Writing Literature Review

What is literature review?

finding and assessing available
literature on the chosen topic
What is literature review
documents the state of the art
with respect to the subject or
topic you are writing about
Objectives
SURVEYS the literature in
your chosen area of study
SYNTHESIZES the
information in that literature
into a summary
Objectives
CRITICALLY ANALYSES the
information gathered by
identifying gaps in current knowledge;
showing limitations of theories and
points of view
formulating areas for further research
and reviewing areas of controversy
Objectives
PRESENTS the literature in
an organized way
Why write a literature review?
identifies gaps in current
knowledge
avoids reinventing the done
show that you are building on a
foundation of existing knowledge
and ideas
Why write a literature review?
identifies other people working in
the same field
demonstrates the depth of your
knowledge about your research
identifies the important works in
your area and shows that you’ve
read them
Why write a literature review?
provides an intellectual context for
your own work, and enables you to
position your project in relation to
others in the field
identifies opposing views
puts your own work in perspective
Why write a literature review?
demonstrates your research skills
identifies information and ideas that
may be relevant to your project
identifies methods that may be
relevant to your project
How to write literature review?
1. decide on your areas of
research
2. search for the literature
Things to remember in finding
literature review
claims, conclusions, and findings about
the constructs you are investigating
calls for follow-up studies relevant to
your project
gaps you notice in the literature
disagreement about the constructs you
are investigating
How to write literature review?
3. code the literature
4. create your conceptual
schema
5. begin to write your literature
review
Structure of literature review
Introduction
define your topic and provide an
appropriate context for reviewing
the literature
establish your reasons
explain the organization
state the scope of the review
Structure of literature review
Main body
organize the literature according to
common themes
provide insight into the relation between
your chosen topic and the wider subject
move from a general, wider view of the
literature being reviewed to the specific
focus of your research
Structure of literature review
Conclusion
 summarize the important aspects of the
existing body of literature
 evaluate the current state of the literature
reviewed
 identify significant flaws or gaps in existing
knowledge
 outline areas for future study
 link your research to existing knowledge
Things to remember
it is not a descriptive list.
it is not a book by book and
article by article summary
it is not a survey of every single
thing that’s ever been written
about your topic
Things to remember
it must be defined by a guiding
concept
it must tell the reader what
knowledge and ideas have been
established and agreed in your
area and outline their strengths
and weaknesses
References
John Wiley U Sons, I. (n.d.). Writing a literature
review: six steps to get you from start to finish |
Wiley. Retrieved December 6, 2017, from
file:///C:/Users/NEOJOHN/Desktop/research/W
riting a literature review_ six steps to get you
from start to finish _ Wiley.html
Royal Literary Fund. (n.d.). What is a literature
review? Retrieved December 6, 2017, from
https://www.rlf.org.uk/resources/what-is-a-
literature-review/