Literature Review Guide: Tutorials
- What is a Literature Review?
- How to start?
- Search strategies and Databases
- Examples of Literature Reviews
- How to organise the review
- Library summary
- Emerald Infographic
Tutorials for creating Literature reviews
- Advice from a Ph.D researcher
- Texas University
UCD Writing Centre tutorial
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds 'Final Chapter' toolkit for dissertation students includes some excellent videos with lots of useful tips from staff and students alike.
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- Last Updated: Feb 27, 2024 4:07 PM
- URL: https://ait.libguides.com/literaturereview
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- School of Law
- Research degrees
Writing a research proposal
As part of the process of applying for a research degree, you will need to prepare an outline of your proposed research.
Please see our guidance on what to include below, including word count:
*Word count excludes footnotes.
The Library : Criminology
What is a literature review.
A literature review is a study of the existing literature, journal articles, books, reports and other information and evidence published on a given topic. It is a critical and evaluative account of any published work around a research field, including a description and analysis of existing knowledge of the topic, the identification of any gaps in the existing body of knowledge, and - where appropriate - an explanation of how your research might further develop current understanding of the subject.
A literature review is not simply a description or summary of each individual paper. It should instead be structured around the findings of the articles considered, and is therefore an opportunity to identify common themes and issues as well as highlighting opposing arguments.
- Literature reviews Further information from Skills for Learning on the purpose, structure and style of literature reviews.
The Research Process
- Your question
- Developing a search strategy
- Identify resources
- Evaluate information
- Referencing
- Academic writing
When you are given an assignment questions make sure you fully understand what is being asked on you. Refer to the guidance in your module handbook or lecture slides for further information, or discuss it with your tutors.
1. Identify the 'question' word(s)
You could use the 'Analysing the question' section of the Skills for Learning website to help you.
2. Identify core concepts/keywords
What is the main focus of the question?
3. Identify synonyms or related terms
Examine with reference to the literature mental health services within the prison setting
'Examine' is the question word - it's what you have to do
On the next tab you will find tips and tricks to help you develop your search strategy and make your searching more efficient.
Once you have identifying your keywords, synonyms and related terms you can start to construct a search strategy.
4. Use search tools:
Phrase searching uses speech marks to help you search for phrases e.g. "pains of imprisonment"
Truncation uses the asterisk to help you search for terms with variant endings e.g. prison* = prison, prisoner.
5. Combine terms using AND, OR and NOT
AND - for combining different concepts
OR - for identifying research that use synonyms or related terms. You need to put the similar terms in brackets.
NOT - use when you want to exclude a term (use with caution as it can eliminate useful results too)
(prison OR incarceration OR imprisonment) AND ("mental health" OR counselling OR "in-reach")
Some resources have an 'advanced search' feature which can help you to combine your searches.
6. Identify appropriate resources to search.
a. Reading lists - are there any core textbooks that your tutors recommend on your topic?
Check your modules in MyBeckett
b. Use Discover to find additional books and e-books
c. Use Discover to search our e-journals and other subscriptions
d. Use databases to help you focus your results - available on the 'Databases' page of this guide
You can search most databases in exactly the same way, the search screen may just look a bit different.
To help you refine your results and make them more manageable look for limiters such as 'Publication date' or 'Resource type'
There are several tools to help with evaluating the quality of articles and research papers. The PROMPT mnemonic can be used to help you identify key areas to evaluate when reading a paper.
P resentation: look out for poor use of language and inappropriate or ineffectual writing style
R elevance: does the paper answer your question and fit within the geographical or time period restrictions of your search strategy?
O bjectivity: look for any hidden bias or selective interpretation of data. Also authors usually list conflicts of interest and sponsorship/ funding sources at the end of the article which may influence their arguments.
