Like a mosquito who found the aorta...

...what better way to describe the mixed blessing of finding a comprehensive literature review during PhD research? I am referring here to Linda Cannell's "A Review of Literature on Distance Education", Theological Education 36(1), 1999: 1-72. Yes, 72 pages. Cannell's work is a very comprehensive literature review that, while incredibly rich, is also incredibly full.Summarising and incorporating this into my own literature review (still working on the Christian education and DE/e-learning component) is proving quite a challenge. After an investment of about five hours solid I am only half way through - and I have not yet started adding the already five pages(!) of typed notes to my initial draft.

But I'm learning so much. Another potential research question has started to form, and I am feeling far more confident about my ability to complete this section of the literature review. then there are three additional elements to the completed literature review, and, of course, the necessity of revising everything once I get supervisor feedback.

Just as well I'm loving the learning.