Definitions
“the literature”: all the scholarly writing about a topic
literature search (definition): a well thought out and organized search for all of the books, articles, dissertations, and other authoritative sources published on a topic.
Literature review (definition): synthesizing sources from the literature search, usually in writing.
Types of Reviews
- Narrative: an overview of the current state of the literature. Limited by a number of sources. (ex. 5-10 articles)
- Systematic: Comprehensive overview of all published and unpublished research on the topic, limited by time frame (ex. 10 years).
- Meta-analysis: Uses statistical analysis to combine the data from different studies
- Meta-synthesis: Uses non-statistical methods to compare research studies by theme or theory
Source: U of Toledo Guide
Goals of a literature Review
- Give an overview of the current state of the literature
- Find a gap in the literature, or address a business or professional issue
- Provide a synthesis of the issues, trends, and concepts surrounding your research topic or research project
- Demonstrate your ability to search for, find, select, and analyze credible sources
Foundational Literature
- Books or articles that developed or theorized about the topic
- Lo older sources or authors frequently cited in the introduction of current research articles
- For more info: Theoretical & Conceptual Frameworks Guide
Research & Reviews
- Original research articles or literature reviews
- Find in databases and Primo, Google Scholar, or ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
- Can be unpublished conference presentations or dissertations (Primo or conference websites)
Search Techniques
- Searching for Sources covers basic search techniques with keywords
- Advanced Searching covers more advanced techniques like citation chaining
Save Sources & Searches
Our Staying Organized With Research Guide covers options for saving and organizing searches and sources.
Comparing your Sources
Before you begin writing, it’s helpful to summarize the differences between sources into a table. Here are some templates you can use for this step.
Source Comparison Chart Worksheet (DOC)
Source Comparison Chart Workbook (EXCEL)
Plan For Your Sources Worksheet (DOC)
Plan for Sources Workbook (EXCEL)
Guides for Graduate Students
These guides from other libraries provide detailed advice appropriate for graduate and undergraduate research projects.