Steps in writing a literature review.

1. Writing a
Literature Review
AIC SHEA LIBRARY

2. What is a literature review?
Not to be confused with a book review, a
literature review surveys scholarly articles, books
and other sources (e.g. dissertations, conference
proceedings) relevant to a particular issue, area of
research, or theory, providing a description,
summary, and critical evaluation of each work.
The purpose is to offer an overview of significant
literature published on a topic.
http://guides.library.ucsc.edu/write-a-literature-review

3. Why write a literature review?
 Determine the previous research on topic
of interest.
 Determine level of theory and knowledge
development.
 Determine relevance of current
knowledge base to the problem area.
 Provide rationale for selection of research
strategy.

4. Six Steps to Conducting a Literature
Review:
1. Determine when to conduct a search.
2. Delimit what is searched.
3. Access databases for periodicals, books and
documents.
4. Organize the information.
5. Critically evaluate the literature.
6. Write the literature review.

5. Step 1: Determine when to
Conduct a Search
 Beyond the fact that your assignment requires you to do this…
 Experimental: a literature review always precedes
both the final formulation of a research question and
the implementation of the study. In other words, you
need to review what other research has been
conducted before you can settle on your research
question. So, you have to do some research before
you can do your research.

6. Step 2: Delimit what is searched.
 In other words, narrow your search.
 Set parameters (or boundaries) as to what is
relevant to your search.
 Your review must be comprehensive, but still
practical but not overwhelming.
 From here you will select keywords to search.

7. Step 3: Access Databases for
Periodicals, Books, and Documents
Use the library!!!!!!
 As you search, continue to refine your keywords and search
parameters.

8. Step 4: Organize the Information
 Begin by reading the abstracts to determine value of the
study.
 Organize your work by piles:
 A: works that must be read!
 B: works that are somewhat relevant.
 C: works that may be read depending on the direction your
review takes.
 X: not relevant (it happens)
 You will have to find 2-3 times the amount of articles your
assignment requires to do this effectively.

9. Step 5: Critically Evaluate the
Literature
1. What way of knowing and level of knowledge are presented?
2. Was the work presented clearly, unambiguously, and consistently?
3. What is the purpose of the work? Is the purpose implicit? Is it
stated? How does the purpose influence the knowledge discussed
in the work?
4. What is the scope and application of the work?
5. What support exists for the claims being made in the source?
6. What debates, new works, and trends are presented in the work?
7. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the work?
8. What research queries, or questions, emerge from the work?

10. Factors to Critically Review:
 Level of knowledge.
 Is it descriptive, explanatory, or at the level of prediction?
 How knowledge is generated.
 Identify the research strategy or research design.
 Read the methodology section.
 Critically examine whether it is appropriate for the level of
knowledge.
 Boundaries of study.
 Determine the "who, what, when, and where" of the study.

11. Step 6: Write the Literature Review
 A good literature review presents an
overview of the relevant work on your
topic and a critical evaluation of the
works.

12. Elements of Writing a Literature
Review:
 Introduction
 Discussion of each related concept, construct, principle, theory,
and model in current literature.
 Brief review of related study designs and their results.
 Critical appraisal of current related research and knowledge.
 Integration of various works reviewed.
 Fit of investigators study with the collective knowledge related to
the topic under investigation.
 Overview and justification for study and design.

13. Sample APA paper
 https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20090212013008_560.pdf

14. Resources
DePoy, E., & Gitlin, L. N. (2011). Introduction to research: Understanding
and applying multiple strategies. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier/Mosby.
http://libguides.aic.edu/publichealth
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/1