What is this thing called a literature review: a brief note

What is this thing called a literature review: a brief note (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "As a lecturer of Research Methods, I would like to verify my understanding of the following research tasks:

1. Using published data from an academic journal article to conduct a quantitative data analysis designed by the student-researcher: is it literature review or a secondary quantitative research method?

2. Gathering some government statistics via the Internet and then conduct a quantitative data analysis on the government statistics: is it a primary quantitative research method or a secondary quantitative research method?

3. Gathering some public media-reported news and then conduct an inductive qualitative data analysis of these news: is it a literature review exercise or a secondary qualitative research method?

4. Gathering some public media-reported comments from columnists and conduct a critical review on these comments to develop the researcher-student's own analysis viewpoints: is it a literature review exercise or a secondary qualitative research method?"

The reply: "For your verification on the research tasks:

1. Using published data from an academic journal article to conduct a quantitative data analysis designed by the student-researcher is considered a secondary quantitative research method. It involves analyzing existing data collected by others rather than collecting new primary data.​

2. Gathering government statistics via the Internet and conducting quantitative data analysis on them is also a secondary quantitative research method. The data is pre-existing and collected by others (government), making the research secondary rather than primary.​

3. Gathering public media-reported news and conducting an inductive qualitative data analysis on these news sources is a form of secondary qualitative research method, not simply a literature review exercise. This approach involves analyzing existing textual data for new insights.​

4. Gathering public media-reported comments from columnists and conducting a critical review with development of new viewpoints is also best described as a secondary qualitative research method rather than a literature review. Here, pre-existing qualitative data is critically analyzed for new understanding.​

In summary:

• Use of existing published quantitative data or government statistics for new quantitative analysis is secondary quantitative research.

• Use of media or publicly reported textual data for new qualitative analysis or critical review is secondary qualitative research.

• Literature review generally involves summarizing and synthesizing existing studies without new data analysis or novel interpretation.

This framing aligns with academic definitions distinguishing literature reviews from secondary research methodology in both quantitative and qualitative contexts."

My question 2: "Could it be said that a literature review exercise has to review academic literature (e.g. academic journal articles, textbooks, academic dissertation reports and academic conference papers)? If the review documents are non-academic publications, the review review exercise should be treated as a kind of secondary research method exercise?"

The reply: "A literature review exercise typically involves reviewing academic literature such as peer-reviewed journal articles, edited academic books, academic dissertations, and conference papers. These are considered acceptable and credible sources because they contribute scholarly knowledge and have been subject to scrutiny such as peer review or editorial processes.​

If the review documents are non-academic publications, such as news articles, trade journals, or other public media, the exercise generally shifts from a traditional literature review toward a form of secondary research. In this case, the researcher is analyzing existing non-scholarly sources, which aligns more closely with secondary research methods that use existing data or information for new analysis rather than synthesizing scholarly knowledge.​

In short:

• Literature review = review of academic, peer-reviewed, or scholarly sources to synthesize existing knowledge.

• Secondary research method exercise = review and analysis of non-academic or other existing sources beyond traditional scholarly literature.

This distinction helps clarify the purpose and scholarly rigor of the exercise."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.

A brief note on the scientific methods and scientism

A brief note on the scientific methods and scientism (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "Highlight 5 ideas on the scientific methods and 3 ideas on scientism with reference to social science. And then suggest 4 limitations of solely relying on the scientific methods and scientism in the context of doing MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects."

The reply: "Here are key ideas and limitations on scientific methods and scientism in social science, relevant to MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects.