M ethod: is it clear how the research was carried out? Use your knowledge from previous lectures/ tutorials to critique the methods for data collection. Question whether the methods are appropriate? Look at things like the size of the sample tested in the study, was a pilot study conducted prior to the main research to iron out any potential problems? Look at the design of the questions if a questionnaire was used.
P rovenance; look at the qualifications of the author. Do they have a particularly controversial view on the subject? Also, check whether the researcher has been sponsored. If so, are they sponsored by a commercial, voluntary or research organisation? Is the organisation well established? Remember to check the publication method. Has the article been published in a well regarded, peer reviewed journal?
T imelines; depending upon your topic, you may decide you need up to date information.
The CRAAP mnemonic is also an easy way to remember key points to look for when critiquing papers and websites
C urrency: how up to date is the research
R elevancy: does the paper answer your research question and any exclusion criteria
A ccuracy: how reliable are the methods of data collection. Has the researcher chosen the best way to investigate their question
A uthority: who has written the paper? Are they a reliable source
P urpose: why has the paper been written. was it to entertain, education or sell something?
For more information about referencing, including the full Leeds Beckett Harvard guide - please click on the referencing tab at the top of the page or visit our Referencing & Plagiarism pages.
- Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism by Karen Fisher, Catherine Parkin, Maria Simões & Jennie Winterburn Last Updated Apr 29, 2024 10231 views this year
- Skills for Learning The Skills for Learning webpages contain advice, resources and activities on university study, academic writing, maths and IT skills
Recording your search
Conducting a literature review involves a LOT of searching and reading. It is therefore important to keep a record of what searching you have done and where. It is recommended that you keep a searching log. Keep a notebook and record;
- which databases you have searched
- what terms you have used as well as any searching techniques such as truncation
- any limits you have applied e.g. date or geography
- how many results you retrieved
- how many of the results were relevant
You may wish to keep a record using a document such as the Search Log here. Check with your tutor whether this would be suitable to include in your Appendix. Think of it as a paper trail of your searching or even as a set of instructions for whoever is marking your work.
- Searching Log
Your Academic Librarians
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Literature Review
- Starting the literature review
- Sources and strategy
- Writing the review
- Examples of dissertations
- Helpful guides
Dissertation examples
Undergraduate dissertations are not available in the library. We are currently working on selecting and digitising a selection of USW undergraduate dissertations.
You will find our postgraduate dissertations in our research repository USW Pure.
Ask your supervisor if they have any good examples of past dissertations that you can have a look at.
- Bristol University
- Leeds University
- Nottingham University
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- Last Updated: Apr 18, 2024 11:45 AM
- URL: https://libguides.southwales.ac.uk/literaturereview
Library news
Literature and systematic reviews, what is a literature review.
A literature review is a comprehensive and critical summary of existing literature on a specific topic. It typically includes a summary of the main findings of previous research, an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the research, and an identification of gaps in the literature that need to be addressed.
Why do I need one?
A literature review is important for several reasons:
It provides context for the research being conducted by summarising and synthesizing existing knowledge on a topic.
It allows researchers to identify gaps in the current literature and to determine areas where further research is needed.
It allows researchers to evaluate the credibility and reliability of previous research by identifying methodological weaknesses and inconsistencies in the literature.
It helps to establish the researcher's credibility by demonstrating their knowledge and familiarity with the existing literature on a topic.
It helps to avoid duplication of research by identifying studies that have already been conducted on a topic.
It helps to identify potential theoretical or practical implications of the research.
It is a step in the research process that helps to clarify the research question and to develop the research design and methods.
Overall, a literature review is a crucial step in the research process as it allows researchers to situate their research within the existing body of knowledge and to identify the most important and relevant questions to investigate. But, you may be wondering...
How do I go about undertaking one?!
Fear not, we are here to help! We've crafted a useful video guide to help you learn more about the process of doing your literature review. You can find it on our website under Searching for information.
What about systematic reviews? Are they different?
