#3 How to Write the Literature Review of a Research Paper?

Summary

In this video, Chelsea from Ref-n-write guides viewers through writing the literature review section of a research paper. She emphasizes the importance of summarizing previous research, organizing the review logically, and establishing a research gap. The video outlines various approaches to structuring the review, including starting broadly, discussing seminal works, narrowing down to specific studies, and addressing recent and controversial research. Chelsea also discusses how to present the research gap and provides practical examples from different academic fields to illustrate effective literature review writing.

Takeaways

• 😀 The literature review section summarizes previous research on your chosen topic and is placed after the introduction in a research paper.
• 😀 It is not just a list of past papers, but a logically structured narrative of relevant studies.
• 😀 The length of the literature review varies depending on the discipline, ranging from one or two paragraphs to much longer sections if a strong theoretical foundation is required.
• 😀 A good literature review includes summaries of broad research, seminal works, specific studies, recent papers, and controversial topics.
• 😀 Recent papers should reflect discoveries and theories from the last 2-3 years to stay current in the field.
• 😀 Controversial literature can be discussed to highlight debates among researchers and areas requiring further research.
• 😀 Towards the end, you should establish a research gap, explaining what is missing in the current literature and what previous studies have not addressed.
• 😀 A well-organized literature review narrows down from broad issues to specific studies, progressively getting closer to your research focus.
• 😀 Using phrases like 'in recent work' and 'was further extended by' helps connect the events and make the literature review flow better.
• 😀 In cases where many references need to be presented, grouping studies by ideas and summarizing them briefly can help manage space and maintain clarity.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a literature review in a research paper?

The purpose of a literature review is to summarize previous research on your chosen topic, providing readers with an understanding of what others have done in your field. It helps establish the theoretical background and context for your own research.

How should a literature review be structured?

A literature review should be structured logically, starting with broad summaries of past research and narrowing down to more specific studies relevant to your research. It should flow in a way that leads the reader from general background information to the identification of a research gap.

What is a research gap in a literature review?

A research gap is an area or question that has not been adequately addressed in previous studies. Identifying a research gap is essential, as it highlights what is missing in the existing literature and justifies the need for your research.

How can one organize the literature review when dealing with a large amount of literature?

When handling a large amount of literature, it's effective to group studies by ideas or themes. This helps in presenting the information in a more organized and cohesive manner, allowing the reader to see patterns and trends in the literature.

What are some key phrases to use when writing a literature review?

Key phrases include: 'In the first approach', 'Was further extended by', 'Proposed an alternative suggestion', and 'In recent work'. These phrases help connect studies and ensure the text flows logically from one point to the next.

What should be included in a literature review when discussing seminal works?

In a literature review, seminal works should be discussed to highlight the foundational studies or theories that significantly shaped the development of your research area. These are typically historic or pioneering papers by influential researchers in the field.

How recent should the literature be in a literature review?

The literature you reference should include recent papers published within the last 2-3 years, as these reflect the most up-to-date discoveries, theories, and trends in your field of study.

What role does controversial literature play in a literature review?

Controversial literature can be discussed to show areas of debate or conflicting views within the field. Addressing these issues can help demonstrate where your research fits into ongoing discussions or controversies.

How do you handle a situation where there are few studies on a topic in a literature review?

If there are few studies on your topic, you should clearly state the research gap and emphasize the uniqueness of your study. Highlight the limitations of existing studies and how your research addresses these gaps.

What is the importance of sequencing in a literature review?

Sequencing is important in a literature review because it ensures a logical progression of ideas, starting from broader concepts and narrowing down to the specifics of your research topic. This approach helps the reader understand the development of thought in the field.