How To Write A Literature Review: 3 Insanely SIMPLE Steps (Tutorial + Examples)

Summary

This video provides three simple steps to help you craft an excellent literature review, regardless of your research field. First, it focuses on finding the right texts by using keywords, synonyms, and well-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Second, it advises on reading effectively, highlighting key sections and understanding the research gaps. Lastly, it guides on structuring and writing the literature review with a coherent argument, ensuring critical analysis over descriptive writing. The video emphasizes efficiency and clarity, aiming to help researchers navigate the complexities of literature reviews in an organized and systematic way.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start by finding the right texts for your literature review—this means selecting relevant, up-to-date research papers that align with your topic.
• 😀 Extract key keywords from your research topic and consider synonyms to help refine your search for relevant papers.
• 😀 Use specific search engines and databases (like Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science) and narrow your search with inclusion and exclusion criteria to avoid wasting time on irrelevant papers.
• 😀 When reading research papers, don't read them from start to finish—focus on key sections such as the research gap, methodology, results, and conclusion to get the essential insights.
• 😀 Identify the purpose behind your literature review (e.g., finding a research gap, supporting an argument) to guide your reading strategy.
• 😀 Use the 'snowballing' technique to expand your literature list by reviewing the reference lists of relevant papers you’ve found.
• 😀 Structure your literature review in different ways: general to specific, chronologically, or by key disciplines, depending on your goal.
• 😀 Avoid being too descriptive in your literature review; instead, focus on analyzing and critically relating the findings to your research question.
• 😀 Ensure that each paragraph or section connects ideas clearly. Use linking words or repeat keywords to create a coherent argument rather than just listing authors.
• 😀 Keep the literature review focused and concise by omitting unnecessary details like methodology descriptions unless directly relevant to your purpose.
• 😀 To improve your writing process, organize your notes and ideas ahead of time, and remember that clear structure and coherent argumentation are key to an excellent literature review.

Q & A

Why is finding the right text the first step in writing an excellent literature review?

Finding the right text ensures that the research you include is relevant to your topic. If you select irrelevant or outdated papers, it will negatively impact your literature review and waste valuable time.

What are the key actions involved in finding the right text for a literature review?

You should extract keywords from your topic, consider synonyms, choose appropriate databases, set inclusion and exclusion criteria, create search strings, and use snowballing to find additional relevant papers.

What are search strings, and why are they important?

Search strings are combinations of keywords connected by operators like 'AND,' 'OR,' and 'NOT.' They help refine your search results, ensuring that you find papers relevant to your specific research question.

How can snowballing help in the research process?

Snowballing involves checking the reference lists of relevant papers you’ve already found. This helps you discover additional key papers that might have been overlooked during your initial search.

What should you focus on when reading research papers for a literature review?

Focus on the abstract, introduction, results, and conclusion to get the main points of the paper. Avoid reading the entire paper, especially sections like the literature review, which might be redundant.

Why is it recommended not to read an entire paper from start to finish?

Reading entire papers can be time-consuming. Instead, identify the most relevant sections that provide the necessary information for your literature review, such as the research gap, methodology, and conclusions.

What is the main goal when reading papers for a literature review?

The main goal is to understand how each paper contributes to identifying the research gap and how it connects to your own research question. Focus on the limitations and suggestions for future research.

What are the four common ways to structure a literature review?

The four main ways to structure a literature review are: 1) From general to specific, 2) Chronologically, 3) By key disciplines, and 4) By themes or concepts.

What does it mean to be critical in a literature review rather than descriptive?

Being critical means focusing on analyzing the results and discussing their relevance to your research. Instead of merely describing the study, emphasize how it contributes to your argument and understanding of the topic.

Why is it important to avoid starting sentences with the author’s name in a literature review?

Starting sentences with the author’s name can disrupt the flow of your argument. It's better to link ideas across sentences, maintaining a coherent narrative. Use keywords or linking words instead of citing the author repeatedly.