THE LITERATURE REVIEW

Ridley, D. (2012)

1. THE CYCLICAL NATURE OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES INVOLVED

IN THE CREATION OF A LITERATURE REVIEW

Searching •Note taking, formulating research

for literature questions
•Identifying theories, terminology,concepts,
policy, and methodology
Reading •Specifying title and section headings for
Writing the literature review.
the
the
source •Justifying research problem or issue to be
review
material investigated.

2.CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROCESSES OF

READING AND WRITING

Regular writing is a means of establishing what you already know, identifying what further
reading you need to do, clarifying how your research links with that of others, and developing
your own understanding and interpretation of the literature.

3. WAYS OF STRUCTURING THE REVIEW

• An introduction (explains how your review

is organised)
• Headings and subheadings (the various
strands of your argument)
• A summary (key arguments).

4. THE COMPLEMENTARY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE

INTRODUCTION AND THE LITERATURE REVIEW

•The introduction is usually relatively •Identify and

brief discuss the key theories, concepts and
•should be about 10 per cent of the terminology
thesis •The literature
review 20 per cent

It provides supporting evidence

It demostartes ownership of the argument

5. SUMMARY

This chapter has considered:

The cyclical process in the literature review

Techniques to write about the relevant literature

The relationship between the introduction and

the literature review