NIT6130 Assignment 1 - Literature Review
Submission Instructions
Document format: Please submit your assignment as a word document (.docx) not a pdf.
Submission: Submit in the drop box provided in VU Collaborate.
Due date: Refer to drop box.

Assignment Template
Follow the template and steps below to complete your literature review and proposal. Remove any instructions provided, and replace them with the information required.
Title of the project (A tentative title of selected research)
Name, Student ID
1. Abstract (3 marks)
- Aim of the research (in summary form, to complete after literature review)
- Approach or methodology and innovation (in summary form, to complete after proposed methodology in section 4)
- Expected outcomes and significance (in summary form, to complete after literature review)
2. Literature Review – Broad Scan and Reading (minimum 3 rounds) (3x3 = 9 marks)
Round 1
- What research interests lead you to the choice of initial keywords?
- List keywords, source/research database, number of results returned
- List out result: search results list presented in table format (first 20+, with NO detailed abstracts, Highlight the articles selected for detailed/focused reading)
Title, author, year, journal/conference title
- Review & Summary (a paragraph of 6 -10 lines)
What was your opinion after going through the initial search results list?
What considerations led to the new set of keywords?
- List out the new keywords derived.
- Provide details of the articles/work identified-Title, author, year, journal/conference title, abstract
These are the most relevant articles you find in round 1 search result list. Read these articles under focused reading. Present details of the articles in table format.
- Appendix (need to be conducted in round 1 broad scan but to be included at the end of the document, NOT here) including first 20+ returned search including detailed abstracts
Title, author, year, journal/conference title, abstract
Round 2
- List keywords, derived in round 1, source/research database, number of results returned
- List out result: Up to 20 search results list, presented in table format with no detailed abstracts (Highlight the articles selected for detailed/focused reading)
Title, author, year, journal/conference title
- Review & Summary (a paragraph of 6 -10 lines)
What was your opinion after going through the initial search results list?
What considerations led to the new set of keywords?
- List out the new keywords derived.
- Provide details of the articles/work identified-Title, author, year, journal/conference title, abstract? to be read in the focused reading
These are the most relevant articles you find in round 2 search result list. Read these articles under focused reading. Present details of the articles in table format.
- Appendix (need to be conducted in round 2 broad scan but to be included at the end of the document, not here) including first 20+ returned search including detailed abstracts
Title, author, year, journal/conference title, abstract
Round 3
- List keywords, derived in round 2, source/research database, number of results returned
- List out result: Up to 20 search results list, presented in table format with no detailed abstracts (Highlight the articles selected for detailed/focused reading)
Title, author, year, journal/conference title
- Review & Summary (a paragraph of 6 -10 lines)
What was your opinion after going through the search results list?
What consideration led to the new set of keywords?
- List out the new keywords derived.
- Provide details of articles/work identified-Title, author, year, journal/conference title, abstract
These are the most relevant articles you find in round 3 search result list. Read these articles under focused reading. Present details of the articles in table format.
- Appendix (need to be conducted in round 3 broad scan but to be included at the end of the document, not here) including first 20+ returned search including detailed abstracts
Title, author, year, journal/conference title, abstract
3. Literature Review – Focused Reading (2+ articles) (10 marks)
- You are expected to READ 4-6 articles identified from broad scan.
- Select the most suitable (minimum of 2) articles for focused reading.
- Your focused reading should achieve the following goals:
o Understand the background of current research (state of the art)
o Identify research problem for your research
o The research problem should be achievable with your capacity (knowledge, time, facilities), via practical methods
Article 1, Title, author, year, journal/conference title, abstract (approximately 1 and a half page)
- What did the authors do (key contributions)
- Why did the authors conduct the research (existing problems)
- What are the key differences in the method/approach (innovation)
- What are main achievements, significance
- What can be further improved
- Research problems identified (to be reflected in the proposed research)
Article 2, Title, author, year, journal/conference title, abstract (approximately 1 and a half page)
- What did the authors do (key contributions)
- Why did the authors conduct the research (existing problems)
- What are the key differences in the method/approach (innovation)
- What are main achievements, significance
- What can be further improved
- Research problems identified (to be reflected in the proposed research)
4. Proposed Research (approximately half page to one page) (4 marks)
- Background or context. In summary format highlight what is lacking in the existing research. In particular use references to focus reading carried out in part 3.
- Aim of your research, what is to be researched, proposed or explored.
- Approach or methodology and innovation, based on the reading, the likely approaches, highlight the difference and innovation, with references.
- Expected outcomes and significance, what will be the contribution to human knowledge.
- Proposed work should be novel – has not been done before
- Needs to be achievable - are you capable in conducting the research and obtaining the expected outcomes?
5. References (4 marks - References/citations)
Follow one of the styles in Week 4 lecture notes.
6 Appendix
A1. Round 1 Broad Scan, keyword, source/research database, number of results returned
20+ Title, author, year, journal/conference title
With abstract
A2. Round 2 Broad Scan, keyword, source/research database, number of results returned
Up to 20 results, Title, author, year, journal/conference title
With abstract
A3. Round 3 Broad Scan, keyword, source/research database, number of results returned
Up to 20 results, Title, author, year, journal/conference title
With abstract