Writing a Literature Review

Presents an overview of relevant research.
Says why and how the study will contribute to existing knowledge.
Provides a commentary on the literature in our field.
States what we plan to do to expand existing knowledge.
Highlights the similarities and differences between our work and the work of others.
Locates the research problem within a theoretical framework and reviews the underlying theory.

The reading process:
Begin with the up to date, the well known and general introductions to our topic.
Read with a purpose - know why we are reading and how it could contribute to our thesis.
Be disciplined about reading ONLY what is relevant .
Prioritise our reading.
Devise a personal note taking system.
Develop the discipline of reading and taking notes rather than photocopying to read later.

Managing the large amount of information:
Devise a system of filling articles and references.
Keep careful records of source ideas, papers, quotes etc using bibliographical software - Mendeley/EndNote.

The Writing Process:
Read literature reviews.
Outline our ideas.
Draw a diagram or mind map of relationship between ideas.
Write summaries of individual sections.
Write regularly.
Talk about ideas before, during and after writing them down.
Get regular feedback on what you write.

Writing the LR:
Work from the general to the specific- from tertiary sources (textbooks) to secondary sources (review of research) to primary research (journal articles documenting original research).
Organise the literature around findings, ideas or themes rather than studies or authors.
Focus on writing the literature review as a logical argument which leads the reader to our research question or problem.

Do ALL of the following:
#describe
#Summarise
# clarify
# evaluate and critique
# synthesise and integrate

But keep the emphasis on evaluating/ critiquing and synthesising and integrating.

AIM to keep our VOICE central by using evidence to support our points.