What Is A Scholarly Literature Review?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The literature review is

a written overview of major writings and other sources on a selected topic

. Sources covered in the review may include scholarly journal articles, books, government reports, Web sites, etc. The literature review provides a description, summary and evaluation of each source.

What is the meaning of scholarly literature?


A formal, reflective survey of the most significant and relevant works of published and peer-reviewed academic research on a particular topic, summarizing and discussing their findings and methodologies

in order to reflect the current state of knowledge in the field and the key questions raised.

How do you write a scholarly literature review?

  1. Narrow your topic and select papers accordingly.
  2. Search for literature.
  3. Read the selected articles thoroughly and evaluate them.
  4. Organize the selected papers by looking for patterns and by developing subtopics.
  5. Develop a thesis or purpose statement.
  6. Write the paper.
  7. Review your work.

What material is relevant in a scholarly literature review?

A literature review consists of an overview, a summary, and an evaluation (“critique”) of the current state of knowledge about a specific area of research. It may also include a discussion of

methodological issues and suggestions

for future research.

What is the purpose of a scholarly review of research literature?

The purpose of a literature review is

to provide an overview of the current knowledge on a topic, and/or to provide a context for new research

.

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 are the components of a literature review?

  • a description of the publication;
  • a summary of the publication’s main points;
  • a discussion of gaps in research;
  • an evaluation of the publication’s contribution to the topic.

How do you know if a source is scholarly?

  1. The source is longer than 10 pages.
  2. Has a works cited or bibliography.
  3. It does not attempt to persuade or bias the reader.
  4. It attempts to persuade or bias the reader, but treats the topic objectively, the information is well-supported, and it includes a works cited or bibliography.

What are the characteristics of a scholarly source?

  • Have a serious appearance.
  • The words “Journal,” “Transactions,” “Proceedings,” or “Quarterly,” may appear in the title.
  • Written for professors, students or researchers.
  • Signed by the authors.
  • Articles are reviewed by a board of experts or “peer reviewers.”

What is an example of a scholarly source?

Scholarly Authors: Experts such as scientists, faculty, and historians Examples:

Journal of Asian History

, New England Journal of Medicine, Chemical Reviews, Educational Psychologist; books from University presses such as Oxford University Press and the University of California Press

What are the five sources of literature review?

When we talk about information sources for a literature review in education or nursing, we generally mean these five areas:

the internet, reference material and other books, empirical or evidence-based articles in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and papers, dissertations and theses, and grey

How do you select relevant materials in a literature review?

  1. Spend some time reading the descriptions of the databases in your subject area.
  2. Contact the Library to get advice from a librarian on appropriate databases.
  3. Some topics cross over subject/theoretical boundaries, and librarians can suggest databases that you may not have considered.

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 is literature review done?

Steps in the literature review process


Read and evaluate the sources and to determine their suitability to the understanding of topic at hand

(see the Evaluating sources section). Analyse, interpret and discuss the findings and conclusions of the sources you selected.

What are the four major goals of a literature review?

To determine what exists in the scholarly literature. To identify possible gap(s) in the scholarly

literature for further research

.

To inform the research topic, theory (if applicable), and associated methodology

.

To compare/contrast against findings resulting from the current study

.

What are the characteristics of a good literature review?

A good literature review shows

signs of synthesis and understanding of the topic

. There should be strong evidence of analytical thinking shown through the connections you make between the literature being reviewed.

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.