Key Concepts Blog: Literature Review Readings

University of Toronto

Definition of Literature Review

Literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers.

Writing the Literature Review

The literature review should be organized into sections that present themes or identify trends, including relevant theory.  It should not be a listing of summary of literature one after the other.  Include overall introduction and conclusion stating scope and formulating question, problem or concept.  Organize materials into sections.  Include critical assessment of the materials.

University of California, Santa Cruz

Literature Review

Literature Review has 4 stages like a primary research

• Problem formulation – field, topic and component issues
• Literature search – finding relevant materials
• Data evaluation – evaluating the materials
• Analysis and interpretation – discussing findings and conclusions of the literature

Considerations during literature review

• Provenance – credibility of author and the research
• Objectivity
• Persuasiveness
• Value/significance

Widener University

Important aspects of Literature Review

• How do studies fit together - similar findings and contradictory findings
• Important variables, concepts, ideas and issues across all the literature examined
• Connections between these concepts
• Summarizing comments regarding general patterns in the literature

Some Typical ways of organizing a literature review

• Thematic organization
• Arguments in the field
• Conceptual analysis
• Critical review of methodology

Sources

 D'Onofiro, A. (2001). Reviews of Literatre for ed 510. Retrieved September 20, 2011, from Widener University: http://muse.widener.edu/~aad0002/510review.htm

Taylor, D. (n.d.). The Literature Review. Retrieved September 20, 2011, from University of Toronto: http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/literature-review

University of California Santa Cruz, University Library. (n.d.). Write a LIterature Review. Retrieved Septemer 20, 2011, from University of California Santa Cruz, University LIbrary: http://library.ucsc.edu/help/howto/write-a-literature-review