Published on February 22, 2019 by Shona McCombes. Revised on September 14, 2022. What is a literature review? A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a
specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research. There are five key steps to writing a literature review: A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources—it analyzes, synthesizes, and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject. When you write a
thesis, dissertation, or research paper, you will likely have to conduct a literature review to situate your research within existing knowledge. The literature review gives you a chance to: Writing literature reviews is a particularly important skill if you want to apply for graduate school or pursue a career in research. We’ve written a step-by-step guide that you can follow below. Examples of literature reviewsWriting literature reviews can be quite challenging! A good starting point could be to look at some examples, depending on what kind of literature review you’d like to write.
You can also check out our templates with literature review examples and sample outlines at the links below. Download Word doc Download Google doc Step 1 – Search for relevant literatureBefore you begin searching for literature, you need a clearly defined topic. If you are writing the literature review section of a dissertation or research paper, you will search for literature related to your research problem and questions. Literature review research question exampleWhat is the impact of social media on body image among Generation Z?Make a list of keywordsStart by creating a list of keywords related to your research question. Include each of the key concepts or variables you’re interested in, and list any synonyms and related terms. You can add to this list as you discover new keywords in the process of your literature search. Keywords example
Search for relevant sourcesUse your keywords to begin searching for sources. Some useful databases to search for journals and articles include:
You can also use boolean operators to help narrow down your search. Make sure to read the abstract to find out whether an article is relevant to your question. When you find a useful book or article, you can check the bibliography to find other relevant sources. Step 2 – Evaluate and select sourcesYou likely won’t be able to read absolutely everything that has been written on your topic, so it will be necessary to evaluate which sources are most relevant to your research question. For each publication, ask yourself:
Make sure the sources you use are credible, and make sure you read any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research. You can use our template to summarize and evaluate sources you’re thinking about using. Click on either button below to download. Download Word docDownload Google doc Take notes and cite your sourcesAs you read, you should also begin the writing process. Take notes that you can later incorporate into the text of your literature review. It is important to keep track of your sources with citations to avoid plagiarism. It can be helpful to make an annotated bibliography, where you compile full citation information and write a paragraph of summary and analysis for each source. This helps you remember what you read and saves time later in the process. TipYou can use Scribbr’s free APA citation generator or MLA citation generator to quickly create correct and consistent citations. Want to check your literature review for plagiarism? Try Scribbr’s Plagiarism Checker for students.Step 3 – Identify themes, debates, and gapsTo begin organizing your literature review’s argument and structure, be sure you understand the connections and relationships between the sources you’ve read. Based on your reading and notes, you can look for:
This step will help you work out the structure of your literature review and (if applicable) show how your own research will contribute to existing knowledge. Example of trends and gapsIn reviewing the literature on social media and body image, you note that:
Step 4 – Outline your literature review’s structureThere are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature review. Depending on the length of your literature review, you can combine several of these strategies (for example, your overall structure might be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically). ChronologicalThe simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time. However, if you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order. Try to analyze patterns, turning points and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred. ThematicIf you have found some recurring central themes, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic. For example, if you are reviewing literature about inequalities in migrant health outcomes, key themes might include healthcare policy, language barriers, cultural attitudes, legal status, and economic access. MethodologicalIf you draw your sources from different disciplines or fields that use a variety of research methods, you might want to compare the results and conclusions that emerge from different approaches. For example:
TheoreticalA literature review is often the foundation for a theoretical framework. You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts. You might argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach, or combine various theoretical concepts to create a framework for your research. TipMake sure to check out our examples of literature reviews for each typeStep 5 – Write your literature reviewLike any other academic text, your literature review should have an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. What you include in each depends on the objective of your literature review. IntroductionThe introduction should clearly establish the focus and purpose of the literature review. Tip If you are writing the literature review as part of your dissertation or thesis, reiterate your central problem or research question and give a brief summary of the scholarly context. You can emphasize the timeliness of the topic (“many recent studies have focused on the problem of x”) or highlight a gap in the literature (“while there has been much research on x, few researchers have taken y into consideration”).BodyDepending on the length of your literature review, you might want to divide the body into subsections. You can use a subheading for each theme, time period, or methodological approach. As you write, you can follow these tips:
ConclusionIn the conclusion, you should summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance. TipBe sure to show how your research addresses gaps and contributes new knowledge, or discuss how you have drawn on existing theories and methods to build a framework for your research.When you’ve finished writing and revising your literature review, don’t forget to proofread thoroughly before submitting. Not a language expert? Check out Scribbr’s professional proofreading services! Free lecture slidesThis article has been adapted into lecture slides that you can use to teach your students about writing a literature review. Scribbr slides are free to use, customize, and distribute for educational purposes. Open Google Slides Download PowerPoint Frequently asked questionsWhat is the purpose of a literature review? There are several reasons to conduct a literature review at the beginning of a research project:
Writing the literature review shows your reader how your work relates to existing research and what new insights it will contribute. Cite this Scribbr articleIf you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Is this article helpful?You have already voted. Thanks :-) Your vote is saved :-) Processing your vote... What are the main sources you should use for your research quizlet?What are the main sources you should use for your research? Scholarly publications and sources by authoritative authors and leading professionals.
What research purpose is best suited for qualitative research studies?Using quantitative analysis works better if you want to confirm or test something (a theory or hypothesis) Using qualitative research works better if you wish to understand something (concepts, thoughts, experiences)
In what section of a research study would you find the study's results compared with results found in other published studies?The results section is where you report the findings of your study based upon the methodology [or methodologies] you applied to gather information. The results section should state the findings of the research arranged in a logical sequence without bias or interpretation.
During what step of the research process do researchers consider the limitations of their studies?2. The final research report where a discussion of findings and limitations is presented is the easiest part for a researcher.
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