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The literature review matrix assignment is an organizational tool to help you prepare for writing the literature review section of your research paper. This assignment is designed to introduce you to LIS databases and other information sources and get you started on your information community research (Course Learning Outcomes: #1, #2 and #3).

By completing the literature review matrix assignment you will:

  • Focus your literature search
  • Develop reading and summarizing skills
  • Hone citation skills
  • Build understanding about research on your selected information community
  • Reflect, analyze and gain new perspectives on your information community’s information behavior and use

Getting Started

  • Download and review the Literature Matrix Template. You must use this template for the assignment.
  • Review the example Literature Review Matrix with three entries and a corresponding reference list.
  • Define your selected information community and the value of studying the chosen community
    • Your research should focus on understanding the information seeking behaviors and needs of your chosen community.
    • Review course materials that may help define your community. Course materials can be included in the definition section that discusses your community.
  • Set aside time for researching your information community.
  • Visit INFO 200 LibGuide for research tips
  • Search LIS and related databases for scholarly and/or peer reviewed sources and identify scholarly sources that research the information behavior and needs of your information community
  • Keep track of your potential sources using your choice of citation manager. Keeping an ongoing APA 7-formatted bibliography is a tremendous time-saver and helps ensure you properly acknowledge research sources.
  • Collect the APA 7 citations for each source and make sure each citation is correctly formatted.
  • If you have trouble locating appropriate materials, check in with our King Library Liaison or use the Chat with a Librarian live chat.

Assignment Requirements

Using LIS databases and other pertinent information sources, such as Google Scholar, locate eight scholarly and/or peer-reviewed studies about the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of your chosen information community.

  • These eight sources cannot be ones assigned throughout the course and should represent your independent research into your chosen information community.
  • You can use sources that you have previously referenced throughout your blog posts and these sources can be utilized in your research paper.
  • Make sure to download and use the Literature Matrix Template for this assignment. Your total score will be lowered if you do not use the provided template.
  • There is no required word count for this assignment.

Determining Appropriate Sources

  • The eight secondary sources must be scholarly, peer reviewed articles or books. If you are unsure whether a publication is peer reviewed, visit ulrichsweb.com.
  • Confirm that the eight secondary sources are not course materials. Course materials should only be used in the definition section at the beginning of the matrix.
  • Consider these questions as overarching guides:
    • What themes of information behavior did you find in your deep dive of the literature?
    • What type of information does your community seek?
    • Where do they look?
    • Where can they find it?
  • While many sources might be useful in the research process to develop your understanding of the topic, the Literature Review Matrix is best managed through mindful selection of sources that best answer the aim of the assignment: what are the information behaviors and needs of your chosen community?

Completing the Matrix

  • Download the Literature Matrix Template.
  • In the first section, in approximately two to four paragraphs, define/describe your chosen Information Community and explain the significance of studying the information behaviors of this group (e.g. why is this research important). This can be an updated and revised version of your Blog Report #2. You are encouraged to use course materials to support your definition.
  • For the Statement of Research box, craft a statement regarding your information community and what you want to learn about their information behaviors and needs and how libraries or information centers might provide services to them. For example: The paper based on these articles will demonstrate my understanding of the information behaviors and needs of your chosen community and how libraries and information centers might provide or update services to meet their needs. Customize the statement to reflect your information community.
  • Look up one of the articles from the example Literature Review Matrix with three entries or from one of the assignment synthesis examples. Compare what you took away from the reading to the entry provided in the Matrix.
  • Use the Literature Review Matrix template. For each source, use one row to provide details about the article (e.g. authors, main ideas, methods, analysis, results, assumptions, conclusions) and your analysis of it (e.g. yourconclusions distinct from the authors and the implications you see).
  • Utilize the King Library’s How to Read a Scholarly Article as a guide for filling in the Matrix.
  • Do this for all of your 8 scholarly, peer-reviewed studies, as noted above. Remember that these sources cannot be ones assigned throughout the course and should be representative of your independent research.
  • In the final section, list all of your sources included in the Matrix and your description/definition in APA format.

Before Submitting Your Assignment

  • Spell and grammar check your document.
  • Double check your use of APA 7 formatting.
  • Take a break from your document and come back later to proofread it (manually).
  • Ask a peer to proofread your document – offer to do the same for them.
  • If you submit your assignment on Canvas prior to the due date and discover you have corrections to make, you can re-submit your assignment prior to the deadline.

Submitting Your Assignment

Submit your Literature Review Matrix to Canvas (not your blog) using the naming convention: “LastName_NameofAssignment” as a PDF or Word document.

Assignment Examples

It is highly recommended that you look over at least one example Literature Review Matrix assignment in order to gain a better understanding of the assignment and what is expected.

The Assignment Synthesis page includes examples of information communities researched in the past. You will find links to individual blog posts (posts 2-7), as well as to the four major assignments of this course, including the research paper.

(Note that some examples were completed in previous semesters and included an assignment that has since been replaced by the LIS Model/Theory Research Summary.)

Grading Criteria

Criteria Points
Required components 3
Mechanics 3
Comprehension and analysis 5
Connections to course content and information science 4
TOTAL 15
  • Required components evaluates whether your review matrix has a solid organizational foundation and includes all assignment requirements. You should include a two to four paragraph definition of your community, a statement of research and you should complete all other matrix template components as assigned. You should effectively use LIS and other scholarly databases to locate current, peer-reviewed books and articles. Your matrix discusses eight peer-reviewed research studies.
  • Mechanics assesses the quality of writing and technical aspects of the review matrix. The review matrix contains clarity of prose and is error-free. The matrix is formatted correctly, provides correct APA citation for each source, and has a style suitable for academic work at the Masters level. 
  • Comprehension and analysis assesses the learner’s broad understanding of the ideas and ability to integrate the ideas into their work. You should demonstrate critical thinking and depth of analysis related to information behaviors of the community, nature of the writings, methods, analysis, and conclusions in the “They Say” section. You should exercise personal reflection and show perspective development through addressing implications in the “I Say” section.
  • Connections to course content and information science evaluates how you use INFO 200 materials and LIS theories as a framework for your ideas. You should clearly incorporate and cite foundational INFO 200 materials in the definition of your information community to support ideas and make connections. You should demonstrate the ability to support findings regarding the chosen information community with appropriate LIS models and theories.