literature review

Questions a literature review should answer

• Why is this topic important?
• Who else thinks it’s important?
• Who has done work on the topic before?
• Who has done something similar to what I will be doing?
• What can be adapted into my study?
• What are the gaps in the research?
• How can my study fill these gaps?
• Who might use the outcomes from my study?
• What contribution to the field will my study make?

why do a literature review?

• recognise and acknowledge intellectual property rights of authors 


• a matter of ethics and a defence against plagiarism 

• used to show respect to previous scholars 

• tools of persuasion (give arguments greater authority) 

• demonstrate familiarity with the field 

• establish the importance of your topic 

• demonstrate you can access research in the field 

• avoid repeating others’ mistakes 

• improve your knowledge of the area 

what to include

All kinds of sources are eligible:

• Books, journal articles, theses, conference papers, academic posters,

etc 

• Government publications, statistics, archives, acts of parliament, etc 

• Maps, blueprints, newspapers, database results, etc 
Focus mainly on
sources that meet academic standards 

search for information sources

• Define the information you need 


• State it as a question 

• What do I need to know about......... 

• Break question into component parts 

• Identify keywords, synonyms 

• Locate sources that match your information needs 

• From broad to highly relevant 


literature Checklist

• What are the keywords for your topic? 


• Who are the major/minor authors in the field? 

• What type of sources will you use? 

• What gap in the field are you trying to fill? 

• What literature will you include? 

• What is your perspective on the literature? 

• What will be the focus of your review? 

Reading plan

• Superficial reading • Scan the text

• Refined reading
• Gives a better sense of the text

• In-depth reading
• Reading for meaning and analysis

manage the information: Taking notes

• Underline or highlight as you read 


• Take notes as you read 

• Summary 

• Interpretation 

• Dos and don’ts:
Do use your own words 

Don’t mix direct quotations with your own word 


manage the information: Organise your notes

• Paper based
• Key words
• Publication information
» Author/s and/or editor/s
» Title of book, relevant chapter in edited book, article
» Publication date and place
» Page numbers
• Aspect/s of main topic
• Computer based • Endnote
• Powerful search facility
Beginning to write

• When to stop reading and start writing? 


• Plan a overall structure
Concepts presented in an order that makes sense 

Clear divisions between sets of ideas 

Organise around issues relevant to your study 

• Writing

• Be selective (select & discard) 


• Concentrate on key studies 

• Conventions (Do you need headings? 
What are the norms in your
discipline?) 

• Use quotes sparingly 

• Keep your own voice 


Writing style

• Traditionally: 

• Avoid the first person (I, me, we) 

• Different disciplines have different expectations 

• Minimise the use of the passive voice 

• Try to read literature reviews from other students in your discipline 

• Introductions and conclusions

• Key to structuring your argument

• Overall introduction and conclusion 


• Section introductions and conclusion 
• Introductions 

• Outline the structure of the review/section 

• Identify key terms or concepts 
• Conclusions 

• Summarise the chapter/section 

• Foreshadow the direction of the next section/chapter