What Is Literature Review?

A literature review is an overview of the available research on a specific scientific topic. It is a

comprehensive examination of existing studies, theories, and research findings that are relevant to
a particular subject of interest.
The purpose of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize what has already been
discovered about a topic. By reviewing the existing research, it helps researchers understand the
current state of knowledge, identify gaps in the field, and see how new research can contribute to
the ongoing academic conversation.
In short, a literature review provides a foundation for new research by situating it within the context
of existing knowledge, helping researchers build on what has already been studied. It is an essential
step in the research process, whether it's part of a larger project or a standalone product.

Definition of Literature review:

1. Machi & McEvoy (2016): They describe a literature review as “a written document that
presents a logically argued case based on a comprehensive understanding of the current
state of knowledge about a topic.”
2. Creswell (2018): According to Creswell, a literature review “is a summary of journals,
books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research, which helps establish
a context and justify the need for the study.”

Function of a literature review

The function of a literature review is to serve several important purposes in academic research:
1. Summarize Existing Research: A literature review provides a concise summary of the current
research on a specific topic, highlighting key findings, trends, and methodologies. It helps
researchers understand what has already been explored in the field.
2. Provide Context for New Research: It situates new research within the context of existing
knowledge. This allows the researcher to demonstrate how their study adds value and fills gaps
in the existing body of work.
3. Identify Gaps in the Existing Literature: A key function of a literature review is to highlight
areas that have not been sufficiently explored or areas where there is conflicting information.
This helps researchers identify important questions for further study.
4. Part of a Larger Work: A literature review often forms a section of a larger research project,
such as the background section of a research article or thesis. It provides the theoretical and
empirical foundation for the new research.
5. Stand-Alone Product: In some cases, a literature review can be a stand-alone product, such
as a review article, which provides significant research merit by itself.
6. Establish Theoretical Framework: A literature review helps in building the theoretical
framework of a study by synthesizing relevant theories and concepts. This framework forms
the foundation upon which new research questions and hypotheses are developed.
7. Improve Methodology: Reviewing previous research helps identify successful methodologies
and research designs used by others in the field. Researchers can adopt these methods or
modify them to suit their own study, improving the quality of their research.
8. Avoid Duplication: By examining the literature, researchers ensure that their study doesn’t
duplicate existing work. Instead, it allows them to address new angles, unanswered questions,
or explore under-researched areas.
9. Clarify Definitions and Concepts: Literature reviews help to clarify important terms,
concepts, and definitions that are central to a research topic. Understanding these terms is
crucial to ensure clarity and consistency in the new research.
10. Highlight Key Debates or Controversies: A literature review often identifies ongoing
debates, differing viewpoints, or controversies in the field. By recognizing these, researchers
can position their study to contribute to these discussions and offer new insights.

Types of literature reviews:

• Narrative Reviews (Traditional Reviews):
o Provide a broad overview of a field.
o Not strictly methodological, more descriptive than analytical.
• Expert Reviews:
o Based on the expertise of an author.
o Invited by journals to offer insights on a topic.
• Critical Reviews:
o Evaluate and analyze existing research.
o Provide a specific critique or argument about literature.
• Systematic Reviews:
o Follow a rigorous, standardized methodology to synthesize evidence.
o Aimed at answering specific research questions, minimizing bias.
• Meta-Analyses:
 o Use statistical methods to combine data from multiple studies.
o Provide a more generalized conclusion through quantitative analysis.
• Scoping Reviews:
o Aim to map the existing literature on a broad topic.
o Focus on identifying key concepts, theories, and types of evidence available in the
field.
o Help to clarify a research question and identify knowledge gaps.
• Umbrella Reviews:
o Review and synthesize findings from multiple systematic reviews on a particular
topic.
o Focus on summarizing evidence from already-conducted reviews, rather than
primary studies.
o Provide a high-level overview of evidence across multiple fields or questions.
• Realist Reviews:
o Focus on understanding how and why interventions work within a specific
context.
o Aim to build theory and explain mechanisms of action behind successful
outcomes.
o Useful for policy-making or practical applications in specific settings.

