Literature reviews - research guide

A literature review is a critical analysis of published texts, or literature, on a particular topic. The review should describe, summarise, evaluate, classify and compare this literature. A literature review gives an overview of:

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Why is a literature review important?

A literature review:

• Identifies areas of prior research to prevent duplication of effort
• Clarifies important definitions and terminology
• Examines each text’s contribution to knowledge of the topic
• Describes the relationship of each text to other texts
• Interprets previous research and resolves conflicts amongst previous studies
  • Examines each text’s contribution to knowledge of the topic​
  • Describes the relationship of each text to the others
  • Resolves conflict amongst previous studies
• Influences future research or reviewer’s own research project
• Identifies knowledge gaps and identifies areas for further research
• Places your research in the context of the existing literature
• Focuses your knowledge of the topic and aids the design of your research
• Creates a theoretical framework for your research

What does a literature review demonstrate?

Your literature review should:

• Show that you understand the topic and why it is important
• Demonstrate your ability to access relevant and current literature in the field
• Demonstrate your ability to objectively evaluate research and highlight trends in the area
• Provide an overview of the topic with clear and justified links to your conclusion

These background resources will assist students beginning their literature review:

• Conducting research literature reviews : from the Internet to paper / Arlene Fink
• Doing your literature review: traditional and systematic techniques / Jill K. Jesson
• The literature review : a step-by-step guide for students / Diana Ridley
• 7 steps to a comprehensive literature review: a multimodal & cultural approach / Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie and Rebecca Frels
• Doing a literature review in nursing, health and social care / Michael Coughlan and Patricia Cronin
• Health sciences literature review made easy: the matrix method / Judith Garrard

SAGE Research Methods (SRM) allows researchers to explore methods and concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their literature review and research, and write up their findings. Since SRM focuses on methodology, it can be used across  disciplines.

Beginner study and research support:

Intermediate and advanced research support: