What is a Descriptive Literature Review?

Descriptive literature reviews provide comprehensive summaries of existing research on a specific topic. They offer an organized overview without engaging in critical analysis or evaluation. These reviews detail the main findings, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks used in relevant studies. By synthesizing a wide range of research, they present a broad picture of the current state of knowledge in the field. They help identify trends, patterns, and gaps within the literature that can guide future investigations.

Descriptive literature reviews are valuable for researchers and practitioners because they offer an essential context for new research endeavours and inform practical applications. They establish a solid foundation for future studies by enhancing understanding of the scope of existing research. They support the development of research questions and methodologies based on the summarized evidence. Descriptive reviews make it easier for other researchers to understand the empirical evidence on a subject by reviewing literature thematically.

When to conduct a narrative literature review?

Descriptive literature reviews are conducted at various stages in the research process for several reasons. They are often done at the beginning of a research project to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing knowledge on a specific topic. This helps researchers understand what has already been studied and identify gaps in the literature that can be addressed. Descriptive reviews are also useful when summarizing a broad field of study to offer a foundational understanding for new researchers or practitioners entering the field.

Descriptive reviews are done when there is a need to compile and present existing research findings in a clear and organized manner, such as for educational purposes, policy-making, or informing practice in a specific area. They help establish a context for subsequent, more detailed research reviews, such as systematic or critical reviews. For example, if reviewing the literature on social media’s impact on mental health, a descriptive review might organize findings from different papers by age groups or social media platforms used. This allows for a thematicsynthesis of how different demographics are affected.

This type of review is also useful for other researchers when discussing identified gaps or differences in the subject, as it organizes a large body of empirical evidence and research evidence coherently. For example, a descriptive review of climate change might catalogue studies on various mitigation strategies. This enables researchers to see at a glance which strategies have been most extensively studied and where further research is needed. By identifying key themes, trends, and gaps, descriptive reviews set the stage for more focused research efforts.

How do descriptive reviews differ from other reviews?

Descriptive literature reviews, when compared to narrative reviews and systematic reviews, have distinct purposes and methodologies. A narrative literature review offers a comprehensive synthesis and interpretation of a particular topic and also presents an interpretative account of the research developments, key themes, and influential works.

In contrast, a descriptive literature review systematically and comprehensively summarizes existing literature on a specific topic, focusing on cataloging and summarizing findings without critical evaluation. They also differ from systematic reviews by being less methodologically rigorous and not needing to meet pre-specified criteria to answer a specific research question.

How to conduct a descriptive literature review?

The process of conducting a descriptive literature review involves several key steps:

1. Define the research question: The first step in conducting a descriptive literature review is to clearly define the research question or specific topic you aim to address. This involves articulating a focused and well-defined scope that will guide the entire review process. The research question should be specific enough to narrow down the vast body of literature to a manageable and relevant set of studies.

2. Develop a search strategy: The next step is to develop a comprehensive search strategy to identify relevant literature. This involves selecting appropriate databases and sources such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and JSTOR. You will need to identify specific keywords and phrases related to your topic and create combinations of search terms to ensure you capture a wide range of relevant studies. A well-planned search strategy is crucial for covering all pertinent literature.

3. Conduct the literature search: With a search strategy in place, conduct a thorough literature search. Use the predefined keywords and databases to locate relevant studies. It is important to include both seminal works and recent studies to provide a balanced perspective. Documenting the search process meticulously is essential for ensuring the review's reproducibility and transparency.

4. Screen and select studies: After gathering a broad set of literature, evaluate which studies are related to your research question and thus worth including in your review. This step involves evaluating the relevance and quality of the literature based on abstracts and, where necessary, full texts.

5. Organize the literature: Once the relevant studies have been selected, organize them thematically, chronologically, or methodologically. Grouping similar studies helps create a coherent structure for the review. This organization aids in logically synthesizing the literature, making it easier to identify trends, patterns, and gaps.

6. Summarize and synthesize findings: The next step is to summarize and synthesize the key findings from the selected literature. This involves providing a descriptive summary of each study’s main findings, methodologies, and contributions. Identify trends and patterns in the literature, as well as any gaps that exist. Unlike other types of reviews, a descriptive literature review focuses on summarizing the literature without necessarily critically evaluating or interpreting the studies.

Conclusion

Descriptive literature reviews play a crucial role in organizing and synthesizing research evidence in a research paper. Descriptive reviews provide a clear and comprehensive overview of the existing literature by compiling peer-reviewed articles and focusing on providing a clear description, rather than interpretation, of the findings. Literature review approaches such as a meta-analysis, systematic review, or critical review follow stringent methodological criteria while descriptive reviews focus on summarizing qualitative research in a structured manner. This approach is particularly valuable in the literature review section of a research paper, as it contextualizes research questions and highlights key trends and gaps in the literature. Through this method, researchers can effectively guide future studies and provide a solid foundation for further inquiry, ensuring a thorough and insightful examination of the topic.