What Are The Skills Needed To Conduct A Literature Review?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A literature review requires several skills:

The ability to search for and access publications on your research topic

.

Reading and analyzing sources on your topic

.

Evaluating data and publications

to determine which literature makes a noteworthy contribution to the scholarship on your topic.

How would you conduct a literature review?

Choose a topic.

Your literature review should be

guided by a central research question

. Remember, it is not a collection of loosely related studies in a field but instead represents background and research developments related to a specific research question, interpreted and analyzed by you in a synthesized way.

What are the 5 rules for writing a literature review?

  • Rule 1: Define a Topic and Audience.
  • Rule 2: Search and Re-search the Literature.
  • Rule 3: Take Notes While Reading.
  • Rule 4: Choose the Type of Review You Wish to Write.
  • Rule 5: Keep the Review Focused, but Make It of Broad Interest.
  • Rule 6: Be Critical and Consistent.

What is important to include in a literature review?

A literature review should set the scene,

demonstrate current knowledge, identify gaps in the field

and, if relevant, demonstrate where your research fits. It should be a personal critical appraisal of the current knowledge in a subject area.

What are 3 key components of the literature review?

Just like most academic papers, literature reviews also must contain at least three basic elements:

an introduction or background information section; the body of the review containing the discussion of sources

; and, finally, a conclusion and/or recommendations section to end the paper.

What is literature review sample?

A literature review is

a survey of scholarly sources that provides an overview of a particular topic

. It generally follows a discussion of the paper’s thesis statement or the study’s goals or purpose. *This sample paper was adapted by the Writing Center from Key, K.L., Rich, C., DeCristofaro, C., Collins, S. (2010).

What is the four literature review strategies?

Select only those sources that are most relevant to your project. 3) Analyzing:

summarize, synthesize, critique, and compare

your sources in order to assess the field of research as a whole. 4) Drafting: develop a thesis or claim to make about the existing research and decide how to organize your material.

Where do I begin in conducting a literature review?

Start by searching broadly. Literature for your review will typically be

acquired through scholarly books, journal articles, and/or dissertations

. Develop an understanding of what is out there, what terms are accurate and helpful, etc., and keep track of all of it with citation management tools.

What is the first step of literature review?

The first step is

defining your task — choosing a topic and noting the questions you have about the topic

. This will provide a focus that guides your strategy in step II and will provide potential words to use in searches in step III. 2. Develop a strategy.

What should you avoid in a literature review?

  • Over-reliance on low-quality sources.
  • A lack of landmark/seminal literature.
  • A lack of current literature.
  • Description instead of integration and synthesis.
  • Irrelevant or unfocused content.
  • Poor chapter structure and layout.
  • Plagiarism and poor referencing.

What should not be included in a literature review?


Do not include extended quotations

, and use direct quotes sparingly, if at all. The literature review is a synthesis and analysis of research on your topic in your own words. Most ideas can be and should be paraphrased. Professors sometimes perceive undue reliance on quotations as intellectual laziness.

How do you end a literature review?

The conclusion should not be burdened with an unnecessary chain of details. It should be as

precise and easy to understand

as possible. You should mention important key points and finding. Make sure to put all points in a flow so the reader can understand your researches in one go.

What are the characteristics of a good literature review?

  • 1.It should be wide enough to cover or to provide enough information required on your topic.
  • It must identify studies and models that support your topic.
  • 3.It must be narrow enough to eliminate irrelevant information from your research.
  • It must lay a strong foundation for your topic.

How many sources should a literature review have?

Example: A paper that has 10 pages of content (the body of the paper) needs at least

10 sources

in its literature review. A thesis of 100 pages (in the body) includes at least 100 sources.

What is the aim of a literature review?

A literature review

establishes familiarity with and understanding of current research in a particular field before carrying out a new investigation

. Conducting a literature review should enable you to find out what research has already been done and identify what is unknown within your topic.

How do you start a literature review example?

  1. Make a list of keywords. Start by creating a list of keywords related to your research question. …
  2. Search for relevant sources. Use your keywords to begin searching for sources. …
  3. Take notes and cite your sources. …
  4. Chronological. …
  5. Thematic. …
  6. Methodological. …
  7. Theoretical. …
  8. Introduction.
Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.