Posted: March 11th, 2023

graduate research feb 23

Literature review 

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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis
Lesson Plan: Week 8
Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA

Constructing a Literature Review

Week 8 Learning Objectives

After reviewing this week’s materials, students should be able to:

2. Distinguish a research article from other types of articles.

4. Analyze scholarly research, evaluating its validity.

5. Identify the elements of a scholarly research article: who conducted the research
(plus credentials or affiliation), when and where it was conducted, why the research
was undertaken, how it was conducted (methodology), and what was found (results).

8. Write an APA-7-compliant research paper:
a) title page,
b) effective opening paragraph including opening sentence and thesis statement,
c) literature review,
d) discussion of solution to the research problem based on literature,
e) conclusion, and
f) references page.

9. Apply effective research techniques and proper APA-7 style to all written
assignments.

I. How to write a literature review (Concordia University Library website)

A. What is a literature review?

The literature review is a written overview of major writings and other sources on a
selected topic.

• Sources covered in the review may include scholarly journal articles, books,
government reports, Web sites, etc.

• The literature review provides a description, summary and evaluation of each
source.

• It is usually presented as a distinct section of a graduate thesis or dissertation.

B. Purpose of the literature review

The purpose of the literature review is to provide a critical written account of the
current state of research on a selected topic:

• Identifies areas of prior scholarship

• Places each source in the context of its contribution to the understanding of the
specific issue, area of research, or theory under review.

• Describes the relationship of each source to the others that you have selected.

• Identifies new ways to interpret, and shed light on any gaps in, previous
research.

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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis
Lesson Plan: Week 8
Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA

Constructing a Literature Review

• Points the way forward for further research.

C. Steps in the literature review process

Preparation of a literature review may be divided into four steps:

1. Define your subject and the scope of the review.

2. Search the library catalogue, subject specific databases and other search tools
to find sources that are relevant to your topic.

3. Read and evaluate the sources and to determine their suitability to the
understanding of topic at hand.

4. Analyze, interpret and discuss the findings and conclusions of the sources you
selected.

Relationship Between Objective Summaries & Literature Review

Objective Summary – Introduction, Summary, & Conclusion

Literature Review – Introduction, Review of Literature, & Analysis of Literature

Write the Introduction

II. Components of the Literature Review section (2022-2023, Foundations of
Secondary Research).

The literature review section, of the Term Project – Research Paper should
include the following 3 sections: Introduction, Review of Literature, and
Analysis of Literature.

1. Introduction

• 1st paragraph of paper:

a. Includes an overview of the topic under consideration (topic of the
group/individuals Term Project – Research Paper

b. Specific topics that were researched to collect data.

c. Sub-topics that were researched to collect data.

• 2nd paragraph: Describes where literature was obtained and how literature
was accessed.

Example from Dr. Tennyson’s Literature Review:

The following pages contain a review of the literature related to the experiences of

several people who survived Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters. Climate change,

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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis
Lesson Plan: Week 8
Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA

Constructing a Literature Review

natural disasters, and the decision-making process that occurs with people who face

disasters are also addressed. This literature review focuses on obtaining information about

the weather anomalies that resulted in Hurricane Sandy, the experiences of disaster

survivors, and the decision-making processes related to preparing for disasters.

The scholarly literature used for this study was obtained from the PROQUEST and

EBSCOhost databases in the [Name of college] library. Additional information used for

this study was obtained from peer reviewed journals, government websites and

publications, dissertations, and published books. Several well-recognized newspapers were

used to obtain information about Hurricane Sandy and the cities most impacted by the

hurricane. Newspaper articles and peer-reviewed journals were accessed online using

various search engines or through direct entry into the website of the publisher of the

newspaper or journal.

2. Review of the Literature (2022-2023, Foundations of Secondary Research,
p.

43).

A. Note the following concerning the Review of the Literature section of the
Literature Review.

• Include the Introduction and Summary sections of objective summaries.

• Objective summaries should contain in-text citations at the end of
sentences containing information that is paraphrased from sources or
direct quotes for information copied verbatim from sources.

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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis
Lesson Plan: Week 8
Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA

Constructing a Literature Review

− Ensure that you add citations to your objective summaries if you have
not already done so.