Apologies for missing that part. Here's the updated Review Format section with the missing
information from your PDF:

Review Format
• Before Starting the Review:
o Clarify the Goal:
▪ Who is the audience for the review?
▪ How will the review be published?
▪ How much space or word count is available for the review?
 o Determine whether the review will be a stand-alone product, part of a larger
research project, or just a background section of a research article.
• The Literature Review’s Role:
o The literature review helps to introduce the topic and place new research in the
context of existing knowledge.
o Readers of introductions often want to quickly get to the core of the article—the
research hypothesis and results. Therefore, the literature review must be carefully
curated.
• Key Points to Keep in Mind:
o Stick to a Tight Word Limit: Keep the review concise and focused.
o Be Selective: Only include the most relevant literature that directly contributes to
your research.
o Be Brief: Limit the details you provide; focus on summarizing key findings and
concepts without unnecessary elaboration.
• Putting Together a Background Section:
o If writing a background section for your thesis or research project:
▪ Include introductory definitions.
▪ Offer a conceptual introduction to the topic.
▪ Discuss the state of the research in the field.
▪ Clearly articulate the relevance of your topic.
▪ Emphasize the need for the review and state its objectives.

Review Protocol
• A review protocol is a plan for the review process. It helps researchers think through the
content and methods in advance to ensure that the review is thorough and realistic.
• Importance of a Review Protocol:
o A protocol helps to structure the review process, ensuring that it follows a clear plan
and methodology.
o It is an essential element in a systematic review to ensure consistency and reduce
bias.
 • Using a Review Protocol:
o Following a review protocol helps researchers stay on track and ensures that all
necessary steps are followed to produce a comprehensive and unbiased review.
• PRISMA-P Tool:
o The PRISMA-P tool is a standardized checklist that helps authors create a
systematic review protocol.
o It provides a clear framework to ensure all critical aspects of a systematic review
are included.

Where to Look
When doing a literature review, it’s important to know where to search for information. Here's
what to consider:
• Considerations for Where to Look:
o Availability and Accessibility of Sources: Make sure the sources you need are
easy to get.
o Relevance of the Literature: Choose sources that are closely related to your topic.
o Research Volume: Think about whether your topic has a lot of research or if it's
something newer with less information available.
o Your Own Resources: Consider how much time and energy you have to find and
review the literature.
o Goals, Audience, and Format: Your review’s purpose (e.g., paper, thesis) and who
will read it (e.g., professors, researchers) will affect where and what you search for.
• Where to Search:
o Research Databases: These are online places where you can find research papers
and articles:
▪ PsycINFO
▪ PubMed (free access)
▪ CINAHL
▪ ERIC
▪ Sociological Abstracts
▪ EconLit
 ▪ Web of Science
• Gray Literature:
o This includes sources that aren’t usually published in journals, such as:
▪ Government reports or web content.
▪ Documents from professional organizations (like the American
Psychological Association).
• Other Search Methods:
o Hand Searching: Manually look for articles in journals or books if they are not
available online.
o Reference Mining: Check the references for useful articles to find more sources.
o Finding the Most-Cited Articles: Use tools like Google Scholar or Web of
Science to find the most popular articles in your area of research. These articles are
often important in the field.

How to Look: Developing Search Strategies

Developing an effective search strategy is crucial for finding the right literature for your review.
Here's how you can do it:
• Search Terms:
o Choose the right keywords: Think of the most relevant words or phrases that
describe your topic. These words will help you find articles and studies related to
your research question.
o Use related terms: Sometimes, different studies use different words for the same
concept. So, try synonyms or related terms to make your search broader.
• Boolean Operators:
o AND: Use this to combine terms and narrow your search. For example, "students
AND psychology" will find results that include both words.
o OR: Use this to include any of the terms and broaden your search. For example,
"students OR pupils" will find articles using either term.
o NOT: Use this to exclude certain words from your search. For example, "students
NOT undergraduates" will exclude articles about undergraduates.
 • Wildcards:
o You can use a wildcard symbol (like an asterisk * or a question mark ?) to search
for variations of a word. For example, improv* will search for words like improve,
improvement, improved, etc.
• Exact Phrases:
o To search for an exact phrase, use quotation marks. For example, “mental health”
will find results that include that exact phrase.
• Search Filters:
o Use filters to narrow your search. You can filter by date, study type, language, or
other factors to find the most relevant and recent studies.
• Review Scope:
o Make sure the scope of your search matches the focus of your review. Be clear
about whether you want to focus on a broad topic or a more specific one.

