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What is the Literature Review?
A literature review discusses the literature published on a particular topic and combines both summary and synthesis. You might create a literature review to:
- demonstrate the ability to find, analyze, and synthesize literature in a specific field
- convey the importance or significance of a research question or topic
- identify what is known or not known about a research question or topic
- provide background or context for a research question or topic
Literature Review Examples:
Literature Review Resources:
- Literature ReviewsLiterature review overview created by the University of North Carolina's Writing Center.
- Literature Review TutorialCreated by University Library at American University. Take a look at the "What I Need to Succeed?" section for tips on getting started.
- The Literature Review: A Research JourneyA literature review e-lecture produced by Harvard's Gutman Library.
The literature review process includes the following steps (also reflected in the tabs on the left). Some steps may need to be revisited once the research and writing process begins.
Credit
Some of the ideas in this guide were derived from the following sources: