how to do a literature review for research purposes

how to do a lit review

1. Conducting an Effective Literature Review A critical summary of existing research on a topic Identifies what is known, unknown, and needs exploration Goes beyond listing sources — builds an analytical argument

2. Purposes of a Literature Review Build theoretical grounding for your study Identify key concepts and relationships Detect gaps and inconsistencies in the literature Justify your research question or hypothesis

3. Steps to Conduct a Literature Review 1. Define topic and keywords (use Boolean operators: AND, OR) 2. Search systematically in databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) 3. Screen and select relevant peer-reviewed studies 4. Organize and code by theme, theory, or method

4. Writing the Review Move from broad → focused coverage Summarize findings, not authors Synthesize patterns, tensions, and debates Conclude with a gap statement leading to your research question

5. Common Pitfalls & Tips Pitfalls: • Listing papers without synthesis • Ignoring seminal works or using too many quotes • Lack of structure or critique Tips: • Use citation managers (Zotero, Mendeley) • Create a concept matrix (author–year–theme–finding) • Update your review as your project evolves