The literature review consists of the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
In the Introduction
- Define the problem or state the thesis.
- Identify overall trends in what has been published on the topic. Identify conflicts in theory, methodology, evidence, conclusions and gaps in research and new perspectives on the topic.
- State the reason for reviewing the literature; explain the criteria to be used in analyzing and comparing the research articles; explain why certain literature is or is not included.
In the Body
- Describe the articles or documents in detail.
- Group articles together according to types, such as case studies, reviews, empirical studies, or according to the conclusions of the authors, or the specific purposes or objectives.
- Compare and evaluate the articles or documents.
In the Conclusion
- Summarize the major contributions of the significant articles or documents to the topic under review.
- Evaluate the current state of the research for the topic under review. Explain inconsistencies in theory or conclusions, gaps in research, and point out issues that need to be studied further.
- Provide insight into the relationship between the topic under review and the larger discipline of which it is a part. Provide implications of the studies or documents discussed for the profession or discipline at large.
Next Step: See Components of a Literature Review
