What is a Literature Review? | Guide, Template, & Examples

A literature review is an essential part of any research project. It is a critical analysis of published literature on a particular topic or research question. A literature review is important because it helps to identify gaps in current research, establish the context for a research project, demonstrate familiarity with a research field, and provide a basis for comparison with new research findings.

This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how to conduct an online dissertation proposal and literature review, including steps to follow, a template to use, and examples to learn from. Whether you are a student conducting research for a paper or a professional conducting research for a project, this guide will provide you with the tools you need to conduct a thorough literature review.

What is a Literature Review?

A literature review is a comprehensive analysis and synthesis of published research literature on a particular topic. The purpose of a literature review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge on a topic, identify gaps in current research, and provide a foundation for new research.

There are two main types of literature reviews:

Narrative literature review: This type of review provides a comprehensive summary of the literature on a topic. It does not follow a specific methodology or set of guidelines, and it may not include a statistical analysis of the literature.

Systematic literature review: This type of review follows a rigorous methodology to identify, analyze, and synthesize all relevant literature on a topic. It includes a detailed search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a statistical analysis of the data.

Steps to conduct a literature review:

• Define the research question or topic
• Develop a search strategy to identify relevant literature
• Conduct a comprehensive search of relevant databases and sources
• Screen the literature based on inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Extract data from the selected studies
• Analyze and synthesize the data
• Write the literature review, including an introduction, methods, results, and discussion
• Revise and edit the review to ensure accuracy and clarity

Why Conduct a Literature Review?

There are several important reasons to conduct a literature review:

• Identify gaps in current research

  A literature review helps identify areas where research is lacking or where additional research is needed. By analyzing and synthesizing the existing literature, researchers can identify gaps in knowledge and potential areas for further investigation.

• Establish the context for a research project

  A literature review provides a foundation for a research project by establishing the current state of knowledge on a topic. This helps researchers understand the context in which their research will be conducted and ensures that their work builds on existing research.

• Demonstrate familiarity with a research field

  Conducting a literature review demonstrates that researchers are familiar with the current state of knowledge in their field. This is important for establishing credibility with peers and for demonstrating that a research project is grounded in existing knowledge.

• Provide a basis for comparison with new research findings

  A literature review provides a benchmark against which new research findings can be compared. This helps researchers evaluate the novelty and significance of their findings and identify potential implications for future research.

• Identify potential research methodologies

  A literature review can help researchers identify the most appropriate research methodologies for their study. By examining how other researchers have approached similar topics, they can determine the most effective methods to use for their own research.

• Evaluate the credibility of sources

  Conducting a literature review allows researchers to evaluate the credibility and reliability of their sources. They can assess the quality of the research conducted and the validity of the conclusions drawn by other researchers.

• Identify research gaps and opportunities

  Through a literature review, researchers can identify gaps in the current research and determine areas that need further investigation. They can also identify opportunities to build upon existing research and contribute new knowledge to the field.

• Enhance the quality of research

  A literature review ensures that researchers are aware of the current state of research on their topic. This knowledge allows them to conduct more informed and higher-quality research that builds upon existing knowledge and fills in gaps in the literature.

• Avoid research duplication

  Conducting a literature review ensures that researchers are aware of existing research and do not duplicate research that has already been done. This can save time and resources and prevent researchers from drawing conclusions that have already been established in the literature.

  Overall, conducting a literature review is an essential step in any research project. It allows researchers to build upon existing knowledge, identify gaps in the literature, and ensure the credibility and reliability of their sources.

Guide for Conducting a Literature Review

Conducting a literature review can be a daunting task, but following a structured approach can help ensure a thorough and effective review. Here is a guide for conducting a literature review:

• Identify the research question or topic

  The first step in conducting a literature review is to clearly define the research question or topic. This helps ensure that the review is focused and relevant.

• Develop a search strategy

  Once the research question or topic is identified, the next step is to develop a search strategy or look for write my dissertation (if you want to). This includes determining which databases and search terms to use, as well as any inclusion or exclusion criteria.

• Conduct a comprehensive search for literature

  Using the search strategy developed in step two, conduct a thorough search for relevant literature. This may involve searching multiple databases and reviewing reference lists of relevant articles.

• Evaluate and analyze the literature

  Once relevant literature is identified, it must be evaluated and analyzed for quality and relevance to the research question or online research proposal topic. This includes critically reviewing each article and determining its strengths and weaknesses.

• Synthesize the literature and draw conclusions

  After evaluating and analyzing the literature, synthesize the findings to draw conclusions. This involves identifying common themes and trends across the literature and discussing their implications for the research question or topic.

• Write the literature review

  The final step is to write the literature review. This should include an introduction that provides context for the research question or topic, a summary of the literature reviewed, a discussion of the findings and their implications, and a conclusion that summarizes the key points and identifies potential areas for further research.

Literature Review Template

• Introduction

  Briefly introduce the topic and purpose of the literature review

  State the research question or objective

  Provide an overview of the structure of the literature review

• Background and context

  Provide a brief overview of the research area and its importance

  Describe the scope and boundaries of the literature review

  Provide relevant background information and context for the research question

• Literature review proper

  Organize the literature review by themes, concepts, or theories related to the research question

  Discuss the main findings and key arguments of each study or source

  Evaluate and critique the literature, including strengths and weaknesses of each study or source

  Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and controversies in the literature

  People also hire help with dissertation online to get their literature review written

• Summary and conclusions

  Summarize the main findings and conclusions of the literature review

  Discuss the implications of the literature review for the research question and the field

  Identify future research directions and potential research questions based on the literature review

  Provide recommendations for future research and practice.

Examples of Literature Reviews

• Social Sciences Literature Review Example: A literature review on the effects of social media on mental health in adolescents, including studies on the links between social media use and depression, anxiety, and self-esteem.
• Natural Sciences Literature Review Example: A literature review on the role of the gut microbiome in human health, including studies on the links between gut microbiota composition and immune function, metabolic disorders, and neurological conditions.
• Humanities Literature Review Example: A literature review on the representation of gender and race in contemporary literature, including analyses of various works of fiction and their portrayal of diverse characters and perspectives.
• Education literature review example: This literature review could focus on a specific aspect of education, such as student motivation or classroom management.
• Medical literature review example: A medical literature review might focus on a particular disease or condition, such as diabetes or cancer, and evaluate the most recent research on treatments and outcomes.
• Engineering literature review example: An engineering literature review could explore advances in a particular technology, such as renewable energy sources or artificial intelligence, and analyze the most recent research and developments in the field.
• Business literature review example: A business literature review might focus on a particular aspect of business, such as marketing or human resources, and evaluate the most recent research and trends in the field.

Conclusion

A literature review is an essential component of research that involves identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing existing literature on a particular topic or research question. Its significance lies in the identification of research gaps, establishment of context, familiarity with research field, and comparison with new research findings. By following the guide for conducting a literature review, researchers can effectively identify, evaluate, and synthesize literature to draw informed conclusions.

The literature review template provides a helpful structure to organize findings and effectively present them. Examples of literature reviews from various disciplines demonstrate the diversity and flexibility of this research method. Researchers should use this guide, template, and examples to conduct comprehensive literature reviews and enhance the rigor and validity of their research.

FAQs