Introduction

When you are approaching any academic research, the first step is to read to understand key issues, themes, and debates related to your topic and identify any potential “gaps” that you can address in your research. The literature review provides the "state of the art” (scholarly context) and a solid foundation (theoretical framework) underpinning your work as a proper scholarly investigation. However, before tackling the task of writing a literature review, you will need to identify keywords, look at databases, refine your research strings, read and understand the content of the literature, and explore how all the collated information fits together. In this assessment, you will be asked to complete all the preparatory work to undertake a literature review successfully and present a conceptual map of your research and thinking process.

Overview

You will be provided with a table to fill that will guide you in compiling all the information (please refer to Assessments > Assessment 1 in Blackboard). Below you will find an overview/explanation of the content that needs to be included in each section of the provided table and some notes to guide you in completing this assessment.

1. Main concept definition

2. Themes

3. Knowledge gaps

In the section Topic/Issue/Statement, you are asked to define the problem that you would like to research, providing an overview of the subject, issue, and theoretical approach defined in the context of your discipline. So, in this top section of the table, you are expected to indicate the issue/topic you have identified and narrowed down while completing the weekly mapping exercise in class (20 words max).

1. Main concept definition

   : Identify the primary concept in the topic statement that will frame your research conceptually. Each discipline or field of study has its own theoretical concepts; these concepts are used to describe, explain, and analyse phenomena or investigate contexts, issues, and problems and generate responses or solutions. Any concept used in research should be defined; this is to provide 

   disciplinary meaning to the notion and contextualise your research in the scholarly literature. In this section, you are asked to use the literature to identify the main theoretical approaches to the identified concept/issue. You are expected to define/explain the approach in the first column. This can be done with a small max 40 words direct quote, or summary of the concept with adequate reference if there is more than one source. Below is an example of how to complete this section of the table and types of definitions; the first is a direct quote the second is a summary:

In the middle column of this section, you need to critically discuss these approaches and establish which one you have chosen to underpin your research (500 words).

2. Themes:

   In this section of the table, you will respond to the following question: What are the main themes that the literature relevant to your identified topic covers? You

    

   are asked to pinpoint two key themes or issues. You will provide an overall statement (one sentence max 20 words) and a brief critical summary of the relevant scholarly literature for each issue (300 words). You will need to use a minimum of 5 academic sources for each thematic/issue identified. These need to be correctly referenced in- text and in the reference column.

3. Knowledge gaps:

   Choose one of the themes you have identified in section b, (“Themes”) and conduct further research to identify gaps in knowledge in this area. Summarise the gap with one sentence (max 20 words), and then contextualise/explain this further in the second column discussing it in the context of the literature. You will have to write 300 words for each knowledge gap (minimum of two). You will need to use a minimum of 3 academic sources for each gap.

Submission Format and requirements

You have been provided with a template that structures the different components of the Submission. The document has been formatted to use an Arial 11pt text format 1.15 spacing. Please maintain the formatting. Each section has a word count indicated (in the assessment overview and in the table). You are expected to adhere to this word limit (+/- 10%). The scope of this exercise is to demonstrate your skill in identifying relevant literature, critical analysis and synthesis of ideas and concepts.

The Submission must include in-text referencing and reference list/bibliography, correctly referenced and in accordance with Curtin University policy. All source material MUST be acknowledged. Students who borrow ideas and sentences, either wholly or partly, from the text/s (be it directly, i.e. quotes or slightly rewarding these, i.e. paraphrasing too closely) will be reported for Academic Integrity misconduct. Do not copy other students’ work or assist by showing your work to others.

Late submissions will be penalised as per the Curtin Late Assessment Policy in the Unit Outline.

Assessment criteria

The general assessment criteria and weighting are:

• Appropriate coverage of the literature and quality of research sources 30%

• Evidence of critical analysis 30%

• Coherent synthesis of ideas/concepts 20%

• Clarity and quality of writing, grammar and spelling 10%

• Correct use of referencing style (in-text and reference list) 10%

Unit Learning Outcomes addressed

• Synthesise and apply a range of research and evaluation methods used in the design and built environment research

• Synthesise and critically evaluate the literature as a foundation for a project