What is a Literature Review? Explained with a REAL Example | Scribbr 🎓

Summary

This video script introduces the concept of a literature review, emphasizing its importance in academic research. It explains that a literature review is a critical recap of existing research on a topic, using 'social media's impact on younger generation's mental health' as an example. The script outlines the three key purposes of a literature review: to understand existing knowledge, to provide a critical overview of research methods, and to identify gaps for original contributions. It then teases the next segment, which will cover the five steps to writing an effective literature review.

Takeaways

• 📚 A literature review is a critical recap of existing research on a topic.
• 🎓 It helps to understand what has already been researched and how.
• 🔍 It provides insights into how other researchers have approached similar topics.
• 📊 It offers a critical overview of existing knowledge to situate new research.
• 🔎 It helps identify gaps in current knowledge for potential original contributions.
• 📈 The example given is the impact of social media on the mental health of the younger generation.
• 📝 It's important to examine methodological approaches used in previous studies.
• 📑 Literature reviews can be sourced from books, journal articles, or other materials.
• 🧩 The process of a literature review involves analyzing what's been done and what's missing.
• 📈 It can help to narrow down a research focus, such as linking social media to eating disorders in a specific age group.
• 👩‍🏫 Jessica from Scribbr guides viewers on how to write a literature review in a video tutorial.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a literature review?

A literature review is a critical recap of previous research on a topic, which can include books, journal articles, or other sources.

How does a literature review help in academic research?

It helps by identifying what is already known about a topic, how other researchers have approached it, and what gaps exist in the current knowledge.

What is an example of a research problem discussed in the script?

The example given is the impact of social media on the mental health of the younger generation.

Why is it important to understand existing research before conducting your own?

Understanding existing research helps to avoid duplication, provides context for new research, and identifies areas where further investigation is needed.

What role does social media play according to the existing research mentioned?

The existing research suggests that social media plays a role in affecting the body image of the younger generation.

What is the second purpose of a literature review as per the script?

The second purpose is to provide a critical overview of existing knowledge, showing how new research fits into the broader context.

How can a literature review help in refining a research topic?

It can help by identifying specific areas within a broader topic that have not been sufficiently explored, such as narrowing down to eating disorders and a specific age group.

What is the significance of finding gaps in current knowledge during a literature review?

Finding gaps allows researchers to contribute something original by addressing those areas that have not been covered in existing research.

What are some sources that can be included in a literature review?

Sources can include books, journal articles, and other scholarly materials that have been previously published on the topic.

Why is it beneficial to compare methodological approaches in existing research?

Comparing methodological approaches can reveal different perspectives and methodologies, which can inform and strengthen the design of new research.

What are the five steps of writing a good literature review mentioned in the script?

The script does not explicitly list the five steps but encourages the viewer to click a link to learn about them.