I had these same feelings as I wrote this literature review. I am interested in the work of others, both practitioners and researchers. I do want to give credit to that work and how it informs my work. I am not sure why the traditional process of conversing with the field through a literature review felt so uncomfortable. (p. 13)
As discussed in the first chapter, research is one way to create knowledge. Research in practice builds on that approach to knowledge creation but also challenges thinking about what counts as knowledge. Whether or not you do a literature review may depend on what you want to research as well as what you already know about the topic and how you know it. Including a literature review may be important for some funders or publications.
In interviews about professional development, coordinators of literacy programs in Alberta said that they preferred face-to-face learning in order to network, interact and learn from each other (Norton, 2004). Conferences, workshops and meetings have been an important way for literacy practitioners to share and build knowledge. You might be able to tap into this knowledge to locate and inform your research. Here are some ways:
Field review. Have a look at topics that have been explored at conferences and workshops. What are people interested in? What are presenters saying about the topics? You might be able to access conference proceedings or other write-ups through provincial/territorial literacy coalition websites. (A field review, like a literature review, could be a research project in itself. To support your research project, focus is on situating your research in relation to how others are exploring the topic.)
Study groups. Can you meet with colleagues to talk about your topic? Share what you are thinking and ask for their perspectives.
Online discussion groups and forums. There are a number of online discussion groups about topics in adult literacy. Joining such a group is one way to immerse yourself in a topic. You could also post your thoughts on the topic for response. Check with respondents about whether you can quote them or refer to their responses in your research, and if so, how they would like to be credited.
The National Adult Literacy Database links to a number of online literacy discussion groups in Canada and the United States. Go to the following address for details about how to join: http://www.nald.ca/info/dgroup/dgroup.htm