Guidelines for Writing a Literature Review

The importance of a literature review cannot be overstated. It is the starting point to identify gaps in knowledge to continue the advancement of knowledge in any field. For some researchers such as PhD and postdoctoral students, conducting a dissertation literature review is a critical part of their academic journey. It helps them develop a deep understanding of their research area and identify gaps that warrant further investigation.

Reviews must be written clearly, cohesively, concisely, and comprehensively. They should also be critical, revealing problems, contradictions, and controversies in published findings. It is important to critically analyze and distinguish between the authors' interpretations and the evidence presented. It is also important to note which methodologies were used and the diversity of methods used in different studies. This will help narrow down the best approach for emerging research.

For example, when it comes to different kinds of reviews, a systematic literature review sets clear inclusion and exclusion criteria, thoroughly searches academic databases, and critically analyzes the results. Narrative and descriptive reviews have different approaches but are also valuable for providing a broader context and evaluating the quality of the research. In general, it is important to organize the review around key themes or categories, summarizing and synthesizing the findings from the literature. This ensures that the review is coherent and accessible to a broader audience.

Journal articles often mention the need for timely literature revisions that reflect the most recent research. This is particularly important in fields that are rapidly evolving, such as interdisciplinary scientific research or social science research. By keeping up-to-date with newly published research papers, researchers can ensure that their literature review is relevant and informative.

A good literature review is essential for identifying major gaps, informing future studies, and contributing to the body of knowledge in a given field. By following specific guidelines for conducting reviews, researchers can produce high-quality reviews that are methodical, reproducible, and insightful. This approach is crucial for writing effective literature reviews to advance the field and guide future research.

What are the different methods for conducting literature reviews?

Depending on the field and the research goal, writing literature reviews can vary significantly. Independently written literature reviews or those focused on measuring interdisciplinary scientific research may require different approaches compared to other reviews. Depending on the type of review, the focus may be on being highly strict in each step of the process or the review might focus only on summarizing findings. Specialized reviews can be classified into several types, each serving distinct purposes. Here are the most common literature review methods:

Systematic literature review

Performing systematic literature reviews involves a rigorous process of identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing all relevant studies on a given topic. Systematic reviews attempt a high-level synthesis of research findings and require strict tracking of sources and clear inclusion and exclusion parameters. Healthcare research, medical education, and computer science reviews often require this kind of review. A systematic review can be written as a full, stand-alone paper, which provides great value for audiences to understand and evaluate relevant material.

Narrative literature review

These reviews provide a narrative synthesis of the literature, often incorporating the author's perspective. These timely literature reviews are less structured than systematic reviews and instead, they provide a story-like description of the relevant body of knowledge. Narrative literature reviews can offer valuable insights and context for particular scientific developments.

Descriptive literature review

These reviews summarize the current state of knowledge without engaging in critical evaluation. Descriptive reviews provide a broad overview, presenting the findings of existing studies straightforwardly. They focus on summarizing the current state of knowledge, making them suitable for areas with few research papers.

Scoping literature review

Scoping reviews are more exploratory in nature, mapping the breadth and scope of research on a specific topic. They also offer an overview of existing evidence, and identify key concepts and research gaps. Rigorous literature review efforts start with a clear research question and a detailed protocol, conducting exhaustive searches across multiple databases. Selected studies are systematically screened, and data extraction focuses on study characteristics and findings. The results highlight patterns and themes in the literature, concluding with a report that maps the research landscape and identifies areas needing further investigation, thus identifying research priorities.

Realist literature reviews

Realist reviews aim to understand how complex social interventions or programs work in different contexts. Grounded in a theoretical framework, these reviews aim to use iterative and purposive searches to capture a wide range of relevant sources. Each study is critically appraised for its quality and relevance, with data extracted on contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes to identify specific factors influencing the effectiveness of the studied interventions. The synthesis process explains the varied results, validated through stakeholder feedback and expert consultations. The final report presents a detailed and transparent account of the methods, findings, and implications. This makes it a timely literature review for understanding social interventions and programs, informing public policy and practice in public health, social sciences, and education.

Critical literature review

Critical reviews evaluate and synthesize existing research on a topic to provide a comprehensive understanding, identify gaps, and propose new perspectives. Instead of only summarizing existing literature, researchers reflect on and evaluate implicit assumptions, offering their own interpretations or perspectives on the topic. A critical review starts with a defined scope and questions, followed by an exhaustive search of relevant sources. Each study is critically appraised for quality and relevance, and the synthesis integrates findings to highlight key themes and gaps. This type of review challenges existing assumptions and suggests new theoretical perspectives, concluding with a structured report that provides a nuanced understanding of the topic.

Meta-analysis literature review

Meta-analysis reviews statistically combine results from multiple studies to identify overall trends and effect sizes. They begin with a clear research question and inclusion criteria, followed by a comprehensive and systematic search of databases. Data extraction focuses on study characteristics, effect sizes, and outcomes, with statistical methods used to aggregate and analyze the data. The findings, presented with detailed tables, figures, and narrative synthesis, discuss the implications and limitations, providing robust and generalizable conclusions. This type of review is particularly relevant in fields with a high number of quantitative studies, such as medicine, evolutionary ecology, and psychology.

