Literature Review Writing Guidelines

Literature Review Objectives

• Base the review on primary sources (cited studies only)
• Include study results and conclusions from cited studies
• Avoid secondary sources (except in rare cases)
• Include introductions and literature reviews from cited studies
• Use current references (mostly within the last 5 years)
• Older landmark studies may be included (with context).
• Avoid resources advertising products or services
• Rely on scholarly, peer-reviewed journals (not predatory ones)
• Use textbooks for broad background understanding
• Use popular literature (non-peer reviewed sources) sparingly
• Offer an overview & critical evaluation of relevant work
• Present a logical and clear narrative justifying the study & design.
• Utilize existing resources methodically supporting the study's purpose, maintaining logical and sequential flow.
• Write in present tense (as it summarizes current research)
• Avoid personal opinions; only include a couple of sentences without specific citations.
• Combine similar studies instead of listing them separately.

Literature Review Content and Structure

• Focus on concepts, not just who said what; group related information.
• Organize content by themes to draw connections between different sources
• Synthesize findings (combine and summarize) relevant information to support or refute positions.
• Present a flow of ideas and concepts from cited sources
• Highlight similarities and differences based on multiple sources
• Facilitate comprehension by linking ideas between sources
• Use appropriate phrasing to connect concepts and present relationships
• Explicitly state the purpose and component parts of a literature review.
• Include an introduction, background, scope, and description of the population
• Include a methodology section covering the literature search process.
• Review related studies, including their design and results.
• Critically evaluate relevant current research and knowledge related to the topic.
• Synthesize and integrate previously reviewed work with a justification statement and a summary of the study's purpose.

Literature Review Considerations

• Length is variable depending on the target document type
• A thorough review is not always necessary; be selective
• Consider your audience's existing knowledge of the topic.
• Only use citations that directly relate to the topic.
• Present a focused and specific case for understanding the subject.
• The review structure should incorporate the specific elements and details of the study.
• Focus on writing clearly, concisely and avoid jargon, wordiness, redundancy, and colloquialisms.
• Consider the historical context and where current research stands in relation to existing research.

This quiz focuses on the essential objectives for conducting a literature review based on primary sources. It emphasizes the importance of current references, peer-reviewed journals, and the need for a logical and clear narrative. Ideal for students and researchers looking to enhance their literature review skills.