What to Look For: Deciding What Literature to Include

When deciding which literature to include in your review, it’s important to carefully consider the
quality, relevance, and suitability of each source. Here's how to make these decisions:
• Types of Publication:
o Primary vs. Secondary: Primary sources are original research studies or data (e.g.,
experiments, surveys). Secondary sources summarize or analyze primary research
(e.g., reviews, textbooks). Focus on primary research but also use secondary
sources for context.
o Type of Information: Decide whether you need empirical data (actual research
findings) or opinion papers (theories or perspectives from experts).
o Methodological Approach: Consider whether the study is qualitative (descriptive
research like interviews or case studies) or quantitative (using numbers and
statistics). Choose based on your research focus.
• Eligibility Criteria:
o Inclusion: Identify what you want to include in your review. For example, you may
want studies published within the last 10 years, or studies that focus on a particular
method or population.
 o Exclusion: Also define what you don’t want to include. For example, exclude
studies that are irrelevant to your research question, outdated, or from sources that
aren’t credible.
• Screening:
o Title and Abstract Screening: Start by reviewing the titles and abstracts of papers
to decide if they seem relevant to your review. If they are, move to the next step.
o Full-Text Screening: After narrowing down by title and abstract, read the full
papers to ensure that they meet your inclusion criteria.

How to Organize: Managing Your Materials

Organizing the materials you collect for your literature review is crucial for staying on top of your
research and ensuring everything is easy to access and reference. Here’s how to do it effectively:
• Citation Management Programs:
o Use citation management tools to keep track of your sources and organize your
references. These tools can help store articles, generate citations, and organize your
sources efficiently. Some examples include:
▪ EndNote (paid tool)
▪ Mendeley (free tool)
▪ Zotero (free tool)
o These tools also allow you to create folders or collections based on different themes
or topics in your research.
• Manual Management:
o If you prefer not to use citation software, you can organize your materials manually
by:
▪ Creating a spreadsheet (e.g., Excel or Google Sheets) where you track each
source’s title, author(s), publication date, and key points.
▪ Using folders or binders to physically organize printed copies of studies or
articles.
▪ Keeping a notes system to jot down important ideas or findings from each
article for easy access later.
 • Record Keeping:
o Whether you use software or manual methods, record keeping is essential. Ensure
you keep accurate records of all articles, their key findings, and how they contribute
to your research question.
o Make sure to note whether the article has been fully reviewed, whether it fits your
inclusion criteria, and its relevance to the sections of your review.

How to Abstract: Extracting Key Information from the Literature

To efficiently extract key information from literature:
• Use Data Extraction Forms:
o Use tools like Excel or Google Sheets to create a form for recording key details.
• Key Information to Extract:
o Study Details: Title, authors, and publication year.
o Research Objectives: Main research question or objective.
o Methods: Study methodology (qualitative, quantitative).
o Key Findings: Main results related to your research question.
o Limitations: Study limitations and potential biases.
o Implications: Author's recommendations or implications for future research.
• Organize Extracted Information:
o Group similar studies together to easily compare findings and identify patterns.

How to Assess: Critical Appraising

• Internal Validity: Check if the study's methods and design are sound and suitable for the
research question.
• Risk of Bias:
• Selection bias: when comparing two groups to assess the effect of an investigation.
• Performance bias: whether there may be effects that originate in the knowledge of the
study condition
• Detection bias: if the reviewer of evaluator get pre-idea about the experimental
assignment
• Attrition bias: if a particular group is withdrawn from the study
 • Reporting bias: purpose selection of particular results by the study authors.
• External Validity: Evaluate if the study's findings can be generalized to other populations
or settings.
• Relevance: Assess if the study is directly relevant to your research question and adds value
to your review.

How to Synthesize: Determining What to Say About the Literature

• Compare Findings: Look for patterns, similarities, and differences across studies.
Identify common themes or conflicting results.
• Summarize Key Points: Focus on the most important findings related to your research
question. Highlight the studies that are most relevant and impactful.
• Identify Gaps: Point out areas where there is insufficient research or where findings are
inconclusive.
• Formulate Insights: Based on the literature, draw conclusions about the state of the
research in your field. What can be said with certainty? What still needs further study?
• Connect to Your Research: Relate the findings to your own research question, showing
how your study fits into the current body of knowledge.

