What is a Literature Review? How to Write a Literature Review as a Research Methodology | Overview and Guidelines

Understanding the Literature Review in Academic Writing

• Definition and importance
  • A literature review is a structured assessment of existing knowledge in a particular field.
  • It answers the question “what is a literature review” by showing how researchers critically examine, summarise, and synthesise information from books, journal articles, and other academic sources.
  • In academic writing, the review usually forms the foundation for a research project, dissertation or thesis, or research paper.
  • A good literature review provides an overview and guidelines for understanding the state of knowledge in a research area.
• Focus of a literature review
  • Establishes the current knowledge and existing knowledge in a research topic.
  • Identifies gaps in relevant literature that require specific research.
  • Helps shape the research question and informs the choice of research methods.
  • The focus of a literature review is always tied to a specific research question or particular topic.

What is a Literature Review and Its Role in a Thesis

• Clarifying the term
  • When students ask “what is a literature review”, they often confuse it with a simple summary.
  • In reality, reviewing the literature involves more than listing titles — it requires critical engagement.
  • To write a literature review, one must summarise and synthesise findings, not just repeat them.
• Role in a dissertation or thesis
  • A literature review provides the foundation for a thesis or dissertation.
  • It demonstrates awareness of different types of review, including systematic review, narrative review, and integrative literature reviews.
  • The review of literature ensures the researcher can justify their research methodology and highlight relevant sources.
  • By reviewing literature, students show their ability to conduct academic research and engage with the kind of literature most relevant to their field of research.

How to Search for Literature and Identify Relevant Literature

• Conducting a literature search
  • The process of conducting a literature search starts with databases of journal articles, review articles, and books or articles in the chosen research area.
  • Use keywords related to the research question to locate relevant sources.
  • A literature search should include both classic and recent works to provide a final review of the state of knowledge.
• Evaluating relevance
  • Not all sources are suitable — a review may require limiting results to peer-reviewed works.
  • Consider the number of sources and whether they directly address the specific research question.
  • Building a bibliography ensures transparency and allows others to use the literature you have collected.

Process of Conducting a Literature Review | 4-Step Guide

• Step 1: Define the scope
  • Clarify the research topic and specific research question.
  • Decide on the type of review (e.g., systematic review, narrative review, or integrative literature reviews).
• Step 2: Search for literature
  • Gather relevant sources through academic research databases.
  • Collect journal articles, review articles, books or articles, and grey literature where relevant.
• Step 3: Summarise and synthesise
  • Do not merely summarise findings; instead, synthesising research involves grouping studies into thematic categories.
  • A thematic approach allows identification of methodological strengths and weaknesses in reviewing the literature.
  • This step helps to write a literature review that goes beyond listing facts.
• Step 4: Writing the literature review
  • Structure the review with an outline to ensure clarity and logical flow.
  • Demonstrate how reviewing the literature connects to the research methodology.
  • Highlight how reviewing literature justifies the choice of research methods.
  • The final review should integrate insights, showing how the literature related to the particular topic has been addressed.

How to Synthesise Sources in Academic Writing

• Synthesising vs summarising
  • To synthesise means to bring together research findings from multiple sources.
  • While summarising describes what each book or article says, synthesising research shows patterns, contradictions, and methodological issues.
• Thematic organisation
  • A thematic approach is often used when writing the literature review.
  • Group relevant literature into themes, such as methodological approaches, theoretical perspectives, or trends in the particular field.
• Value for academic success
  • The ability to write a literature review that summarise and synthesise effectively is crucial for academic success.
  • A good literature review demonstrates critical thinking and ensures the research project contributes to current knowledge.
  • By writing literature reviews carefully, students demonstrate their mastery of academic writing and the review as a research methodology.

Writing the Literature Review Step by Step

• Purpose of this section
  • To guide students and researchers on how to structure, write, and complete a literature review.
  • Many learners ask “what is a literature review”, and the answer lies not only in the definition but also in understanding the process of writing one.
  • A literature review is often misunderstood as a simple description, yet it is much more—it shows depth of understanding and critical analysis of knowledge in the field.

How to Write a Literature Review Outline

• Why an outline matters
  • An outline ensures the review follows a logical sequence, linking sources coherently.
  • It helps in identifying where research gaps exist and what review needs should be addressed.
• Structure of an outline
  • Introduction: Define the subject area and explain what is a literature review in this context.
  • Body: Organise by themes, areas of controversy, or chronology to show how knowledge on a topic has developed.
  • Conclusion: Summarise how the literature review shows the foundation for further empirical research.
• Practical tip
  • When creating the outline for an undergraduate dissertation or research process, always connect points to the research within the chosen field.

