STAGE 1! Part 1-Literature Review Reflection

Introduction

During my final year at Nottingham Trent University, we were tasked with a research based report surrounding current trends; using InDesign to visualise the insights found and the report as a whole. The foundation of the report was the topic of sustainability within mass market fashion; uncovering why Gen-Z do not utilise the sustainable options within the market whilst being the leading generation for sustainable freedom. During this section of the blog, I will be covering the following aspects of my report:

- Literature review

- Methodology

- InDesign

Literature review

Description

For my research report, I had to cover the following requirements; a literature review, methodology and research findings. The literature review shaped the methodology, as gaps in knowledge were found and it was prerequisite that these gaps needed investigating. The findings from the methodology were then used to uncover key insights from the consumer, and how the future of sustainability in fast fashion could potentially move forward; further giving ideas for my Stage 2 report. For the literature review, the following topics were investigated; sustainability within fast fashion, Gen-Z and overconsumption, The Attitude Behaviour Gap and Knowledge distribution. I used peer reviewed articles, books and data trend websites to understand different sectors in the sustainable market, and what influences Gen-Z to overconsume. From this, it was indicated that an increase of knowledge surrounding sustainability was causing a barrier for Gen-Z to create responsible purchasing decisions.

To enhance my critical writing skills from Future Thinking, I delved deep into the authors that I was referring to, read multiple articles around one topic and looked into opposing views from ones that I had found. This allowed me to look at two sides of one opinion, and allowed me to form my own gaps in knowledge and further aided me to shape where I needed to look further in to for my methodology.

Feelings

From my Future Thinking report, I knew that whilst my written work was coherent, I needed to develop my critical analysis to make my writing more interesting for the reader and to find contemporary information. Therefore, I was feeling slightly apprehensive that I was going to struggle with the critical analysis, however I had the reassurance that my writing skills itself are strong. Therefore I began to feel more self-confident that I could develop my critical skills if I worked hard for it.

Evaluation

What I felt was positive from being more critical in my reading, was that it gave me clear indicators of where my research needed to be positioned; further making me more confident in what was needed from my methodology. It was clear to me that I had developed my skills in comparison to Future Thinking, as I my feedback showed that I was more factual than inquisitive, therefore I was assertive that through reading deeper into the topics I was being more critical in my work.

What I could have developed in my literature review was interweaving the theory of the attitude behaviour gap. This would have strengthened my literature review and ensured that my critical analysis was relevant to what I was researching. This would have also challenged the theory that stands and further shown my critical enquiry of existing knowledge.

Analysis

From the situation I can gather the idea that whilst my critical enquiry has been developed significantly, I still need to improve on incorporating theory to continue to challenge knowledge, as this limited how interesting the written work was.

Conclusion

To conclude, it was an overall positive experience, as I worked hard and overcame obstacles to ensure I could find clear gaps in knowledge, and evidently improved my analysis skills, as I managed to get a 2.1.. However, I understand that I need to continue to challenge the existing knowledge and further intertwine theory to certify that my work is intriguing to the reader and to demonstrate outstanding knowledge of the topic.

Action Plan

For future reports, I will continue to develop my critical analysis skills through looking at potential bias in literature and use theory to challenge or advocate the information. Giving an equal sided opinion of the topics investigated. In addition to this, I will read at least 2 pieces of literature a day to enhance my comprehension of how academic writing is discussed and planned out, which will then reflect on how my future reports are written.

Treat of the Week: Reese's cups and Diet Coke