Five Ideas on Scientific Methods in Social Science

1. The scientific method in social science involves systematic steps starting from a research question, hypothesis formation, empirical testing, drawing conclusions, and evaluation to better understand human behavior.​

2. It emphasizes empirical research based on observations and measurements using approaches like descriptive, experimental, or correlational research to study social phenomena.​

3. Scientific methods in social sciences aim to provide objective, critical, skeptical, and logical analyses through systematic observation and data collection to explain social practices and human behavior.​

4. These methods impose boundaries and parameters that organize and focus studies, helping to make research results more reliable and replicable.​

5. However, social science concepts often face challenges in precise measurement and universal applicability compared to natural sciences, thus requiring careful operational definitions.​

Three Ideas on Scientism in Social Science

1. Scientism in social science is the belief that the empirical and quantitative methods of natural sciences can fully explain human and social behaviors, often assuming value neutrality and objectivity.​

2. It tends to overlook human values, ethics, power, and purpose by relegating them outside the scientific inquiry, which may limit understanding of complex social realities.​

3. Critics argue scientism removes the “voice” and agency of social objects under study by imposing a one-size-fits-all scientific model that may not accommodate the unique nature of social phenomena.​

Four Limitations of Solely Relying on Scientific Methods and Scientism in MBA and Housing Studies Dissertation Projects

1. The complexity and subjectivity of social phenomena often resist full objectivity, making purely scientific methods reductionist and potentially distorting of human behavior and social context.​

2. Measurement difficulties arise from imprecise or contested concepts in social sciences, limiting the applicability of standardized scientific metrics that work well in natural sciences.​

3. Scientism's emphasis on methodological monism ignores important ethical, cultural, and value-based dimensions critical to understanding social issues in MBA and Housing contexts.​

4. Overreliance on scientific methods may overlook qualitative insights and interpretative understanding essential for nuanced topics like career planning, housing conditions, or organizational behavior studied in these fields.​

These points suggest a balanced approach combining scientific rigor with recognition of social complexities and values is essential in MBA and Housing Studies research projects."

My question 2: "Provide a brief account on the evolution of the thinking on scientific methods and scientism, notably with reference to social science."

The reply: "The evolution of thinking on scientific methods and scientism in social science has been complex and marked by ongoing debates.

Evolution of Scientific Methods Thinking

The scientific method, with roots in the 17th-century rise of experimental science, originated as a systematic sequence of observation, hypothesis, testing, and confirmation aimed at producing reliable, reproducible knowledge mainly in natural sciences. Over time, social scientists adopted these methods to study society, emphasizing empirical research and hypothesis testing. However, social sciences faced unique challenges, such as the complexity of human behavior and the difficulty in measuring social phenomena as precisely as natural phenomena.​

Social sciences have also engaged with evolutionary and historical perspectives, initially influenced by biological metaphors of social evolution common among early sociologists and anthropologists. However, simplistic ideas like unilinear social progress or genetic bases for social behavior were later discredited due to their inadequacy and ethical issues. Contemporary approaches reflect more sophisticated views that incorporate network theory, coevolution, and the interplay of multiple levels of social organization, moving toward a richer, dynamic understanding of social phenomena.​

Evolution of Scientism Thinking

Scientism—defined as the belief that natural science methods should be applied exclusively to social sciences—was initially embraced by some as a way to legitimize social sciences. Early enthusiasm matched the success of natural sciences with a hope that social phenomena could be studied with similar objectivity and precision. Over time, criticism emerged regarding scientism’s limits, especially its neglect of subjective experiences, ethics, values, and cultural contexts in human behavior. Presently, many scholars caution against scientism’s reductionism and encourage pluralistic methodologies that combine scientific methods with interpretative and critical insights suitable for social complexity.​

Summary

The thinking on scientific methods in social science evolved from a direct borrowing of natural science approaches toward specialized adaptations for the social realm, addressing measurement and contextual challenges. Meanwhile, scientism evolved from a dominant paradigm advocating strict methodological naturalism to a contested stance with significant critiques emphasizing the importance of human values and interpretive understanding. This evolution reflects the growing sophistication and self-awareness in social science research.

This historical and conceptual evolution helps frame current debates on how best to conduct research in complex social domains such as MBA and Housing Studies, where both rigorous scientific inquiry and an understanding of human and social dimensions are vital."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.