• Refer to Citations [2022-2023 Foundations of Secondary Research,
Bouteneff & Ramlochan, 2022] document in Course Resources Folder in
Blackboard for information about APA 7 formatting for in-text citations and
direct quotes.

• Use 2nd level headings to identify the sections of the literature review.

• Organize the literature review to include related materials in the same
section.

OR

Organize the literature review according to the sections in the Term
Project – Research paper.

OR

Organize the literature review according to the sections that make sense
for the topic being discussed.

2. Analysis of Literature (2022-2023, Foundations of Secondary Research, p.

43).

A. Analysis of literature discussion should include:

− Include the Conclusion section of objective summary if it contains
analysis type of information.

− an analysis and evaluation of the information in the sources.

− Information contained in the source that contributed to enhanced
understanding or knowledge of the topic of the research project.

− both the distinctiveness of each source and its similarities with the other
sources.

− an evaluation of the suitability of the source for gaining an
understanding of the topic of the research project.

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KG604 Graduate Research & Critical Analysis
Lesson Plan: Week 8
Dr. D. Tennyson, DBA

Constructing a Literature Review

References

How to write a literature review. (2017, 14 September) Concordia University Library

website. Retrieved from https://library.concordia.ca/help/writing/literature-

review.php

https://library.concordia.ca/help/writing/literature-review.php

https://library.concordia.ca/help/writing/literature-review.php

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Impacts of Green Cloud Computing on Environmental Protection

Objective Summary 1

Introduction

Wibowo and Wells (2016) conducted research to identify how companies are adopting renewable energy sources and the economic benefits of green Cloud. Cloud computing has become popular as more clients require safe storage. Cloud service providers are responsible for providing services while minimizing environmental impact. The researchers reviewed the literature on green Cloud computing at Central Queensland University, Australia. The authors are qualified to write on the topic as they are in the School of Engineering and Technology. The researchers, in 2016, performed the research starting with an introduction background, then the literature review, a discussion of findings, and a conclusion with future direction. The researchers showed that companies could pursue green Cloud computing by considering significant factors like providing dynamic types of energy, multi-tenancy, utilization of servers, and efficiency of data centers.

Summary

The introduction of the paper presents green Cloud computing as a concept, the economic advantage of on-site energy generation, the impact of the location of the data center. In the paper is also the information regarding the costs and environmental sustainability of green technology. The literature review boosts the discussion on the costs of various energy sources, the impact of location, and the sustainability of green Cloud energy. The research showed that companies could achieve economic viability by using greener energy sources. Companies should strive to adopt business processes and practices that are more energy-efficient and sustainable to the environment. A green Cloud computing company has a green strategy in aspects like the location of their data centers, the mix of energy of electricity they use, and the consideration of dynamic provisioning.

Conclusion

The research establishes the possibility of companies pursuing a green Cloud computing technology that is sustainable for the environment and economy. The researchers used a literature review to bring topics for discussion. Wibowo and Wells (2016) considerably found that sustainable green Cloud computing was possible for service providers who had the four elements in mind when setting up such schemes. The research was relevant because it guides companies considering changing to more efficient green Cloud computing strategies. As much as the study presents these critical elements, it needs to discuss them in detail and their contribution toward green Cloud computing. This paper was satisfactory in explaining how green cloud computing can help achieve environmental sustainability. Companies can successfully adopt greener technologies in cloud computing that are both sustainable and economical.

Objective Summary 2

Introduction

Hejri et al. (2022) conducted research on the factors that impact how banks are ready to implement the process of green management. The main purpose for the sturdy was to determine factors affecting the green business management. These authors were all from the Islamic Azad University meaning that they were qualified to write the paper. Different sections were used to conduct the research. The research was conducted in the year 2019 in Tehran, Iran.

Summary

The researchers began this applied research with a theoretical framework concerning the issue of green technology and how it affects banking businesses in Iran. The researchers reviewed all the documents that were relevant to the topic under study. The applied research involved several books and journals to review the theoretical concepts. Further, the authors used a population of experts and professionals who have been in the banking industry for 10 or more years. The population of 14 industry experts in the fields of information technology (IT), management, and engineering was sampled using purposeful snowball techniques. The authors then used the fuzzy DEMATEL method to make decisions based on paired comparisons. Hejri et al. (2022) found that green awareness is the factor that had the highest impact and interaction of 6.314 on other factors. Green operation is the factor that is most affected by others. The mutually interrelated factors are green technology vs. policy, technology vs. strategy, technology vs. governance, technology vs. lifecycle, policy vs. strategy, policy vs. governance.

