10 Literature reviews
Literature reviews can be an assessment item on their own or part of a larger project. They are a very common part of studying and researching at university. A literature review analyses the existing literature related to a particular topic or theme. The review is then used to provide evidence for a overview of current topic area or to identify future areas of study or research.
There are lots of different types of literature reviews but they all have some common elements.
Organising your information
When reviewing the literature, it can help to group the information you find to make it easier to analyse. Use the reading skills covered in the Sources and referencing chapter to guide your reading and note taking. Some areas to focus on are:
- important authors and works relevant to the subject
- flaws in previous research
- similarities and differences of opinion or findings
- themes in the research methodology, geographical location or other areas.
Consider using a table, matrix or concept map to identify how the different sources relate to each other.
