How to write a good literature review: the basics

Wondering how to write a good literature review for your master’s or PhD in Africa? You came to the right place! In this blog, we share the basics to help you get started on the right foot.

Writing a good literature review is a critical skill for any researcher. It involves summarizing, analyzing, and synthesizing existing research on a particular topic. Here are the basics to help you write a good literature review:

How to write a good literature review – 10 Simple Steps

1. Understanding the Purpose

A literature review serves several purposes. The first purpose is to place your research within the context of existing knowledge (contextualizing research). The second is highlighting gaps in the current research that your study aims to fill (identifying gaps). The third purpose is to ensure that your research does not duplicate existing studies (avoiding duplication). The fourth purpose is to provide a theoretical framework for your research (building a framework).

2. Selecting a Topic

Choose a topic that would be interesting to yourself and the wider scientific community, and relevant to your field of study. Ensure it is neither too broad nor too narrow. A well-defined topic helps in focusing your review and making it more coherent.

3. Conducting a Comprehensive Search

Use various sources to gather literature. These can include academic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, JSTOR), library Catalogs: University libraries often have extensive collections, and reference lists of the articles you’re reading. 

4. Evaluating Sources

Not all sources are equally good. Evaluate the credibility and relevance of each source by considering various factors such as author credentials (are the authors experts in the field), publication (Is the source published in a reputable journal or by a reputable publisher – check our previous article on avoiding predatory journals for more information?), and date of publication (is the information current and relevant?)

5. Organizing the Literature

Organize your sources in a way that makes sense for your review. Common methods include chronological (arranging sources by publication date), thematic (grouping sources by themes or topics), methodological (organizing by research methods used), or theoretical (grouping by theoretical approaches).

6. Writing the Review

Write the review, taking care to include relevant information in each section, as follows: 

IntroductionIntroduce the Topic: Provide a brief overview of the topic and its significance.
State the Purpose: Clearly state the purpose of the literature review.
Outline the Structure: Give a brief outline of how the review is organized.
Body Summarize and Synthesize: Summarize the key findings of each source and synthesize them to show how they relate to each other.
Analyze and Critique: Critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each source.
Identify Gaps: Highlight gaps in the existing research and how your study aims to address them.
ConclusionSummarize Key Findings: Summarize the main findings of the review.
Highlight Contributions: Emphasize the contributions of your review to the field.
Suggest Future Research: Provide suggestions for future research based on the gaps identified.

7. Citing Sources

Properly cite all sources using the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). This not only gives credit to the original authors but also strengthens the credibility of your review.

8. Revising and Editing

Revising and editing your research involved three key steps: proofreading (check for grammatical and typographical errors), seeking feedback (get feedback from peers or mentors to improve the quality of your review) and revising (make necessary revisions based on the feedback received).

9. Using Tools and Software

Consider using tools and software to help manage your literature review. Reference management software tools like EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley can help organize and cite sources. Plagiarism checkers ensure your review is original by using plagiarism detection tools. This is key for academic integrity and is likely to be checked by your institution before you submit your work, so don’t skip this step. 

10. Maintaining Ethical Standards

Maintain high ethical standards for your work by avoiding plagiarism and being objective. Always give credit to the original authors, avoid copying text without proper citation, and present a balanced view of the literature, avoiding bias.

Tips for Writing a Good Literature Review

  • Be Selective: Focus on the most relevant and high-quality sources.
  • Be Critical: Don’t just summarize; analyze and critique the sources.
  • Be Coherent: Ensure your review is well-organized and flows logically.
  • Be Concise: Avoid unnecessary details and focus on the main points.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Lack of Focus: Ensure your review has a clear focus and is not too broad.
  • Poor Organization: Organize your review in a logical and coherent manner.
  • Inadequate Analysis: Go beyond summarizing and provide critical analysis.
  • Ignoring Gaps: Identify and highlight gaps in the existing research.

Conclusion

Writing a good literature review requires careful planning, thorough research, and critical analysis. By following these steps and tips, you can create a comprehensive and insightful literature review that contributes to your field of study.

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