Umbrella literature review

Umbrella reviews synthesize evidence from multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses to provide an overarching understanding of a broad topic. Starting with clear scope and objectives, they identify relevant reviews and critically appraise their quality and relevance. Data extraction focuses on study characteristics and findings, integrating them to identify consistent patterns and overall conclusions. The final report summarizes the evidence comprehensively, discussing implications for practice and future research, offering a high-level synthesis valuable for decision-makers and researchers. This type of review often results in many reviews being integrated into one comprehensive review, such as annual reports or white papers.

What are the general guidelines for a literature review?

Conducting a literature review in qualitative research involves systematically gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing previous research on a specific topic. It is recommended that researchers keep track of searches, methodologies, and findings in a research diary, which will be helpful throughout the research process. Having a research diary will be an essential tool as it could be the go-to source for writing the final report. These diaries can also be stored in computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) such as ATLAS.ti.

It is important to keep in mind that literature reviews are time-consuming and constantly searching for literature will be a task at every stage of the research process. It is recommended that from the start to the end, researchers search for new studies and literature related to their topic. While there are variations for conducting a literature revision, here are some key general guidelines:

Define the theoretical concepts and research question

Clearly articulate the theoretical concepts, research question, and objective of your study. This will guide your literature search and ensure a focused review. Having a well-defined theoretical framework and specific questions will help you identify important research gaps and align your review with the particular scientific development of interest.

Identify relevant sources

Perform a comprehensive literature search using research databases such as PubMed, JSTOR, Google Scholar, and any others relevant to your field. Take advantage of the numerous databases available when joining academic institutions. Use specific keywords and phrases related to your research question, including synonyms and related terms, to broaden your search. Focus on published studies relevant to the particular topic and reviews written by experts. As you read each article, you can identify further studies worth including in your literature review by paying attention to the sources the authors cite.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Set clear criteria for including and excluding studies. Consider factors such as publication date, study design, methodology, population, and relevance to your research question. This step ensures consistency and transparency in your review process and helps identify relevant material for your reviews. It is important to document the unique criteria in your research diary.

Review and selection

Review titles and abstracts to identify studies that meet your inclusion criteria, and exclude those that do not align with your research question. Obtain and review the full text of selected articles to further assess their relevance and quality. Be sure to download relevant papers and keep track of citations in a reference manager or CAQDAS. ATLAS.ti Web Paper Search 2.0 function can help you find your literature and keep track of your citations.

Data compilation

Compile relevant data from each study, including study objectives, methods, data samples, findings, and limitations. Use tools like spreadsheets or qualitative analysis software such as ATLAS.ti to organize and manage the extracted data. A well-structured data extraction strategy ensures that all pertinent information is captured and analyzed systematically.

Analyze the literature

Researchers should identify common themes, patterns, and gaps in the literature. Using CAQDAS such as ATLAS.ti can facilitate the process of reading and categorizing all the different pieces of information in each article, as researchers can code the text and easily retrieve any information as they write up their literature review. Also, it is important to critically evaluate the quality and rigour of the studies, considering their strengths and weaknesses. In this way, researchers can transparently report and evaluate relevant material to ensure useful findings.

Writing the literature review

Writing a literature review involves ensuring clarity and coherence, making it accessible to a broader audience. When writing the literature review, it is important to paraphrase and use your own words instead of quoting the articles directly, as this conveys a critical understanding of the literature. You might want to directly quote key or impacting sentences from other studies, in which case it is crucial to cite the original source correctly. Conclude by summarizing the main findings, discussing their implications for your research topic and pointing out important unanswered questions, which your study aims to address. Ensuring the review is focused and adhering to literature review guidelines is essential for writing a high-quality research paper or review article.

Reference tracking

Use a citation management tool like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley to keep track of your references and format them correctly. Follow a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) as required by your discipline or the publication to which you are submitting your review. Keep detailed notes and organize your references from the beginning to avoid confusion later. Don't just summarize the studies; critically evaluate their methods, findings, and contributions to the field. Stay current with newly appeared literature and updates in your field to ensure your literature review reflects the most recent research. Systematically reviewing the literature and following literature search reporting guidelines will help in maintaining a high standard for your review.

Conclusion

Conducting a literature review is a crucial aspect of qualitative research. From dissertation literature reviews or narrative and systematic reviews, by following these literature review guidelines, you can conduct a thorough literature review that provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on your research topic. This approach is essential for writing effective literature reviews, ultimately advancing the field and guiding future research. Defining clear research questions, systematically searching for and analyzing relevant literature, and utilizing tools like ATLAS.ti streamline the process and ensure thorough data organization and analysis. By adhering to these best practices, you will produce literature reviews that significantly contribute to your field and pave the way for innovative and impactful research.