Reviewing the Literature: Synthesis and Evaluation

By Wednesday: Construct a Venn diagram that illustrates the three subtopics you will use in your assignment for this unit: work-life balance, online learning, and the subtopic you have selected based on your specialization or area of interest. Describe how you chose the subtopic in your specialization or area of interest, including references to articles from your search that support your choice.
In your Venn diagram, for each subtopic include references for:
Theory.
Seminal or foundational work.
Recent research.Briefly discuss the similarities and differences in the philosophic orientation and methodological approaches between the foundational or seminal articles and more recent literature in each subtopic area.

Assignment Instructions

• Describe the topic area of work-life balance, online learning, and your specialization you selected for this assignment.
• Identify the key search words you used in your search, including those that were rejected or nonproductive and those that yielded the best results. Evaluate the results from the keywords as they relate to the topic of your search.
• Develop an annotated bibliography of selected articles that emerged from the results of your search and from the discussions in Units 2, 3, 4, and 5. The annotated bibliography should be included in your assignment as an appendix.
• Discuss the theories, seminal works, and recent research that emerged from the results of your search and from the discussions in Units 2, 3, 4, and 5. Include in this section:
  • An outline of a recent literature review article from a peer-reviewed journal.
  • A description (including the theoretical constructs) of two or three theories relevant to your topic.
  • A description of the relevant seminal works.
  • An analysis of the predominate methodology (exploratory/qualitative or theory testing/quantitative) of the most recent research on your topic.
  • An evaluation of the direction and methodology (quantitative or qualitative) of future research on the topic.
• Summarize your understanding of the existing literature on work-life balance and online learning, including:
  • How your understanding of the relevant theory and state of knowledge on your topic has changed since you began your review of the relevant literature.
  • A possible gap in existing knowledge that emerged for which a research study might make a substantive contribution to the existing knowledge.
• Reflect on the lessons learned in conducting this review of the literature, and include:
  • A description of the processes and procedures of the literature search and literature review that enhanced your understanding of the structure of scholarly literature.
  • A description of how your understanding of the role of theory, the foundation of seminal work, and the analysis of data-based research has contributed to your development as a PhD researcher.
  • Credits to specific fellow learners whose contributions from course discussions pointed you in a direction you had not considered or gave you an insight or an “aha moment” that clarified an important step you have now incorporated into this assignment. 

reply to at least two fellow learners with a question about their posts that would clarify their selection.

reply to each learner whose contribution you plan to use

1

Discussion Post |

This week, the three sub topics I have chosen to highlight for my unit 5 assignment are

• work life balance
• online learning
• and role theory.

My subtopic selection e.g. role theory was inspired from work I read in a dissertation by Wendy Finlay – Work-life Balance in Women Entrepreneurs – which focused on the investigation of work-life balance in female entrepreneurs. By exploring real world experiences of self employed women, the author developed a theoretical framework “based off Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, work-life conflict and work-life integration, role stress and role expansion theory” (Finlay, 2008) that I align with from my own personal experience as a woman who works full time while also being an online graduate student.

I view Finlay’s relatively recent body of work as useful for developing a new theoretical framework for research on work-life balance / online learning because it directly encapsulates key inputs that constitute human need, role strain, and learning challenges (across women and men alike).

Given seminal works such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs are key inputs feeding more recent (role theory) research such as Finlay’s 2008 dissertation, the aforementioned displays many philosophic similarities. This seminal input can be used to understand variate needs people have, and how said needs affect work-life balance and online learning in accordance with the roles people play in society. Role stress and role expansion theory can be used to understand the mechanisms in which people cope with the demands of multiple roles and how said coping strategies can affect work-life balance. Work-life conflict & integration can be used to understand the different ways in which work and personal life can conflict, and how these conflicts can be managed. 

2

I chose the subtopic of Mental Wellness and paired it with work life balance and online learning. The subtopic of mental wellness aligns with the current research topic of work life balance as learning to balance the work environment and home environment almost always comes with conflict, not all the time but at some point, during the journey conflict arises and thus causing some kind of impact on wellness. As outlined in the International Journal of Social Sciences, work life balance is a challenging issue for every women manager, which touches almost every aspect of her life, including her career, family, and health (Begum and Osmany, 2019).

While researching the subtopics, the consistent concept that was aligned in multiple pieces of the research was social learning. The concept of social learning is the theory that individuals learn from each other and tend to change their behaviors based on the behaviors of others around them. This includes both the work environment as well as the home environment. The research focused on senior level management and their behavior surrounding work, life, and the balance between the two components. The research of the dissertation focused on the ability of each individual surrounding each other in work and life can change the behavior of each individual (Green, 2010).

The similarities in the logical orientation and working approaches deals with the understanding and need for balanced work and life environments. Each research tends to take an approach on how to balance each area. The differences are around the view point of the researcher and the approach to handle each subtopic. 

Unit 4 Discussion 1

THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL FOUNDATIONS

Bucea-Manea-oni? et al. (2020) investigate the exciting intersection of sustainability, work-life balance, and technological advances in higher education. The study examines how the incorporation of immersive technology in courses of study may affect the balance between job duties and private well-being through the lens using Extended Reality (XR) e-learning capabilities. By studying this link, the article adds a forward-thinking dimension to the work-life balance debate, providing insight into the possible role of XR technologies in developing more sustainable learning environments.

