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Literature Reviews

Elements of a Literature Review

All literature reviews contain the following elements:

  • Introduction
  • Body
  • Conclusion
  • Reference List

See the tabs to right for further explanation of each of these elements.

The introduction to a literature review should include the following:

  • Define the topic to provide context for the review
  • Identify trends in previous publications
  • Give your reasoning for reviewing the literature (Why is it necessary? What is your point of view?)
  • Explain the criteria that was used to conduct the search
  • Indicate how the review is organized

The body of the literature review will discuss each source. Find patterns and ways to tie the main points together. This can be organized thematically, chronologically, or methodologically.

Thematic-organized around a topic or issue

Chronological-organized according to when the articles were published or according to when trends took place

Methodological-organized by the methods used by the researchers

 

The conclusion should summarize the literature review. Discuss any implications drawn from the literature and what further research is needed.

A reference list at the end of a literature review is essential. Citing all sources gives credit to the authors of the literature, allows others to find the literature for evaluation or their own research, and helps to avoid plagiarism. For more information on creating a reference list, see our Citation Styles guide.

Adding Content & Organizing the Review

The literature review is about both content and form.  In terms of content, keep in mind that your literature review is intended to:

  • Set up a theoretical framework for your own research
  • Show a clear understanding of the key concepts/ideas/studies/models related to your topic
  • Demonstrate knowledge about the history of your research area and any related controversies
  • Illustrate that you are able to evaluate and synthesize the work of others
  • Clarify significant definitions and terminology
  • Develop a space in your discipline for your research

Some questions to ask yourself when you begin to write your first draft include:

  • How will my literature review be organized: Chronologically, thematically, conceptually, methodologically or a combination?
  • What section headings will I be using?
  • How do the various studies relate to each other?
  • What contributions do they make to the field?
  • What are the limitations of a study/where are the gaps in the research?
  • And finally but most importantly, how does my own research fit into what has already been done?

Some questions to ask after the first draft:

  • Is there a logical flow from section to section, paragraph to paragraph, sentence to sentence?
  • Does the content proceed from topic to topic?
  • Does your conclusion match your introduction?
  • Were you consistent in documenting and using the correct citation style?

Attribution

The content of this page was developed from Chapter 8, "Writing a Literature Review" in:

Frederiksen, L., & Phelps, S. F. (2017). Literature reviews for education and nursing graduate students. Rebus Community. https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/literature-reviews-for-education-and-nursing-graduate-students