The Graduate School of Business and the School of Marketing and Management (SoMM) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) joined forces to enhance the research skills of their students by organising a workshop titled “Effective Literature Review Writing.”

Held on 26th April 2024, the event saw active participation from both postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Dr Tee Poh Kiong (Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Business at APU) and Dr Song Bee Lian (Senior Lecturer, SoMM at APU) led the workshop, providing a comprehensive overview of writing literature reviews.

Comprehensive Coverage of Literature Review Writing

The workshop delved into the intricate process of conducting a critical literature review, covering key aspects such as:

1. Identifying relevant literature
2. Critically analysing sources
3. Categorising resources
4. Identifying gaps in current knowledge
5. Evaluating previous research outcomes
6. Writing coherent and impactful literature reviews

Insights from the Experts

Dr Tee emphasised the workshop’s role in providing a structured platform for students to gain insights into literature review writing.

“Students were taught to conduct comprehensive and thorough searches for relevant articles using reliable and reputable sources.

“Additionally, we provided a meticulously organised template to help students systematically integrate the details of their literature reviews into their research chapters, ensuring a seamless and cohesive presentation of their findings,” he said.

Echoing Dr Tee, Dr Song highlighted the practical skills imparted during the workshop.

“Students gained proficiency in connecting diverse ideas, synthesising complex content, and skillfully utilising evidence to construct compelling and critically analysed arguments rooted in existing literature.”

The Importance of Research Workshops

Dr Ryan Ho Ming Kang (Head of School and Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Business at APU) emphasised the workshop’s significance, particularly for students involved in research, ensuring their work maintains thoroughness, precision, and relevance.

Additionally, he announced a series of research workshops from April to October 2024, covering the following topics:

1. Research Designs and Methodologies
2. Quantitative Data Analysis
3. Ethical Research Practices

Student Perspectives

Takeshi Sumiya, a postgraduate student in the Master of Science in International Business Communications programme, underscored the workshop’s significance, stating that it was instrumental in enhancing his understanding of the literature review process, a crucial asset for his master’s project and future research publications.

Huangfu Huiyu, a postgraduate student in the Master of Science in Global Marketing Management programme, echoed Takeshi’s perspective, noting that the workshop offered a clear and structured approach to identifying gaps in existing literature, crucial for framing relevant and original research questions.

She expressed that acquiring the skill to identify empirical, theoretical, and methodological gaps has fundamentally reshaped her approach to writing literature reviews.

Moreover, she underscored the invaluable introduction to digital platforms such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO, which substantially bolstered her capacity to access and utilise academic papers, culminating in a more robust research skill set.