Conclusion

The research showed that green awareness had the highest interaction and strongest impact. Organizations can increase knowledge and awareness on the environment to increase green behavior. These companies can adopt green behavior by training managers and employees regularly on environmental awareness. The future research for the study encompassed examining the relationship between green business processes and the economy.

Summary Objective 3

Introduction

Arghavani et al. (2019) researched the effects of the urban green space on the gaseous air pollutants in the Metropolis area of Tehran. The paper’s authors are recognizable people from higher education institutions in Iran and can comfortably publish their study. The use of predefined or green programs for a long time may lead to a negative impact on the quality of air in cities. The authors investigate the alternation of three gaseous air pollutants concentration by certain green scenarios for development. The study was conducted in Iran in the Tehran Metropolis (TM).

Summary

The authors did not mention the period within which they conducted the study. The authors looked at the different influences of the urban green development programs on air quality in urban Tehran. The authors looked at the influence of the additional vegetative areas near surface deposition velocities and fluxes. The other elements considered were the concentration of pollutants near the surface, alteration in boundary layer height, and the meteorology variables. Th authors use satellite images to determine how planted areas are distributed across the city.

The authors’ research led to several results the prevailing wind direction and speed influence the daily concentration of pollutants. The lower boundary’s height and buoyancy result in very low vertical mass transport during the daytime. The winds come in from the west over the city at 18:00 UTC, with a high level of pollutants.

Conclusion

               The concentration of pollutants is the main factor that influences how the deposition of harmful gases alternates across the metropolitan area of Tehran. Each of the scenarios that were defined impacted the city of Tehran. The authors, thus, should have come up with the best suggestion for an efficient summertime green policy without reporting negative feedback.

Reference

Arghavani, S., Malakooti, H., & Bidokhti, A. A. (2019). Numerical evaluation of urban green space scenarios effects on gaseous air pollutants in Tehran Metropolis based on WRF-Chem model.
Atmospheric Environment,
214, 116832. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/am/pii/S1352231019304613

Hejri, F., M., Valmohammadi, C., & Alborzi, M. (2022). Factors affecting the readiness of green business process management in the Iranian banking industry.
Journal of applied research on industrial engineering,
9(1), 115-133. https://scholar.archive.org/work/54tmaveg4zah7nbdmhy22pvt4m/access/wayback/http://www.journal-aprie.com/article_138491_f4f6007ab168b31fa42d2e9cf655d48c

Wibowo, S., & Wells, M. (2016). Green cloud computing and economics of the cloud: Moving towards sustainable future. 
GSTF Journal on Computing (JoC), 
5(1). http://dl6.globalstf.org/index.php/joc/article/download/1642/2317

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Block Chain Technologies and Crypto Currency as Financial Assets

Objective Summary 1

Introduction

Cobert et al. (2018) extensively researched blockchain technology and the essential topics in such markets. The authors come from higher learning institutions like Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin. The authors present the study in 2018 about the major topic since the development of Bitcoin as a financial asset in 2009 up to 2018. The main areas of the research paper include how blockchain technology has evolved, the developments happening in such markets, and unique issues about such demands. The researchers wanted to analyze various literature surrounding the growth of blockchain markets.

Summary

The paper starts with a critical analysis of the dilemmas with this new currency that the world should be adapting to. Those individuals and organizations that vouch for such a new form of currency suppose that the world has a lot to gain from the safe and secure means of transaction. The authors also explain that direct transactions and payments between parties could be at risk of pricing bubbles. Cobert et al. (2018) suppose that this currency could endure the problem of price bubbles because of the recent increase in the price of Bitcoin. The new technology in finance will impact financial regulations because it brings forth a new set of currencies that traders will engage in. Companies that diversify to this technology are better positioned to earn returns as their income is also diversified.
Surprisingly, the authors suggest that Bitcoin technology consumes more energy in the present than before. Other studies indicate that bitcoin technology only consumes a little power since mining costs exceed revenue.

