Literature Review

A comprehensive survey of existing research on a topic, synthesizing findings from multiple sources to identify gaps, trends, and areas for further study. Literature reviews are common in theses, dissertations, and research papers.

Why it matters

A literature review establishes the foundation for your research by showing what is already known about your topic and where gaps exist. It demonstrates that your research question is grounded in existing scholarship and that your study makes a meaningful contribution. Without a thorough literature review, your research lacks context and justification.

How to use

Begin by searching academic databases for relevant sources, then organize them by theme, methodology, or chronology. Synthesize the findings rather than summarizing each source individually; a good literature review weaves sources together to tell a coherent story. Conclude by identifying gaps or contradictions in the existing research that your study will address.

In academic writing

Literature reviews appear as standalone sections in theses and dissertations, as introduction sections in research articles, and as entire published papers (called "review articles"). Undergraduate students typically write their first literature review in research methods courses. At the graduate level, the literature review is one of the most scrutinized sections of a thesis, as it demonstrates the student's mastery of the scholarly conversation.