Literature Review Prompt (Modified from DeCarlo, et al. 2021)

The literature review provides the basis for your research project.  Conducting a thorough literature review involves examining many articles from outside sources, identifying important facts, and independently thinking through how to correctly interpret those facts. 

A strong literature review: 

–          Contains a lot of specific facts from outside sources

–          Provides a clear argument in each paragraph, using facts and theories to support each argument

–          Contains very few quotes, if any

–          Synthesizes facts from other sources into a coherent statement about what the literature sys

–          Is clearly organized around the author’s arguments (not a list of responses to each question in the prompt)

–          Uses transitions, topic sentences, and other elements of formal writing

A weak literature review:

–          Relies heavily on one or two sources

–          Uses unnecessary quotes rather than putting things in your own words

–          Includes irrelevant details of cited studies

–          Has long passages with no citations or sources

–          Uses informal language like idioms as well as stigmatizing or biased language

Literature reviews must contain:

–          7 peer-reviewed journal articles

–          3 other reputable sources

–          5-6 pages of text in APA format, estimated

–          No abstract is required, a title page is required.

–          A references page in APA format

Literature reviews must address each of the following:

A.                  Problem Statement (1-2 paragraphs)

                                 i.            How many people are affected by this problem?

                               ii.            Why is this an important social problem?

                             iii.            How does this social problem impact other social issues or focal populations?

                             iv.            Why is your population an important one to study?

B.                  Literature Review (~4 pages)—A synthesis of the literature, not a summary

                                 i.            Describe the important concepts and research findings for each variable in your research question

                               ii.            Describe the important concepts and research findings for the relationship between the variables in your research question (for quantitative proposals)

                             iii.            What other variables or social forces influence the variables in your research question?

                             iv.            Describe what is known about your target population

                               v.            Define key terms and explain theories that are important for understanding your topic

                             vi.            Identify consistent findings across studies

                            vii.            Identify gaps and controversies in the literature

                          viii.            Provide your research question and hypothesis

C.                   Implications and Conclusion: What is the point of your proposal? (1-2 paragraphs)

                                 i.            Discuss how your study will benefit the discipline of social work.

                               ii.            Discuss how your proposal would influence policy, practice, and research.

                             iii.            Discuss how your proposal will contribute something new and important to the literature on your topic.

Grading Rubric

APA Formatting: 10%

Depth of engagement with the literature. (Is there enough to support arguments?): 10%

Synthesis of ideas, fact, and arguments across multiple sources: 10%

Organization of paragraphs and the review: 10%

Grammar, spelling, and proofreading: 10%

Problem Statement: 10%

–          Were all questions addressed? 

–          Were arguments supported with facts and theory from the literature?

–          What level of critical thinking is present?

Literature Review: 30%

–          Were all questions addressed? 

–          Were arguments supported with facts and theory from the literature?

–          What level of critical thinking is present?

Implications and Conclusion: 10%

–          Were all questions addressed? 

–          Were arguments supported with facts and theory from the literature?

–          What level of critical thinking is present?

Corrigan, P. W., Druss, B. G., & Perlick, D. A. (2014). The Impact of Mental Illness Stigma on Seeking and Participating in Mental Health Care. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 15(2), 37–70. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44151252

Eack, S. M., & Newhill, C. E. (2012). Racial Disparities in Mental Health Outcomes after Psychiatric Hospital Discharge among Individuals with Severe Mental Illness. Social Work Research, 36(1), 41–52. http://www.jstor.org/stable/42659814

Hernandez, M., Franco, R., Kopelowicz, A., Hernandez, M. Y., Mejia, Y., Barrio, C., & López, S. R. (2019). Lessons Learned in Clinical Research Recruitment of Immigrants and Minority Group Members with First-Episode Psychosis. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 21(1), 123–128. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48709863

Thoits, P. A., & Evenson, R. J. (2008). Differential Labeling of Mental Illness Revisited: Patterns before and after the Rise of Managed Care. Sociological Forum, 23(1), 28–52. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20110246

Thompson, M. (2010). Race, Gender, and the Social Construction of Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System. Sociological Perspectives, 53(1), 99–126. https://doi.org/10.1525/sop.2010.53.1.99