Conclusion

The paper discusses the topic of crypto technology and its evolution since its inception in 2009. Such technology is a peer-to-peer electronic cash payment method that users can use without following the formalities of banks. Bitcoin’s price volatility comes from two features: cybercrime and its disorientation from the current financial regulations. The author supports that Government action affects the price of Bitcoin similarly to those sanctions in South Korea (Cobert et al., 2018). Crypto technology and Bitcoin have faced a lot of cybercrimes that have amounted to millions of dollars in losses by stakeholders in the market. This research would be beneficial to all the stakeholders in the field of blockchain, including both buyers and other beneficiaries. The authors also recommend diversifying research in the cashless currency of crypto. Thus, this technology can be the future of financial transactions, but the market needs to understand its evolution and what regulations fit.

Objective Summary 2

Introduction

               Previous research has been keen on the factors that seem to have an effect on the volatility and risk of the stock market. The authors in this study presume that all other research in the past has been focusing in the risks of stock exchange. The authors of this particular research put effort in explaining the relationship between blockchain and the market of stock exchange. Masoomzadeh and Salmani (2022) determine that the technology of blockchain could indeed be used to control several risks that arise in the stock market. The researchers, who are also members of Tabriz University, are qualified for such kind of research. These researchers embarked on research in the year 2021 in Iran.

Summary

           The authors use applied research to find and fulfill the purpose of the study. The analytical part of the research explained the analysis of various findings. The authors of this paper made effort to determine whether those companies in the business of stock trade would benefit from the improvisation of blockchain techniques, especially in Iran. The study period was between April 2011 to August 2021. The authors use documentaries and library means from the stock exchange of Iran to collect statistics for the research. The results show that the market share negatively affects the total risk. The total risk of the market rises by 0.01% when the market share of the stock rises by 1%. The finding of the study showed that the profits that companies can get out of transactions are inversely proportional to the risks that they face. Most importantly, blockchain technology positively influences risk since it increases risk by 0.0002.

Conclusion

               The authors through this research were able to conclude that the risk of returns in the Iranian stock market were under the influence of blockchain techniques. Companies could use blockchain technology to reduce the cost and risk as well by making transactions more transparent.

Objective Summary 3

Introduction

               Mahdavieh (2019) conducted research to analyze the characteristics of kleptocratic regimes and how these attributes help to adopt cryptocurrency strategies of the government. The paper by Mahdavieh (2020) was impactful in showing that developing countries like Iran have suffered a lot from the restrictions of the first world countries like America. The authors were determining whether the national governments are likely to implement new cryptocurrency policies, especially in kleptocratic regimes.

Summary

               The research methodology was a complex analysis of statistics to determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The author used Mill’s method of agreement to establish whether attributes lead to the same outcome, thus confirming the correlation. The author also went further to conduct a comparative case study of the three countries. The findings of the study showed that cryptocurrency is initially part of the citizens of Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. The citizens of these countries share the attributes of a depreciating currency because of the sanctions from the West. Sanctions from western nations like the US continue to depreciate the value and progress of the economy. The economic growth of Iran, Russia, and Venezuela reduce by respective values of 3.7%, 1.5%, and -3.8%. Cryptocurrency brings in more opportunities through elements like digital technology and cyber capabilities that are more advanced. Cryptocurrency is a kind of banking that is not dependent on the dollar.

Conclusion

               The research shows that each of the kleptocratic countries shares common attributes. The common attributes include exploitation of rich resource capabilities, inflation and unstable conditions of the economy, and unending sanctions from the Western countries that seem to raise the level of inflation and limit the extent to which these nations engage in international trade. Countries like Iran need to implement safer measures for cryptocurrency to increase the safety of the financials of citizens.

Reference

Corbet, S., Lucey, B., Urquhart, A., & Yarovaya, L. (2019). Cryptocurrencies as a financial asset: A systematic analysis. 
International Review of Financial Analysis, 
62, 182-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2018.09.003

Mahdavieh, R. (2019). Governments’ Adoption of Native Cryptocurrency: A Case Study of Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. Retrieved from https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1532&context=honorstheses

Masoomzadeh, S., & Salmani, B. (2022). The Blockchain Revolution and the Volatility of Stock market in Iran During the COVID-19 Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1935978/latest