Writing Up Your Literature Review for a Thesis

• Role in the thesis
  • The literature review is part of the research process that frames a section or chapter of the undergraduate dissertation or postgraduate thesis.
  • A strong review demonstrates that proper research has been conducted and that the student understands knowledge in the field.
• What to include
  • Summarise important results and conclusions from existing studies.
  • Highlight areas of controversy and competing perspectives to show critical awareness.
  • Connect the review to the research gaps your thesis will address.
• Clarity and flow
  • Ensure that the literature review shows both agreement and disagreement among scholars.
  • Avoid letting the review is simply a list of summaries; instead, weave sources into an argument that supports your research topic.

Common Challenges in Writing the Literature Review

• Over-description
  • Many students think the review would just involve summarising sources. This leads to repetition and lack of critical voice.
  • Remember: what is a literature review goes beyond description; it requires evaluation.
• Lack of focus
  • Without defining the subject area, the review may drift.
  • A literature review may fail if it does not directly align with the research process and the main research gaps.
• Volume of literature
  • The review needs to balance comprehensiveness with selectivity. Including every book or article is not realistic.
  • Focus only on knowledge on a topic that is directly linked to the research within your project.

Tips to Conduct a Literature Review Effectively

• Start broad, then narrow
  • Begin with general sources in your subject area to map out knowledge in the field.
  • Narrow down to specific debates, areas of controversy, and unresolved questions.
• Be critical, not descriptive
  • A literature review shows not only what has been studied but also how.
  • Evaluate methodologies, point out research gaps, and identify how your empirical research contributes.
• Use thematic organisation
  • Group findings into themes such as theories, methods, or chronological shifts.
  • This ensures that the review follows a clear structure, supporting both results and conclusions in your work.
• Maintain academic standards
  • Always cite appropriately to show evidence of proper research.
  • Ensure the review is part of a transparent and credible research process.

How to Synthesise Sources in Academic Writing

• Summarising vs synthesising
  • To summarise means condensing the main points of each source.
  • To synthesise means combining insights from multiple sources to highlight patterns, research gaps, and knowledge on a topic.
• Why synthesis matters
  • A literature review shows the academic conversation in your particular subject area.
  • It highlights how different studies connect or conflict, creating a stronger case for your thesis.
• Practical example
  • If writing an undergraduate dissertation, synthesis can involve comparing how two review articles approach the same subject area.
  • Instead of listing their results and conclusions separately, the review integrates them to show the broader trend.
• Final point
  • A strong synthesis demonstrates to examiners that you fully understand what is a literature review and can use it to guide your empirical research.
  • It ensures that your review as part of the research process is coherent, analytical, and supports academic success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Literature Review

What is a literature review in a research?

• A literature review in research is a structured examination of existing studies, books, and journal articles on a specific research topic.
• It addresses what is a literature review by showing how researchers summarise and synthesise previous findings to identify research gaps, establish knowledge in the field, and justify the research methodology.
• A literature review in research is usually included as a section or chapter in a dissertation, thesis, or research paper.

What are the 5 C’s of a literature review?

The 5 C’s of a literature review are widely used as guidelines for effective academic writing:

1. Cite – Reference all relevant sources appropriately.
2. Compare – Highlight similarities and differences between studies.
3. Contrast – Point out conflicting viewpoints or areas of controversy.
4. Critique – Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of methods and findings.
5. Connect – Show how the literature relates to your research question and overall research process.

These steps ensure the literature review shows critical thinking and contributes to academic success.

What is a literature review in EPQ?

• In an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), a literature review is often required as part of the research report.
• It demonstrates that the student understands what is a literature review by engaging with relevant literature before carrying out empirical research.
• The review helps to position the project within the wider knowledge on a topic and to explain why the chosen research question is important.
• An EPQ literature review may be shorter than a full undergraduate dissertation review, but it must still be critical, well-structured, and referenced.

What is a literature review in psychology?

• In psychology, a literature review serves as a foundation for exploring theories, models, and empirical research studies.
• It answers what is a literature review by bringing together findings from research within areas such as cognitive, social, or clinical psychology.
• A psychology literature review may take the form of a systematic review, a narrative review, or an integrative review article, depending on the research process.
• Its main role is to summarise, synthesise, and evaluate results and conclusions across studies, showing where research gaps remain in the field.