Thesis Research in Architecture: Literature reviews

A literature review is a required component of an M.Arch thesis as outlined in the Thesis Guide, and Master’s Design Thesis in Architecture documents on the School of Architecture’s website.

What is it?

A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers. It may be part of an essay, research report, or thesis; however it can also be a standalone document. It demonstrates to the reader established knowledge and ideas on a topic as well as strengths/weaknesses of those ideas.

What is the Purpose of a Literature Review in a Thesis?

• Contextualize and justify your research project
• Ensure your research is novel and not replicated
• Situate the research within the existing body of knowledge
• Help you as a researcher learn from previous theory/research
• Illustrate how the subject has been studied previously
• Highlight flaws and identify gaps in previous research by others
• Show that your work is adding to the understanding and knowledge of the field
• Help refine, refocus or even change the topic

1. Identify a “Big Question” or focus

   • A lit review must be organized around a central idea that focuses on the themes or issues & not the sources themselves as an annotated bibliography would be organized

2. Construct a working thesis question/statement. Ideally it is a very small question that may have big implications for architecture.

3. Search UW Library catalogue, databases, WorldCat, et. cetera, evaluating potential sources as you go along using RADAR

4. One you’ve gathered your potential sources, skim texts to determine which to include in your literature review.

   • To determine if a text is useful for you read the abstract, introduction chapter, tables of content, first and last paragraphs. Does it answer one of your question(s)? Does it inform/support a potential section of your thesis?

5. Prepare for efficient and critical reading and note taking.
• Break your thesis down into manageable, distinct themes/topics to be addressed
• Exploratory reading/survey
  • Skim & scan the texts to determine the themes/topics of each resource
  • Look for keywords that represent your thesis topic

• Record the themes/topics (chart, list, mind map…)

6. Critically read and analyze the texts (or the relevant sections of the texts). Do focused reading to find specific information, and take concise notes for for each theme/topic you identify.
   • After reading a manageable chunk (paragraph, page, chapter…) summarize it to help determine if you understood, and are able to remember the content
   • Look for evidence, examples, authority to back up assertions; connections with other texts or your own knowledge
   • What are the author’s central arguments? What do they conclude? What is their evidence? Is relevant/strong? What are the author’s assumptions?

   • Record any thoughts or comments you have

7. Consider the organization of your literature review. It must contain at least five basic elements: the Introduction, Bibliography, the body of the review, conclusions/recommendations, and a glossary of terms.

8. Write the Introduction of the literature review. It ideally:
   • provides an argument and critical assessment of the literature (topics and claims
   • does not necessarily argue for a position or an opinion on the thesis questions, but rather for a particular perspective on the material
   • offers an overview of current scholarly conversations about topic.
   • outlines the gaps/weaknesses in literature to be reviewed

   • relates the literature being reviewed the to larger aim of your thesis

9. Organize the body of your literature review:
   • A literature review must be more than just a list describing other scholars’ publications.
   • Your reader wants to know your assessment of these papers and how your work fits into the big picture of related scholarship.

   • Consider how to present the sources: chronological, topical/thematic, methodological (which focuses on the "methods" used by the researcher(s) or writer(s)), starting with a seminal text in the field, or debate style.

10. As applicable, consider other sections to include in your literature review:
    • Current Situation: Information necessary to understand the topic or focus of the lit review.
    • Chronological progression of the field, the literature, or an idea.
    • Methods and/or Standards: criteria used to select your sources or the way in which you present your information

RADAR

When critically appraising your sources, RADAR is a framework that you can use to ask questions about an information source and determine its quality and usefulness in your literature review, your thesis, as well as for any research project.

Matrix Method

From the onset of your research consider using the Matrix Method to organized your sources, and review the literature you find. As you have already done the bulk of the work, it is easily translated into a literature review.