Your professor may ask you to write a literature review instead of a standard research paper. Literature reviews are important sources of information because they summarize existing research in a particular area of study. They detail what is known about the topic, describe trends in the literature, identify gaps and/or inconsistencies, and draw conclusions based on the research. Connect with your program's librarian for support with literature reviews and book an appointment with an English Tutor on TutorOcean for writing help.
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:
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.
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.
Sage Research Methods Online is a database that contains reference works, journal articles, case studies, and sample datasets about research methods. It also has a project planner that you can use to map your research process. Review the project planner's section on literature reviews and this list of resources:
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