HOW TO DOCUMENT: Write-up your Literature Review

BACKGROUND SECTION
• Introductory Definitions
• Conceptual Introduction
• Introducing the State of the Research
• Introducing the Relevance of the Topic
• and the Need for a Review
• Literature Review Objective and Review Questions
METHOD SECTION OF YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW
• Search and Source Documentation
• Eligibility Criteria Documentation
• Data Abstraction, Critical Appraisal, and Synthesis Methods
RESULTS SECTION OF YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW
• Literature Flow Results
• Individual Includes Overview
• Findings Across Includes—Synthesis
DISCUSSION SECTION OF YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW
• Summary of Findings
• Quality of Evidence
• Interesting Discussion Points
• Putting the Results in Context
• Limitations
• Implications for Practice
• Future Research
BIBLIOGRAPHY SECTION
APPENDIX SECTION

What Are Boolean Operators?

Boolean operators are terms used in search engines, databases, and online research tools to help
refine and narrow down search results. They allow you to combine or exclude certain keywords to
improve the accuracy of your search.
Types of Boolean Operators:
• AND: Narrows your search by including only results that contain both of the search terms.
o Example: "students AND psychology" will show results that include both
"students" and "psychology."
• OR: Broadens your search by including results that contain either of the search terms.
o Example: "students OR pupils" will show results that include either "students" or
"pupils."
• NOT: Excludes results that contain a specific term, helping to narrow your search.
o Example: "students NOT undergraduates" will show results about students but
exclude those related to undergraduates.
 • Wildcard: A symbol (like *) that substitutes for any number of characters to find variations
of a word.
o Example: "improv"* will retrieve results for "improve," "improvement,"
"improving," etc.
• Quotation Marks (" "): Used to search for exact phrases.
o Example: "mental health" will find results that have this exact phrase.
Why Do We Use Boolean Operators?
• Refine Searches: Boolean operators help you filter out irrelevant results and focus on the
most relevant literature or information.
• Save Time: They make your searches more efficient, reducing the need to sift through
unrelated content.
• Increase Accuracy: By using AND, OR, and NOT, you ensure that your search results
closely match your research needs and exclude irrelevant or unrelated information.
• Improve Precision: Boolean operators help make your searches more precise, focusing
on the most relevant results.
• Handle Synonyms: OR lets you include synonyms or related terms, ensuring you capture
all relevant research.
• Increase Search Efficiency: Boolean operators help you search faster by grouping terms
together, saving time on multiple queries.

What is Reference Mining?

Reference mining is the process of finding additional relevant literature by examining the
references or citations in a research paper or article. It involves tracking the sources that a study
has cited (backward reference mining) or identifying studies that have cited the paper you are
reviewing (forward reference mining).
Key Points:
1. Citation Chaining: Reference mining helps create a citation chain, leading from one key
paper to others, helping you track the evolution of research over time.
2. Explores Both Primary and Secondary Sources: Reference mining allows you to access
both primary (original research) and secondary (reviews, opinion articles) sources cited
in studies.
3. Cross-Disciplinary Insights: By mining references, you can uncover studies from related
fields or cross-disciplinary research that may enhance your understanding of the topic.
 4. Find Hidden Gems: Reference mining can help uncover less well-known but highly
relevant studies that might not be included in large database searches.
5. Build a Comprehensive Literature Map: It helps you create a network of related
studies, ensuring that your literature review is thorough and connected to the broader
research landscape.
Why Use Reference Mining?
1. Uncover Important Studies: Reference mining helps you find seminal studies that have
influenced the field, ensuring you don’t miss key foundational works.
2. Discover Recent Research: By looking at studies that have cited a paper, you can find
more recent research that builds on or challenges earlier findings.
3. Locate Hard-to-Find Sources: Some articles may not be indexed in common databases.
Reference mining helps find these sources by reviewing the references of other papers.
4. Strengthen Your Review: By identifying more sources, reference mining enriches your
literature review, ensuring it's based on a broad and diverse range of studies.
5. Find Similar Studies: Helps you identify research that uses similar methods, theories, or
findings, allowing you to compare and contrast across multiple studies.
6. Save Time: Instead of conducting numerous database searches, reference mining allows
you to find relevant studies by following citations in already-relevant articles.
7. Identify Trends and Patterns: By examining citation relationships, you can see how
research has evolved over time and identify key trends in your field.
8. Expand Your Literature Pool: Reference mining opens up more avenues of research,
ensuring your literature review is not limited by initial search results.