What is a Narrative Literature Review?

A narrative literature review provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on a specific topic. They are descriptive and often used to summarize, interpret, and critically evaluate the current state of knowledge in a particular field.

Narrative literature reviews play a crucial role in the research process. They allow researchers to describe what is known on a particular topic through an examination and critique of the existing literature. Unlike other reviews, narrative reviews offer flexibility and depth. A narrative literature review, also known as a traditional literature review, is a comprehensive and critical assessment of the literature on a particular topic. It is often used to summarize and synthesize existing research, identify gaps, and provide context for new research. Unlike other reviews adhering to strict methodologies to answer specific research questions, narrative reviews embrace a broader scope, allowing for a more interpretive and holistic analysis.

The flexibility of narrative literature reviews is particularly advantageous for exploring complex or under-researched areas, integrating diverse perspectives, and identifying research gaps that may not be apparent through more rigid review types. It enables researchers to draw nuanced conclusions and generate new insights. A narrative systematic review focuses on providing a detailed, qualitative synthesis of research findings on a specific topic. It begins with a clearly defined research question and employs a structured and thorough search strategy to identify all relevant studies. The review follows explicit criteria for including and excluding studies which leads to a comprehensive and methodical approach.

When to conduct a narrative review?

Narrative reviews are used for exploring emerging areas of research or generating new ways of thinking about well-established topics. Narrative reviews can highlight new interpretations and identify gaps that may not be apparent in other review methods. They are usually used across various research contexts. For example, in healthcare, researchers might conduct a narrative literature review to complement a systematic review. It can offer a comprehensive background on a topic that may involve a detailed discussion of studies not included in the systematic review due to specific inclusion criteria.

These reviews contribute to scholarly knowledge by addressing broad themes and identifying gaps that narrower, more systematic approaches might miss. By summarizing and critiquing the literature, narrative reviews provide a contextual foundation that can inform and guide more systematic research efforts. This approach ensures that subsequent studies are well-grounded in the current understanding of the topic.

How do narrative literature reviews differ from other reviews?

Narrative literature reviews are unique because they offer a broad and interpretative overview of existing literature on a topic. They summarize key themes, trends, and gaps in the research. This approach provides insights into how knowledge in a field has developed into its current state.

The methodology of narrative literature reviews is flexible and less structured than other review methodologies. Researchers conduct a broad search of the literature, guided by their research question but without following predefined rules. They select studies based on their judgment and expertise. This allows for a deep exploration of the topic and a comprehensive understanding of complex or emerging issues.

Narrative literature reviews are organized around themes, concepts, or trends which makes it easier to describe and interpret the literature. It highlights key findings and provides context. The narrative format helps integrate different perspectives and identify patterns and relationships in the research.

These reviews also offer depth through critical evaluation and interpretation. Researchers look at the strengths and weaknesses of the studies. They discuss limitations and highlight important contributions and gaps.

Overall, narrative literature reviews are comprehensive, flexible, and interpretative. They offer a broad overview and in-depth analysis of the literature. They are valuable for understanding the development of knowledge and identifying future research directions.

How to conduct narrative literature reviews?

There are different approaches to conducting a narrative literature review. Baumeister and Leary (1997) provide a detailed framework focusing on a systematic approach to reviewing and synthesizing literature. In contrast, Green, Johnson, and Adams (2006) emphasize defining the topic and scope as separate steps and integrate writing and revising more succinctly. Baumeister and Leary place greater emphasis on critical evaluation and synthesis, with a more detailed revision process.

Here's an overview of the general recommended steps:

1. Identify the research question: To begin a narrative literature review, it is essential to formulate a clear research question. This question should be specific enough to allow for an in-depth analysis yet broad enough to encompass significant aspects of the topic. Defining a precise research question ensures that the review has a focused direction and purpose.

2. Conduct the literature search: The next step involves conducting a comprehensive literature search. This requires identifying relevant databases and sources, such as academic journals, books, and conference papers. Utilizing a wide range of keywords and search terms related to the research question is crucial for capturing all pertinent studies. Including both seminal works and recent studies ensures a thorough understanding of the topic's development and current state.

3. Select relevant studies: Once the literature has been gathered, selecting the most relevant studies is critical. Applying inclusion and exclusion criteria helps filter out studies that are not directly related to the research question. Focus on high-quality, peer-reviewed journal articles and reputable sources. The selected studies should provide a balanced and comprehensive view of the topic.

4. Organize the literature: Organizing the literature involves grouping studies by themes, methodologies, or theoretical frameworks. Creating an outline that logically arranges the literature into sections or categories helps in structuring the review. Highlighting key findings, debates, and gaps in each section provides a clear and coherent narrative. This organization facilitates the synthesis of the literature, where the main findings of the selected studies are summarized and compared.

5. Synthesize the literature: This involves summarizing the main findings of the selected studies and comparing and contrasting them. Identifying common themes and discrepancies among studies helps integrate the findings into a coherent narrative that addresses the research question. Synthesizing the literature allows for a comprehensive understanding of the topic and helps highlight trends, relationships, and key insights from the body of research.

6. Evaluate: Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each study, and discussing methodological limitations are essential. Highlighting the implications of the findings for the research question adds depth and insight to the review.

Conclusion

Narrative literature reviews are a versatile and valuable part of the research process, offering comprehensive and critical analyses of existing literature. Narrative reviews provide a thorough understanding of what is known, identify gaps in knowledge, and guide future research directions by integrating and synthesizing relevant studies. Although they have limitations, such as a lack of standardization, the strengths of narrative reviews make them indispensable for researchers, educators, and policymakers. By adhering to best practices and maintaining a critical and reflexive approach, narrative literature reviews can make significant contributions to advancing knowledge and informing practice.

References

1. Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1997). Writing Narrative Literature Reviews. Review of General Psychology, 1(3), 311-320. doi:10.1037/1089-2680.1.3.311
2. Green, B. N., Johnson, C. D., & Adams, A. (2006). Writing narrative literature reviews for peer-reviewed journals: Secrets of the trade. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 5(3), 101-117. doi:10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60142-6