A systematic review is a more rigorous and comprehensive review of the literature. It is a type of research that uses a predefined methodology to systematically identify, select, and critically appraise all relevant research studies on a specific question or topic. The goal of a systematic review is to provide a high-level summary of the current evidence on a specific question or topic. It is considered the highest level of evidence in healthcare research. The process for conducting a systematic review usually involves a comprehensive search of the literature, a predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a systematic selection of studies, and a critical appraisal of the included studies.
How do I go about doing a systematic review then?
Well, we're glad you asked as we've got a guide for that, too! You can find it under Research support on our website. We recommend starting with 'An introduction to systematic reviews' before moving on to 'Literature searching for your systematic review'.
Need more help?
If you're still feeling a bit confused, or have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with us. Or alternatively, why not ask your Liaison Librarian for an appointment?
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Literature Reviews
- General overview of Literature Reviews
- What should a Literature Review include?
- Examples of Literature Reviews
- Research - Getting Started
Online Resources
- CWU Learning Commons: Writing Resources
- Purdue OWL: Writing a Literature Review
Literature Reviews Examples
Social Sciences examples
- Psychology study In this example, the literature review can be found on pages 1086-1089, stopping at the section labeled "Aims and Hypotheses".
- Law and Justice study In this example, the literature review can be found on pages 431-449, stopping at the section labeled "Identifying and Evaluating the Impacts of the Prisoners' Rights Movement". This article uses a historical literature review approach.
- Anthropology study The literature review in this article runs from page 218 at the heading "Between Critique and Enchantment" and ends on page 221 before the heading "The Imagination as a Dimension of Reality".
Hard Science examples
- Physics article The literature review in this paper can be found in the Introduction section, ending at the section titled "Experimental procedure".
- Health Science article The literature review in this article is located at the beginning, before the Methods section.
Arts and Humanities examples
- Composition paper In this example, the literature review has its own dedicated section titled "Literature Review" on pages 2-3.
- Political geography paper The literature review in this paper is located in the introduction section.
Standalone Literature Review examples
- Project-based learning: A review of the literature
- Mental health and gender dysphoria: A review of the literature
- Academic engagement and commercialisation: A review of the literature on university–industry relations
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- Next: Research - Getting Started >>
- Last Updated: Mar 29, 2024 11:44 AM
- URL: https://libguides.lib.cwu.edu/LiteratureReviews
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
EXAMPLE 1 This review will examine the literature available on the main approaches towards measuring rural deprivation, with the view that literature overemphasises material deprivation at the expense of social deprivation. The review is comprised of two parts. The first focuses on the conceptualisation of rural deprivation, assuming that in order
Leeds University Business School LUBS3305. The following two examples have been annotated with academic comments. This is to help you understand why they achieved a good 2:1 mark but also, more importantly, how the marks could have been improved. Please read about the annotations (PDF) to help you make the most of the two examples.
The Final Chapter resource contains lots of useful information for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students working on a research project or dissertation. It covers choosing your topic, doing a literature review, structuring your work and critical thinking. You can also watch videos of staff and students from the University of Leeds ...
Overview. Dissertations are extended projects in which you choose, research and write about a specific topic. They provide an opportunity to explore an aspect of your subject in detail. You are responsible for managing your dissertation, though you will be assigned a supervisor. Dissertations are typically empirical (based on your own research ...
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LITERATURE REVIEW: SUBHEADING EXAMPLE Title: "Second homes: Investigating local perceptions and impact on communities in Cornwall" Literature Review (Chapter 2) 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Growth of Second Homes 2.3 The Emergence of British Second Homes in Literature 2.4 Defining Second Homes 2.5 The Impacts of Second ...
These chapters are where you will present and build your arguments. Each chapter should deal with a major aspect of your subject but link together. Remember you are constructing an argument, not just reporting your research or the research of others. You should analyse and evaluate the primary evidence, arguments ideas and conclusions presented ...
