The Literature Review Project (OsloMet)
Introduction
The Literature Review Project is for master’s students who want to work on summarizing the literature that is relevant to the master’s thesis. The project requires that you choose a 10-credits elective course that runs throughout the autumn semester (SN4500/SIW4500, Research Training: Programplaner og emneplaner – Student – minside).
Before the autumn, your project description for your master’s thesis will be approved and it is your master’s thesis you will work on in this project. Some of you want to write a master’s thesis that is a pure literature review, and then the course is relevant to your entire master’s thesis. Others will summarize previous research that is relevant to the topic of the thesis in an introductory chapter. In both cases, the summary of the research will be particularly relevant for the analysis chapter of the master’s thesis. All students will get written comments to their Introductory chapter (exam).
If you want to write a pure literature review as a master’s thesis, but are unsure of which topic to write about, I would be happy to be a supervisor on a thesis that summarizes research that applies policy perspectives to concrete (empirical) cases. This applies to the perspectives «What’s the problem represented to be?» (Bacchi & Goodwin, 2016), «Wicked problems» (Rittel & Webber, 1973), «The Advocacy Coalition framework» (Sabatier, 2007), «The Multiple Streams Approach» (Kingdon, 1984), «The policy cycle» (Jann & Kai, 2007), «Incrementalism/The science of muddling through» (Lindblom, 1979), or «Punctuated Equilibrium» (Baumgartner et al., 2018). I will also consider supervising students who have good arguments for summarizing research on other perspectives. If some of this is of interest to you, send me an email via simoinn@oslomet.no.
Data and Methods
Data is available via the University Library and digital databases at OsloMet, as well as literature available on the internet.
Why Write a Literature Review?
Interpretations of literature reviews of research are knowledge that working life increasingly needs as knowledge-based policy spreads. This will particularly apply to students who wish to apply for jobs in knowledge organizations, such as universities, directorates, international organizations like WHO or NGOs. You also learn the benefits of working systematically, get an overview of the field, and answer what a study can add to existing knowledge in the field. You will understand much more about what it takes to be able to publish in international journals.
Application
The elective course can accommodate up to 20 students. You must therefore submit an application for admission to the elective course where you attach the project description, which master’s program you belong to, your name and student email address, and any other information that you think may be relevant. Hope to see you in the fall
Open for all study options
References
Bacchi, C., & Goodwin, S. (2016). Poststructural Policy Analysis : A Guide to Practice (1st ed. 2016. ed.). Palgrave Macmillan US : Imprint: Palgrave Pivot.
Baumgartner, F. R., Jones, B. D., & Mortensen, P. B. (2018). Punctuated Equilibrium Theory: Explaining Stability and Change in Public Policymaking. In P. A. Sabatier & C. M. Weible (Eds.), Theories of the policy process (Fourth edition. ed.). Routledge.
Jann, W., & Kai, W. (2007). Theories of the policy cycle. In F. Fisher, G. J. Miller, & M. S. Sidney (Eds.), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis (Vol. 125, pp. 20). CRC Press, Taylor and Francis.
Kingdon, J. W. (1984). Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. Little Brown and Company.
Lindblom, C. E. (1979). Still Muddling, Not Yet Through. Public Administration Review, 39(6), 517-526. https://doi.org/10.2307/976178
Sabatier, P. A. (2007). Theories of the policy process (2nd ed. ed.). Westview Press.
Contact
Simon Innvær simoinn@oslomet.no