How to write a literature review
How to write a literature review
Definition of Literature Review
The structure of a literature review can vary across different disciplines and assignments. It can serve as a standalone piece or as an introductory section providing a rationale for conducting primary research. In grant and research proposals, as well as theses and dissertations, a literature review is a mandatory component.
The primary purpose of a literature review is to critically analyze a specific segment of existing knowledge by summarizing, categorizing, and comparing prior research studies, literature reviews, and theoretical articles.
Introduction to Writing a Literature Review
In the introduction of a literature review, you should:
– Clearly define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern to provide the appropriate context for reviewing the literature.
– Highlight overall trends in the existing literature on the topic, conflicts in theories, methodologies, evidence, and conclusions, gaps in research and scholarship, or a particular problem or fresh perspective of immediate interest.
– Establish the writer’s purpose or point of view for conducting the literature review and explain the criteria used for analyzing and comparing literature, as well as the organizational structure of the review. If necessary, state the reasons for including or excluding specific literature.
Writing the Body of the Literature Review
In the body of the literature review, you should:
– Group research studies and other types of literature based on common characteristics, such as qualitative versus quantitative approaches, authors’ conclusions, specific objectives, chronology, etc.
– Summarize individual studies or articles with varying levels of detail, based on their significance in the literature, considering that length reflects importance.
– Utilize strong “umbrella” sentences at the beginning of paragraphs, “signposts” throughout, and concise “so what” summary sentences at intermediate points to facilitate comprehension of comparisons and analyses.
Concluding a Literature Review
In the conclusion of the literature review, you should:
– Summarize the major contributions of significant studies and articles to the body of knowledge under review while maintaining focus on the introduction’s established context.
– Evaluate the current state of the reviewed body of knowledge, highlighting methodological flaws or research gaps, inconsistencies in theories and findings, and areas or issues relevant to future study.
– Conclude by offering insights into the relationship between the central topic of the literature review and a broader area of study, such as a specific discipline, scientific endeavor, or profession.
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