A literature review is essential for graduate essays, dissertations, theses, and research projects. It aims to explore existing knowledge on your topic by analysing scholarly articles and relevant sources. This process demonstrates your grasp of the subject.
After reviewing the literature, you should identify key themes, compare perspectives, and spot gaps in existing research. This sets the context for your work, emphasising its significance in the field.
Booth et al. (2016), note that literature reviews extend beyond theses and dissertations, also appearing in journals, reports, and policy development.
Key stages of a literature review:
- Define terms.
- Employ effective search strategies.
- Select relevant materials.
- Organize materials for your argument.
- Analyze and synthesize the literature.
- Establish research context.
At postgraduate/thesis level you will normally do either a narrative or systematic literature review, depending on your topic.
Hints
- Look at some general guides in print format: See Call Numbers H62, LB2369, LB1028 on Level 3 of the Library
- Try looking at some theses produced by previous University of Waikato scholars on our Research Commons
Helpful Read
Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Research Imagination by Call Number: H62.H68 2018ISBN: 9781526419217Publication Date: 2018The ultimate guide to the 'what', 'how' and 'why' of literature reviewing. A thorough exploration of the literature review process from start to finish. Chris Hart′s landmark text provides both the intellectual understanding and the technical skills required to produce sophisticated, robust literature reviews of the very highest standard.
- Pages 57-58 discuss how a literature review might be assessed.