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Literature Review: Developing the Literature Review

Understanding a literature review, Criteria for writing a Literature Review, Sources, Development of Literature Review

Give Yourself Time

Whether you are writing a literature review as part of a larger research paper or as a stand-alone product, you need to give yourself time to do the work.  Like any research project, a literature review follows the same research process:

  1. Developing the research question want to answer
  2. Locating Information
  3. Evaluating and analyzing information
  4. Writing, organizing, and communicating information
  5. Citing sources

 

Questions to Ask

Ask yourself the following as you develop your review:

  • What is known about the subject?
  • Are there any gaps in the knowledge of the subject?
  • Have areas of further study been identified by other researchers that you may want to consider?
  • Who are the significant research personalities in this area?
  • Is there consensus about the topic?
  • What aspects have generated significant debate on the topic?
  • What methods or problems were identified by others studying in the field and how might they impact your research?
  • What is the most productive methodology for your research based on the literature you have reviewed?
  • What is the current status of research in this area?
  • What sources of information or data were identified that might be useful to you?
  • How detailed? Will it be a review of ALL relevant material or will the scope be limited to more recent material, e.g., the last five years.
  • Are you focusing on methodological approaches; on theoretical issues; on qualitative or quantitative research?

Planning Your Review by University of Pittsburgh - Library System

Selecting Your Literature

  • Have you clearly indicated the scope and purpose of the review?
  • Have you found balanced coverage of research that is available?
  • Have you included the most recent and relevant studies?
  • Have you included enough material to show the development and limitations in this area?
  • Have you indicated the source of the literature by referencing accurately?
  • Have you used mostly primary sources or appropriate secondary sources?

 

Critiquing the Sources

  • Have you clearly (and logically) ordered and sorted the research, focusing on themes or ideas?
  • Does the review move from broader concepts to a more specific focus?
  • Have you considered a critique including research limitations of design and methodology?
  • Are the studies compared and contrasted with controversies highlighted?
  • Is the relevance to your problem clear?

 

Overall Summary

  • Have you made an overall interpretation of what is available?
  • Do the implications provide theoretical of empirical justification for your own research questions/hypothesis?
  • Do the implications provide a rationale for your own research design?