Literature Reviews: The Basics
- DEFINITIONS -
THE LITERATURE
"The literature" is the body of published scholarship and research in a particular field or discipline. What is "The Literature"? (3 minute, 26 second video).
LITERATURE REVIEW
A "literature review" (generic term) brings together scholarship and research relating to a research question or thesis statement in order to identify and highlight major theories, trends, practices, possible gaps, etc.
These sources are then critically examined for how they contribute to the understanding of the research question or thesis statement both individually and collectively. Conducting a literature review is usually a first step towards an original research project.
Literature reviews may be standalone publications or the introductory section of an original research article, a master's thesis, or a doctoral dissertation. See the examples below.
- STANDALONE LITERATURE REVIEWS -
Standalone literature reviews are frequently published either as a prelude to, or a call for, original research. And sometimes professors will give assignments to create a standalone literature review.
- Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence: A Literature Review of Empirical ResearchA scholarly journal article. Only examines other peoples' original research.
- The Effects of Assistance Dogs on Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing: A Systematic Literature ReviewA scholarly journal article. Only examines other peoples' original research.
- The Relationship Between Hearing Impairment and Cognitive Function: A Meta-analysis in AdultsA scholarly journal article. Only examines other peoples' original research.
- INTRODUCTORY LITERATURE REVIEWS -
See the sections highlighted in orange.
If you are working on a master's thesis or a doctoral dissertation, you will need to conduct a literature review that will serve as an introduction to your research. If you are working on some original research you hope to publish in a scholarly journal, you may need one as well.
- LGBTQ+ People’s Mental Health and Pets: Novel Strategies of Coping and ResilienceA scholarly journal article. Original research done by the author(s).
- Reading Aloud: A Psychophysiological Investigation in ChildrenA scholarly journal article. Original research done by the author(s).
- Mental Health Implications of Human Attachment to Companion AnimalsA scholarly journal article. Original research done by the author(s).
Download the documents then see the indicated literature review pages.
- Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and ArtThesis for Master of Arts in History at CSUSB. Original research.
The literature review is on pages 9-13. - The Academic Library and Social Justice: A Q-Study of Librarian AttitudesDissertation for Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at CSUSB. Original research.
The literature review is on pages 10-29.
COMMON FEATURES OF LITERATURE REVIEWS
- COMMON FEATURES OF LITERATURE REVIEWS -
INTRODUCTION
- What is the research question or thesis?
METHODOLOGY
- How were sources located and chosen?
BODY
The sources may be arranged in one of these ways:
- Chronologically - development over time
- Thematically - recurring central theses
- Methodologically - grouped by how the research was done, for example, quantitative, qualitative, etc.
- Theoretically - a single common theory or multiple theories
There's an overview for each source along with its strengths and weaknesses and significance to the primary research question or thesis statement.
CONCLUSION
A summary of the main findings from all of the sources and a discussion of their significance to the research question or thesis statement.
- MORE DETAILED INFORMATION -
- The Literature Review: A Few Tips on Conducting ItAn excellent guide to planning a literature review.
From the University of Toronto.
- Writing a Literature Review"A literature review is a document or section of a document that collects key sources on a topic and discusses those sources in conversation with each other (also called synthesis)."
- How to Write a Literature Review"Literature reviews are a vital part of a research project or paper, and they are particularly important during graduate school. This handout will focus on defining what a literature review is, how to organize and synthesize information, and what the different parts of a literature review are."
- Lesser Politicized Cost-Controlling Measures of the Affordable Care ActA sample literature review in APA style.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY VS. LITERATURE REVIEW
- ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY -
An annotated bibliography is a list of sources on a topic (bibliography) where a brief summary (annotation) is written for each item. The annotation may be either evaluative (for example, is this a useful source or not) or neutral.
- LITERATURE REVIEW -
A literature review goes beyond an annotated bibliography. The sources in a literature review are chosen for, and evaluated on, their importance to a research question or thesis statement, both individually and collectively.
The format is different too. Where an annotated bibliography is usually a list, a literature review is a narrative, written in paragraphs. Take a look at some of the linked examples in this guide. There are more on the next page.
SEARCHING FOR LITERATURE REVIEWS
- SEARCH STRATEGY -
Fortunately, published literature reviews usually have the phrase "literature review" in their titles. So a keyword search strategy in any of our databases would look like these examples:
- "literature review" memory aging
- "literature review" vaping
- "literature review" teaching english
