Literature review and research findings in social and management sciences: A study of selected undergraduate projects in the university of Abuja 2008/2009 Session

Literature review and research findings are two of the important elements in every social research report. The literature review enables the researcher to showcase past efforts on the current research and how the current research differs from the past. Research findings on the other hand are the outcome of the researcher's efforts in providing solutions to research problem(s). This paper examines the two sections as a continuum activity in social research with a view to identifying the logical and philosophical connections between them. The paper utilized secondary data in its investigation, and content analysis in data analysis. The paper argues that, an open-minded, and comprehensive but relevant literature review would show the researcher the essential variables which must be observed in the resolution of research problems. Besides, it also enriches the ability of the researcher in providing systematic and coherent interpretation of research findings. Undergraduates projects were randomly selected from Departments in the faculties of Management, and Social Sciences of the University of Abuja. While a few of undergraduates projects examined demonstrated genuine efforts in the literature review, in most cases the research findings are not connected with issues generated in the review. It is recommended among others that research lecturers and supervisors should bring the attention of their students to the nexus between these two independent, but interrelated aspect of social research report.