Introduction
As many doctoral students have already experienced, the literature review chapter can be hell. This chapter is unique from the other chapters, and for doctoral students inexperienced in advanced academic writing, it can cause all kinds of trouble. Therefore, this article is written as a guide that includes some principles to remember while writing your literature review chapter. Following them will help you avoid drowning in the quagmire of a literature review. This is not an article to tell you how to write a literature review; it will give you a broad picture of what a literature review is and what are its dos and don'ts.
Literature Review
A literature review objectively evaluates and condenses the body of work on a particular subject in scholarly sources. It gives a broad review of the state of the field, points out gaps or contradictions, and aids in setting the stage for further investigation. An overview of a literature review, including best practices, is provided below:
Dos of literature review writing
Define your research question or objective: Declare your literature review's objectives and scope. Choose the main ideas and factors you want to investigate.
Do a comprehensive search: To obtain a wide range of material pertaining to your issue, use academic databases, libraries, online journals, and relevant sources. Be methodical in your search strategy, and keep track of how you search.
Evaluate and select relevant sources: Read each source and assess its credibility, applicability, and quality. Choose sources that have been peer-reviewed, are current, and directly address the topic of your study.
Analyse and synthesise literature:
Carefully read and evaluate each chosen source.
Name the main themes, approach, tenets, and conclusions.
In the literature, look for relationships, trends, and differences.
Arrange your discoveries.
Critically Appraise the Literature:
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each study or source.
Consider research design, methodology, sample size, SPSS data analysis, and limitations.
Identify gaps, contradictions, or unresolved issues in the literature.
Provide a Structured Overview: Present the literature's main findings, theories, and arguments logically and structured. Use headings, subheadings, and clear paragraphs to organise your review. You are putting together group studies to highlight similarities and differences.
Engage in critical analysis and interpretation:
Give a summary of your literary analysis and interpretation.
Discuss the results' ramifications, importance, and relevance.
Identify the topics that require more study.
Cite and reference correctly: In your literature review, reference all the sources you used. Use the appropriate citation style (such as APA, MLA, or Harvard) throughout your review.
Don’ts of literature review writing
Don't be highly descriptive: A literature review is much more than a list of all the sources. Providing just a list or summing up each study won’t work. Instead of this, synthesise, appraise, and critically analyse the literature to offer context and draw conclusions.
Don't ignore useful sources: Make sure you conduct a thorough search for relevant materials from multiple perspectives or topics in order to ensure that your literature review is complete.
Try to avoid outdated sources: Include the most recent literature and recent findings in your review to ensure its relevance. Add original works or historical viewpoints that are essential to your subject.
Focus on contradictory findings: Identify potential causes of inconsistent or contradictory findings in the literature. This demonstrates your capacity for critical thought and subject knowledge.
Avoid plagiarism: You must cite and refer to all the sources properly you include in your literature review. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence that can damage your work's credibility as well as ruin your identity.
Discuss limitations: Recognise any limitations of the study, such as bias, sample size issues, or methodological issues. This will strengthen the reliability and integrity of your literature review.
There may be different expectations and standards for a literature review depending on the subject matter or academic discipline. You should consult your instructor or follow the instructions provided by your school in order to ensure you are meeting the requirements for your literature review.
Conclusion
Following these guidelines and avoiding the pitfalls mentioned above will go a long way to assist you in the literature review writing process. However, no matter how much you try to learn the writing process to find out how to create a sparkling literature review, you may still find yourself frustrated. Especially for literature review chapters, you will find your dissertation tutor unwilling or unable to give you the help you need. If you refer to your colleagues, you may find them unable to explain the process appropriately, or if they can explain it to you, their process may not work for you since no single process to write a literature review is universal.
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