Literature Review Resources
- Types of Literature Reviews"Maria J. Grant and Andrew Booth’s “A Typology of Reviews” identifies 14 distinct types of literature reviews." This book excerpt provides a summary of the different types of literature reviews, and links to the full article and a UCLA comparison chart.
Succeeding with Your Literature Review: a Handbook for Students by ISBN: 9780335243686Publication Date: 2012-02-01"This step-by-step handbook provides comprehensive and practical guidance on the process of researching a range of relevant literature on a subject, as well as planning and writing a literature review." Each chapter also includes a common pitfall.
- Qualitative Research in Education :: Writing a Literature Review"This chapter explores ways in which a literature search can be conducted and, drawing on the questions most frequently raised by students, goes on to discuss how the literature should be analysed, synthesised and finally structured into a critical review."
Characteristics of Literature Reviews
A Good Literature Review
- Shows research trends
- Assesses Strengths and Weaknesses of individual studies and the existing research as a whole
- Presents a clear case and context for the remainder of your thesis or project
- Places your study (research) in perspective
- Evaluates promising research methods
- Includes any conflicts in the discourse.
- Gives your readers an idea of your research interest
- Suggests further research; Where are the gaps? Needs for future research?
- Identifies how previous research relates to your thesis
(From Matt Doyle's presentation on Literature Reviews)
Pitfalls to Avoid When Doing Literature Reviews
- Doesn't synthesize, only annotates
- Isn't clear about the research gap (or need for research)
- Is too broad or unfocused
- Is a question already answered in the literature
- Isn't organized or structured
- Is only from one point of view
The 5 C's of Literature Reviews
How to Synthesize
- Cite the material you have referred to and used to help you define the research problem that you will study.
- Compare the various arguments, theories, methods, and findings expressed in the literature. For example, describe where the various researchers agree and where they disagree. Describe the similarities and dissimilarities in approaches to studying related research problems.
- Contrast the various arguments, themes, methods, approaches, and controversies apparent and/or described in the literature. For example, describe what major areas are contested, controversial and/or still in debate.
- Critique the literature. Describe which arguments you find more persuasive and explain why. Explain which approaches, findings, and methods seem most reliable, valid, appropriate, and/or most popular and why. Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what previous researchers have stated (e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, clarifies, etc.).
- Connect the various research studies you reviewed. Describe how your work utilizes, draws upon, departs from, synthesizes, adds to or extends previous research studies.
(From Matt Doyle's presentation on Literature Reviews)
Academic Phrasebank
The best way to learn to write in a style is to read in that style (ever wonder why you're assigned so many readings?). But, the next best thing is Academic Phrasebank. Academic Phrasebank provides examples of phrases used in academic texts. Do you have difficulty coming up with words to compare/contrast things, describe trends, be critical, or describe quantities? Do you want to know how different sections of academic writing are structured? Read/skim through Academic Phrasebank for answers and ideas.