The importance of this work as a fundamental or seminal source stems from its amazing integration of several themes. The article integrates many disciplines and presents an integrated viewpoint by integrating the domains of long-term viability technology, and balance between work and life within the framework of higher education. If the authors provide an in-depth investigation of the potentially transformative effects of XR e-learning facilities, this might be an innovative idea that affects the course of education, particularly as technologies that are immersive gain significance. Furthermore, the study’s interdisciplinary approach allows for the cross-contamination of thoughts and cooperation between disparate sectors, encouraging a more thorough knowledge of the subtle processes at work.

The article’s impact on following studies and intellectual conversations is equally significant as an eventual seminal work. If it has received numerous citations and acknowledgment within the field of academia, it suggests that the study is successful in generating interest and directing more research into the complex relationship among technology, balancing work and life, and environmental sustainability in educational institutions. This article could be a catalyst for creative pedagogical practices that prioritize both effective learning and the emotional health of stakeholders, reverberating deeply with the changing environment of higher learning in the digital age.

Unit 3 Discussion 1

Berry and Hughes (2020) investigate how adult students participating in online learning manage their personal and professional lives in the context of continuous connectivity supported by information and communication technologies (ICTs). The study goes into the experiences and obstacles that adult learners confront when they balance the responsibilities of employment, home life, and school while staying connected via ICTs. The authors stress the need of understanding the difficulties of work-life balance in the digital age, particularly for adult learners who regularly juggle many commitments. The hypothesis proposes that in the setting of online learning if students regard their distance learning experience as a beneficial resource that improves their overall health, this positive perception can flow over into their job and personal life. Similarly, if they have the means to efficiently manage their job and home duties, they may participate in their online educational experiences actively and positively.

The article discusses how the blurring of borders between work, personal life, and education as a consequence of online learning and ICTs might affect the health of individuals, stress levels, and capacity to manage their time and obligations effectively. Because of its emphasis on the interaction of educational institutions, technology, and personal life, this paper could provide a beneficial theoretical foundation for study on work-life balance and online education. When online education and constant connectivity are combined, the meaning of balance between work and life becomes even more complicated. The hypothesis stated in this article can assist researchers in investigating how learners online adapt to the demands of their academics, work, and private lives in a situation where they are electronically connected at all times.

Unit 2

Bjärntoft, S., Hallman, D. M., Mathiassen, S. E., Larsson, J., & Jahncke, H. (2020). Occupational and individual determinants of work-life balance among office workers with flexible work arrangements. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(4), 1418.

The Topic of the Literature Review Article

The literature review article “Occupational and Individual Determinants of Work-Life Balance Among Office Workers with Flexible Work Arrangements” investigates the factors affecting work-life balance (WLB) among some office workers who work with flexible work schedules. The study aims to pinpoint the specific labor-related behaviours and organizational, leadership, and psychological traits linked to work-life balance. It also looks into how office workers’ views on workplace flexibility interact with these other elements to affect their ability to manage work and private obligations.

The Author’s Strategy for Selecting Works

The authors used a systematic literature review methodology to identify relevant research on flexible work schedules, work-life balance, and the factors affecting WLB among office workers. They might have searched peer-reviewed articles published within a particular time frame that meet the research objectives of their study using academic search engines and other reliable sources. The writers ensured a thorough and impartial selection of appropriate publications through a systematic methodology for their assessment.

Organization of the Presentation of the Works Reviewed:

The factors influencing work-life balance for employees in workplaces with flexible schedules were analyzed thematically by the study’s authors to organize their discussion of the literature under review. They examined individual work-related behaviours and organizational, leadership, and psychosocial workplace aspects. Additionally, they looked at how these traits impact the harmony among work and personal life and how reported workplace flexibility influences it.

Author-Identified Limitations, Implications, and Recommendations

Limitation

The limitation is that the study sample was limited to one government agency in Sweden, which might have limited its ability to be generalized to other organizations or nations. Although attempts were made to minimize common-method variation, biases may be created by self-reported data and a single-item work-life balance measure. The longitudinal methodology makes it difficult to establish connections between variables, and the combined impacts of several factors were not examined, emphasizing the need for longer-term studies that are more comprehensive.

Implication

Despite its shortcomings, the report provides valuable advice for businesses that employ flexible work policies. The importance of perceived flexibility in future studies is highlighted by its function in modifying relationships between parameters and work-life balance. Creating efficient policies and actions to enhance employees’ wellbeing and productivity can be influenced by understanding the factors that affect work-life balance.

Recommendation

Organizations ought to implement precise requirements and guidelines for flexible work, foster an environment that encourages work-life balance, and set standards for availability outside of working hours to promote work-life balance among workers who use flexible work arrangements. Effective leadership practices, especially relational ones, ought to be enabled. Additionally, managing boundaries and minimizing overcommitment and overtime work may be the focus of individual-level treatments. In constantly growing adaptable work surroundings, integrating tactics at various organizational levels could result in beneficial outcomes for balancing work and life.