Literature Review Paper Assignment

Sociology 364: Urban Health

Hardcopy due Dec 9th 5pm, 2005, Also submit electronic copy to bberry@chass.utoronto.ca

A major theme in this class is how aspects of place influence the health of individuals living in those places.  Why are some places healthier than others?  Social scientists have suggested many reasons why some places are unhealthy independent of the people who live there.  However, evidence for how places matter is weak.  A major limitation of the social science literature on the impact of place on health is inadequate theoretical development.  Social epidemiologists, medical sociologists, and geographers have done a poor job outlying the various theoretical reasons for why places matter to health.

For this paper, I want you to write a literature review on the one of the mechanisms linking place to health.  Choose one of the several topics I outline at:

http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~bberry/Teaching/soc396/PaperTopics.htm   

Pick a mechanism linking physical and social structural aspects of places to health and health related outcomes.  I have sketched out each mechanism and have given a few references.  It is your job to flesh out each mechanism with a solid discussion and additional references.

The purpose of a review is to critically analyze a segment of a published body of knowledge through summary, classification, and comparison of prior research studies, reviews of literature, and theoretical articles.

In the Introduction

• Define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern, thus providing an appropriate context for reviewing the literature.
• Point out overall trends in what has been published about the topic; or conflicts in theory, methodology, evidence, and conclusions; or gaps in research and scholarship; or a single problem or new perspective of immediate interest.
• Establish the writer's reason (point of view) for reviewing the literature; explain the criteria to be used in analyzing and comparing literature and the organization of the review (sequence); and, when necessary, state why certain literature is or is not included (scope).

In the Body

• Group research studies and other types of literature (reviews, theoretical articles, case studies, etc.) according to common denominators such as qualitative versus quantitative approaches, conclusions of authors, specific purpose or objective, chronology, etc.
• Summarize individual studies or articles with as much or as little detail as each merits according to its comparative importance in the literature, remembering that space (length) denotes significance.
• Provide the reader with strong "umbrella" sentences at beginnings of paragraphs, "signposts" throughout, and brief "so what" summary sentences at intermediate points in the review to aid in understanding comparisons and analyses.

In the Conclusion

• Summarize major contributions of significant studies and articles to the body of knowledge under review, maintaining the focus established in the introduction.
• Evaluate the current "state of the art" for the body of knowledge reviewed, pointing out major methodological flaws or gaps in research, inconsistencies in theory and findings, and areas or issues pertinent to future study.
• Conclude by providing some insight into the relationship between the central topic of the literature review and a larger area of study (i.e. the links between aspects of places and health).

Format

• Double space and use 1-inch margins around the perimeter of each page.
• Keep print style and size reasonable (e.g., 12-point Times or similar size)
• Staple paper together (please do not submit a folder).
• Proof read your paper and correct all mistakes before turning it in.
• Visit office hours for feedback.  I will be happy to read drafts and make sure you’re headed in the right direction.

Other Considerations

A good review of literature is one in which the topic is narrowly defined. When writing the review the discussion of articles should be integrated and critical. Take changes when you critique the nature of the experimentation and discussions. You will become more proficient at this task as time passes. This is your paper! It is your chance to analyze and interpret literature and expound on ideas. You are expected to write a paper that is insightful and analytical.

I urge you to use the university's writing resources, described at:  www.utoronto.ca/writing

Please turn in your paper in both paper and electronic form (via email).

Grading Criteria and Sub-Criteria