Certain aspects of conducting a standard review of literature have not yet been covered in this course. Therefore, while you are invited to critically examine any aspect of the studies (e.g., a study’s design, appropriateness of the theoretic framework, data sampling methods), your conclusion should be considered preliminary. Bear in mind that five studies are typically not enough to reflect the full range of knowledge on a particular question and you are not expected to be familiar enough with research methodology to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of the studies.

Certainly, conducting a standard review of literature involves a systematic and comprehensive search of relevant literature to identify and evaluate existing research on a specific topic. Here are some key aspects to consider when conducting a review of literature:

1. Define the research question: The first step is to clearly define the research question or topic of interest. This will help you to identify the relevant literature and focus your search.
2. Conduct a comprehensive search: Use multiple databases, search engines, and other sources to find relevant literature. Keywords, subject headings, and Boolean operators can help refine your search. It is important to include both published and unpublished literature.
3. Select and screen the literature: Review the titles and abstracts of the literature to determine their relevance to the research question. Full-text articles should be carefully evaluated for inclusion based on pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
4. Extract data: Extract relevant data from the included literature, including information on the study design, sample size, data collection methods, and results.
5. Evaluate the quality of the literature: Assess the quality of the included literature using established criteria, such as the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool or the GRADE approach. This involves evaluating the study design, sampling methods, data analysis, and other factors that may affect the validity and reliability of the findings.
6. Synthesize the findings: Analyze the extracted data and summarize the findings from the included literature. This may involve creating tables or diagrams to display the results, as well as identifying patterns or themes that emerge across the studies.
7. Draw conclusions: Based on the analysis and synthesis of the literature, draw conclusions about the state of knowledge on the research question. This may involve identifying gaps in the literature, highlighting areas of agreement or disagreement, and making recommendations for future research.

It is important to note that conducting a standard review of literature requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a clear understanding of research methodology. It is a time-consuming process that requires a significant amount of effort, but can provide valuable insights into existing research on a particular topic.