What is a literature review?
If you’re seeking an answer to “What is a literature review?” Here it is. A literature review is a written summary of key writings and other relevant resources concerning a particular research topic. The sources included in the review may consist of scholarly journal articles, books, government reports, websites, and more.
How to Write a Literature Review?
1. Search for Relevant Literature
Before searching for literature, it’s essential to have a well-defined research topic. Identify keywords connected to your research question and use them to search for relevant sources. Remember to keep track of citations to avoid plagiarism.
2. Evaluate Sources
Once you find the sources, evaluate their relevance to your research. Consider the following questions:
– What research question or problem is the author addressing?
– What are the important concepts in the research?
– Which theories, methods, and models are used?
– What conclusions and results are drawn?
– What are the strengths of the current research?
3. Identify Gaps
To organize your review effectively, analyse the connections between studies. Look for trends, themes, debates, and gaps. This step will help shape your argument and highlight how your research contributes to existing knowledge.
4. Outline the Structure
You can structure your literature review in several ways depending on its length. Common approaches include:
– Chronological
– Thematic
– Methodological
– Theoretical
5. Write Your Literature Review
Just like other sections of your research paper, your literature review should have an introduction, body, and conclusion.
– The introduction should outline the focus and purpose of your review.
– The body should summarize, analyse, and evaluate the literature.
– The conclusion should highlight the key findings and their significance.
Why is writing a literature review important?
A literature review allows you to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your previous research and identify new approaches to your field. It provides familiarity with the current knowledge in your area, help you position your research question within this context. The review serves to:
– Clarify and focus your research problem
– Strengthen your research methodology
– Amplify your knowledge in the field
– Contextualize your findings.
Common Mistakes in Literature Reviews
When writing a literature review, avoid these common pitfalls:
– Depending on low-quality sources
– Using outmoded literature
– Writing unfocused reviews
– Unstructured organization
– Inappropriate citation
– Using emotional language in your writing.
Why Write a Literature Review?
A literature review is essential when writing a thesis, as it helps position your research within the broader academic context. It provides an opportunity to:
– Exhibit your knowledge of the topic
– Build a theoretical framework and research methodology
– Show how your work addresses gaps in existing research
– Accord to ongoing academic related debates
– Bring ideas for your conceptual framework.
What You Can Do When Writing Your Literature Review:
If you’re looking for expert help, Saaira technologies collaborates with over 250 research specialists to write high-quality literature reviews. We assign writers based on your subject area, ensuring plagiarism-free content
If you need assistance with your entire PhD research project, we offer professional writing services, including literature reviews, at an affordable price.
Common Mistakes in Literature Reviews:
Many PhD students find the literature review one of the hardest sections to write. The most common mistakes include:
– Using irrelevant or poor-quality sources
– Lack of focus in the research
– Plagiarism
– Failure to identify research gaps
– Poor organization
– Irrelevant data or improper terminology
– Inadequate proofreading.
Step-by-Step Approach to Writing a Literature Review:
1. Define Your Goal:
Clarify the purpose of your research, such as establishing a thesis statement or formulating a hypothesis.
2. Conduct Thorough Research:
Examine several relevant texts in your field, prioritizing key publications.
3. Ground Your Summary in Relevance:
Provide context about why certain publications are relevant to your research.
4. Develop Your Review Logically:
Treat your review as an evolving argument, detailing the progression of ideas in your field.
5. Include proper references:
Always cite the authors and publication years within the text of your review.
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