What is RRL in Research?

RRL stands for Review of Related Literature. It is a section of a research paper that summarizes and evaluates previous research on a specific topic. RRLs are important because they help researchers understand the current knowledge on a topic and identify areas for new research. It serves as a comprehensive review of existing knowledge from academic articles, books, and other credible sources relevant to the research.

The main purpose of the RRL is to present the current state of research on the topic, identify gaps in the literature, and justify the need for the present study. By providing context, the RRL section highlights how the current research contributes to or expands on the existing body of knowledge.

RRL includes a synthesis and evaluation of previous studies, compares and contrasts their findings with the current research, and explores the theoretical frameworks or models relevant to the topic. The references used in this section lay the foundation for the study’s hypotheses or research questions.

Literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research that you can later apply to your paper, thesis, or dissertation topic.

There are five key steps to writing a literature review:

  1. Search for relevant literature
  2. Evaluate sources
  3. Identify themes, debates, and gaps
  4. Outline the structure
  5. Write your literature review

Good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources – it analyzes, synthesizes, and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.

What is the Purpose of a Literature Review?

When you write a thesis, dissertation, or research paper, you will likely have to conduct a literature review to situate your research within existing knowledge. The literature review gives you a chance to:

Writing literature reviews is a particularly important skill if you want to apply for graduate school or pursue a career in research. We’ve written a step-by-step guide that you can follow below.

RRL vs. RRS: Understanding the difference

First thought that crossed mind was “What is RRS?” As she read further, she understood that RRS is a focused evaluation of specific research studies that directly relate to a given research topic or question. It helps researchers refine their research design and data collection strategies by drawing from prior studies.

Simple comparison table helped her understand better:

AspectRRL (Review of Related Literature)RRS (Review of Related Studies)
FocusEvaluates concepts, theories, and research themesExamines specific research studies and their findings
ScopeBroad, focusing on literature trendsNarrow, focusing on study methodologies and results
PurposeEstablishes theoretical frameworkSupports methodological choices
OutcomeHighlights gaps and justifies research questionsInforms research design and data analysis

To understand their difference better, Referred to some examples of RRL and RRS in research. Example that she referred.

Example of RRL in Research

Research Topic:

The impact of mindfulness techniques on reducing workplace stress.

RRL (Review of Related Literature):

The RRL evaluates the broad body of literature related to mindfulness and workplace stress.

  1. Themes or Concepts Reviewed:
  1. Purpose in the Research:

Example of RRS in Research

Research Topic:

The impact of mindfulness techniques on reducing workplace stress.

RRS (Review of Related Studies):

RRS focuses on specific studies conducted on mindfulness and workplace stress.

  1. Studies Reviewed:
  1. Purpose in the Research:

While RRL provides a thematic and conceptual overview, analyzing broad patterns and theories, RRS delves into specific studies, focusing on their methods, findings, and contributions to the research topic.

FAQs

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