Conducting a literature review:
Getting started
What is a literature review?
The aim of a literature review is to show "that the writer has studied existing work in the field with insight" (Haywood and Wragg, 1982). It is not enough merely to show what others in your field have discovered. You need to view the work of others with insight to review critically. An effective review analyses and synthesizes material, and it should meet the following requirements: (Caulley, 1992)
- Compare and contrast different authors' views on an issue
- Group authors who draw similar conclusions,
- Criticise aspects of methodology,
- Note areas in which authors are in disagreement,
- Highlight exemplary studies,
- Highlight gaps in research,
- Show how your study relates to previous studies,
- Show how your study relates to the literature in general,
- Conclude by summarising what the literature says.
A literature review has a number of purposes. It enables you to :
- Define and limit the problem you are working on,
- Place your study in a historical perspective,
- Avoid unnecessary duplication,
- Evaluate promising research methods,
- Relate your findings to previous knowledge and suggest further research.
As can be seen from the purposes above, the literature review is an exploration of an area, which at best will provide definition and a framework for a piece of research. Most students are not experts in their chosen field before they start their reading. The idea of the literature review is to develop a good working knowledge of the research in a particular area. The final written review should reflect the results of this preliminary research. So, a good literature review raises questions and identifies areas to be explored. The review should give an idea of the work that has been carried out in the subject area, preparing the reader for the study that is to follow.
The rationale
A good literature review presents a clear case and context for the project which makes up the rest of the thesis. Even if you are writing your review before you start your data collection, it is important to make clear the relationship of previous research to your thesis project.
This relationship between past work and your rationale is the most important influence on the structure and length of your literature review. Keep in mind that your purpose is important, because it will help to focus and direct your reading.