Abstract:

The main aim of an MSc is to train professionals or researchers through giving more focused skills and knowledge in a specific field. Whatever the motivation is professional or research, it is mandatory for scholars, in both braches, to develop a final dissertation in terms of a Professional Application or Research Work to solve a specific problem. In the meantime, it is very common to carry out small dissertations in each of the subjects studied in the MSc. Besides this, another motivation among the MSc students is led to continue with doctoral studies and become PhD students.
In any dissertation, the literature review is the initial phase and involves a common and key section. Due to its importance, the literature review process needs to have a higher dedication during the MSc studies. Therefore, tutors are required to introduce this relevant topic, from the beginning, in order to methodology the MSc students when performing both, the work assignments along the course and the subsequent final dissertation necessary for obtaining the certificate. However, MSc students present their constraints conducting the literature review when starting a research work, due to they are not fully aware of the importance that this section has within the research work.

In the light of the aforementioned, this paper is focused on giving a simple but complete methodology to train students on how to carry out a systematic literature review, regardless of the field of study, with the main aim to be applied to the final dissertation and further research works, such as the PhD thesis. The systematic literature review methodology also provides a guide to practice the process of review from the initial phases to more complex and sophisticated stages; improving the time efficiency while obtaining higher quality results.

The provided systematic literature review methodology is based on the work developed by Medina-López et al. (2010), and consist of six phases:
(i) identifying the research area and the period of study,
(ii) selecting the information sources,
(iii) carrying out the research,
(iv) managing and treating the results through building a personalised database,
(v) analysing the results through filling a bibliographical form in which there are identified the Title, Authors, Source, Year, Research Issues, Research Approach, Relevant Research Results and Research Considerations (Benefits, Drawbacks, Future Research Lines), and
(vi) writing the interesting features of the literature reviewed in a synthesis.

The sixth phase is characterized by integrating the ideas that were previously dispersed and turn them into a coherent text, clarifying concepts, introducing new ones into the subject and giving a personal perspective. Finally the gaps in the area under study are to be identified in order to fill them and provide original contributions.
Finally, a practical perspective is shown through examples, giving the readers a clear insight as regards the essential steps that MSc students have to follow in the development of a systematic literature review.

References:
[1] Medina-López, C., Marín-García, J.A., Alfalla-Luque, R. (2010) Una propuesta metodológica para la realización de Búsquedas sistemáticas de bibliografía. (A methodological proposal for the systematic literature review). Working Papers on Operations Management Vol 1, Nº 2 (13-30)

Keywords:

Systematic Literature Review, MSc, dissertation, research work.