In a literature review, you must analyse, pass judgment on, and compare / contrast previous studies. When included in a larger project, literature reviews highlight gaps or limitations, and justify further research. We run interactive workshops to help you prepare for writing literature reviews. Find out more on the Skills for Learning ...
How to create Literature reviews. The University of Leeds 'Final Chapter' toolkit for dissertation students includes some excellent videos with lots of useful tips from staff and students alike. << Previous: Examples of Literature Reviews
Save your search. A search strategy is an organised structure of key terms used to search a database. The search strategy combines the key concepts of your search question in order to retrieve accurate results. Your search strategy will account for all: possible search terms. keywords and phrases. truncated and wildcard variations of search terms.
Writing a research proposal. As part of the process of applying for a research degree, you will need to prepare an outline of your proposed research. This must be 5-10 pages long (font 11pt minimum) excluding the bibliography. Please see our guidance on what to include below: Your research topic A clear and succinct description of your research.
Literature searching service. Literature searching helps build knowledge of a topic, identifies gaps in the literature, avoids duplicating effort, supports decision-making and keeping up to date with research advancement. Research shows that involving information specialists in literature reviews correlates with higher quality search strategies.
Your literature review A thorough examination of key pieces of research relating to your topic. You should use the literature review to identify gaps in, or problems with, existing research to justify why further or new research is required. Contribution (up to 1200 words) Your original approach and contribution to the literature
A literature review is a study of the existing literature, journal articles, books, reports and other information and evidence published on a given topic. It is a critical and evaluative account of any published work around a research field, including a description and analysis of existing knowledge of the topic, the identification of any gaps ...
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The content of many previous studies can also be identified as insufficient: a number of academics still focus too heavily on profiling second-home owners, mapping distributions, and finding universal trends (Thornton, 1996). Field research on the impacts of second homes on host communities is almost non-existent.
A literature review is a study of the existing literature, journal articles, books, reports and other information and evidence published on a given topic. It is a critical and evaluative account of any published work around a research field, including a description and analysis of existing knowledge of the topic, the identification of any gaps ...
A literature review is a study of the existing literature, journal articles, books, reports and other information and evidence published on a given topic. It is a critical and evaluative account of any published work around a research field, including a description and analysis of existing knowledge of the topic, the identification of any gaps ...
You will find our postgraduate dissertations in our research repository USW Pure. Ask your supervisor if they have any good examples of past dissertations that you can have a look at. For reference, below are some examples of undergraduate dissertations from some other UK universities. Bristol University. Leeds University. Nottingham University.
Examples of literature reviews. Step 1 - Search for relevant literature. Step 2 - Evaluate and select sources. Step 3 - Identify themes, debates, and gaps. Step 4 - Outline your literature review's structure. Step 5 - Write your literature review.
make the task any easier, and indeed for many, writing a literature review is one of the most challenging aspects of their academic writing. In this study guide, I will begin by clearing up some misconceptions about what a literature review is and what it is not. Then, I will break the process down into a series of simple steps, looking at
Keep the audience in mind as you write your report, think about what they need to know. For example, the report could be for: the general public; academic staff; senior management; a customer/client. Reports are usually assessed on content, structure, layout, language, and referencing. You should consider the focus of your report, for example:
Prepare Literature Review How to write critically Choose methodology Ethics submission and approval (where appropriate) Methodology A series of workshops on methodologies will be available. Your supervisory team may also indicate some taught sessions. Research ethics The university expects all research undertaken by staff and student
A literature review is important for several reasons: It provides context for the research being conducted by summarising and synthesizing existing knowledge on a topic. It allows researchers to identify gaps in the current literature and to determine areas where further research is needed. It allows researchers to evaluate the credibility and ...
The literature review in this paper is located in the introduction section. Standalone Literature Review examples. Project-based learning: A review of the literature. Mental health and gender dysphoria: A review of the literature. Academic engagement and commercialisation: A review of the literature on university-industry relations.