This study introduces a method that uses a network approach towards literature review. To employ this approach, we use hypotheses proposed in scientific publications as building blocks. In network terms, a hypothesis is a directed tie between two concepts or nodes. The network emerges by aggregating the hypotheses from a set of articles in a specific domain. This study explains the method and its potential for reviewing literature in a particular domain. As a proof of concept, we provide a case study reviewing the research literature on the adoption of eGovernment services. Our analyses show that a network approach towards literature review provides novel insights into the current state of a research domain. Although there are limitations, this approach has the potential to help scholarly communities focus their research and formulate new research questions. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
CITATION STYLE
Van De Wijngaert, L., Bouwman, H., & Contractor, N. (2014). A network approach toward literature review. Quality and Quantity, 48(2), 623–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-012-9791-3
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