change/influence the world?

 

Ethics

  • Are there any ethical considerations apparent?

  • Law, morals, harm, societal impact, environmental impact…

 

Bias

  • Is the theory liable to any gender or culture bias?

  • Any other types of bias?

 

Influences

  • Is the theory reductionist or deterministic?

  • Nature influence?

  • Nurture Influence?

  • Which approach best supports this theory – what might the strengths and weaknesses be of this approach?

 

These guided questions will support you in evaluating your theoretical research. By providing evidence for each and presenting in your Institutes’ chosen academic template/style, you will be able to produce research or a think piece of quality and depth.

A great format often used is the ‘Triangle Method’, using PEEL. See our article on how to write in this format, here. 

Samantha NewportSamantha Newport, theroompsy, The Room - Psy, Literature Review, Literature Review Support, How to write a literature review, how to evaluate theories, psychological theory evaluation, research evaluation, how to evaluate a study, research paper, how to write a research report, how to write a psychological research paper, supporting evidence, evidence quality, theory, references, how to reference, peer review, Triangle Method, PEEL, Ethical practice, student support, save the student, university help, dissertation help, how to write a dissertation, research and statistical methodsComment