![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education Book Cover](/sites/dl/free/0072532491/title/fw_sm.gif) How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education, 5/e Jack R. Fraenkel,
San Francisco State University Norman E. Wallen,
San Francisco State University
Reviewing the Literature
Abstract | A summary of a study that describes its most important aspects, including major results and conclusions.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Bibliography | A list of references that pertain to a topic.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Computer search of the literature | A method whereby key terms are used to locate research literature about a topic.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Descriptors | Terms used to locate sources during a computer search of the literature.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | General reference | Source that researchers use to identify more specific references (e.g., indexes, abstracts).
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Literature review | The systematic identification, location, and analysis of documents containing information related to a research problem.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Meta-analysis | A statistical procedure for combining the results of several studies on the same topic.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Primary source | Firsthand information such as the testimony of an eyewitness, an original document, a relic, or a description of a study written by the person who conducted it.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Search terms | see descriptors.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Secondary source | Secondhand information, such as a description of historical events by someone not present when the event occurred.
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