Writing a Literature Review

The literature review is a valuable resource. Researchers use literature reviews to keep up-to-date and examine what has already been investigated in their field of study. By knowing what has been investigated, researchers can build upon the existing knowledge instead of duplicating experiments. On the other hand, students can use literature reviews to expand their understanding of a topic and then form new ideas based on the existing research. Literature reviews contain citations to many scholarly sources so they will benefit students early in the research process.

There are many types of literature reviews like systematic and meta-analysis, scoping, and narrative reviews. Additionally, research studies often have a literature review section in the article that provides context to the study and share knowledge from other experts. It’s helpful to distinguish between review types while searching in library databases to ensure that you choose the best resources for your assignment. Read the University of Toronto’s Types of Literature Reviews Guide to discover how reviews vary in their approach. Here are some review examples:

• Blut, M., Wang, C., Wünderlich, N. V., & Brock, C. (2021). Understanding anthropomorphism in service provision: A meta-analysis of physical robots, chatbots, and other AI. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 49(4), 632-658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-020-00762-y
• Holland, I., DeVille, N. V., Browning, M. H. E. M., Buehler, R. M., Hart, J. E., Hipp, J. A., Mitchell, R., Rakow, D. A., Schiff, J. E., White, M. P., Yin, J., & James, P. (2021). Measuring nature contact: A narrative review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8), 4092. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084092
• Kucharczuk, A. J., Oliver, T. L., & Dowdell, E. B. (2022). Social media’s influence on adolescents′ food choices: A mixed studies systematic literature review. Appetite, 168, 105765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105765
• Otter, C. E. M., Keers, J. C., Smit, J., Schoonhoven, L., & de Man‐van Ginkel, J. M. (2023). 'Nurses’ self‐management support to hospitalised patients: A scoping review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(9-10), 2270–2281. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16242

You can organize your literature review in a variety of ways. The way you organize your literature review depends on your topic, discipline, or assignment instructions. Commons ways to structure review assignments include date, theme, and research method. Check out the resource below for ideas on how to structure your review.

• A Guide to Literature Reviews - McMaster University Library
• Literature Reviews - Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries
• Literature Reviews - University of British Columbia Library

Keep details notes with citation software. A citation management tool can help you to import, organize, and create reference lists and bibliographies in multiple citation formats like APA, MLA, Chicago, etc. Sheridan Library's Citation Managers Guide provides examples of common citation tools with resource links. For additional citation support, visit the library's Cite it Right Guide.