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Systematic Review: Definition, Beispiel und Anleitung

Übersetzt am 24. Juni 2022 von Tobias Solis. Ursprünglich veröffentlicht von Shaun Turney

Ein Systematic Review ist eine wissenschaftliche Arbeit, bei der die Ergebnisse bereits bestehender Studien ausgewertet werden.

Anhand wiederholbarer Methoden wird das gesamte verfügbare Wissen gefunden, ausgewählt und zusammengefasst. So wird eine klar formulierte Forschungsfrage beantwortet. 

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Definition: systematic review, abgrenzung zur metaanalyse , abgrenzung zum literaturreview, abgrenzung zum scoping-review, dann ist ein systematic review sinnvoll , vor- und nachteile eines systematic review, anleitung in 7 schritten mit beispiel, häufig gestellte fragen.

Ein Review ist eine Übersicht über die Forschung, die bereits zu einem Thema durchgeführt wurde.

Der Systematic Review unterscheidet sich von anderen Arten von Reviews, da die Forschungsmethoden hier darauf ausgerichtet sind, Verzerrungen (‚bias‘) aufgrund von Voreingenommenheit der Forschenden zu reduzieren.  

Die Methoden sind wiederholbar und es wird systematisch vorgegangen:

• Formuliere eine Forschungsfrage
• Entwickle ein Protokoll
• Suche nach allen relevanten Studien
• Wende die Auswahlkriterien an
• Extrahiere die Daten
• Fasse die Daten zusammen
• Schreibe deine wissenschaftliche Arbeit

Systematic Reviews werden am häufigsten in der medizinischen und Gesundheitsforschung angewendet, finden aber auch in anderen Fachdisziplinen Anwendung.

Bei einem Systematic Review wird die Forschungsfrage in der Regel beantwortet, indem alle verfügbaren Studien zusammengefasst werden und die Qualität von deren Daten bewertet wird. 

Zusammenfassen bedeutet hier, verschiedene Informationen in einen zusammenhängenden Text zu überführen. Die Zusammenfassung kann narrativ ( qualitativ ), quantitativ oder durch eine Kombination von Beidem erfolgen.

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Eine Metaanalyse ist eine statistische Forschungsmethode und keine Review-Form. 

In Systematic Reviews werden die Ergebnisse der untersuchten Studien oft quantitativ anhand einer Metaanalyse zusammengefasst. Eine Metaanalyse ist eine Technik, um Ergebnisse aus mehreren Studien zusammenzufassen und eine Effektgröße zu bestimmen. 

Ein Literaturreview ist eine Review-Form, die weniger systematisch und formale ist als das Systematic Review. Bei einem Literaturreview werden frühere Arbeiten qualitativ zusammengefasst und bewertet, ohne eine formale, explizite Methode zu verwenden.

Literaturreviews sind oft aufschlussreich und zudem weniger zeitaufwendig, bergen aber ein höheres Risiko für Verzerrungen (‚bias‘) und sind weniger transparent als systematische Übersichtsarbeiten.

Ähnlich wie der systematische Review ist ein Scoping-Review eine Review-Form, bei der versucht wird, Verzerrungen (‚bias‘) durch transparente und wiederholbare Methoden zu minimieren.

Der wichtigste Unterschied zum Systematic Review ist das Ziel: 

Anstatt eine bestimmte Forschungsfrage zu beantworten, untersucht ein Scoping-Review ein Thema. Die forschende Person versucht, die wichtigsten Konzepte, Theorien und Beweise sowie Lücken in der aktuellen Forschung zu identifizieren.

Manchmal sind Scoping-Reviews ein explorativer Vorbereitungsschritt für einen systematischen Review, manchmal sind sie ein eigenständiges Projekt.

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Ein Systematic Review ist eine gute Wahl, wenn du eine Forschungsfrage zur Wirksamkeit einer Sache, z. B. einer medizinischen Behandlung, beantworten möchtest.

Um eine systematische Überprüfung durchzuführen, benötigst du Folgendes:

• Eine präzise Forschungsfrage , meistens nach der Wirksamkeit einer Behandlung. Die Frage muss sich auf ein Thema beziehen, das zuvor von mehreren Forschern untersucht wurde. Wenn es keine vorherige Forschung gibt, gibt es nichts zu überprüfen.
• Zugriff auf Datenbanken und Zeitschriftenarchive. Häufig stellt dir deine Uni den Zugang zur Verfügung.
• Zeit. Ein professionelles Systematic Review ist ein zeitaufwendiger Prozess und verlangt von der durchführenden Person etwa sechs Monate Vollzeitarbeit. Wenn du Student bist, solltest du den Umfang einschränken und dich an einen engen Zeitplan halten.
• Bibliografische, Textverarbeitungs-, Tabellenkalkulations- und Statistiksoftware. Beispielsweise kannst du EndNote, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel und SPSS verwenden.
• Ein Team von mindestens drei Personen. Die empfohlene Vorgehensweise erfordert für bestimmte Schritte drei Personen. 

Systematic Reviews haben viele Vorteile. 

• Minimierte Voreingenommenheit (‚bias‘), weil jede untersuchte Studie auf Voreingenommenheit überprüft wird (z. B. Confirmation Bias ).
• Transparente Methodik , sodass sie von anderen hinterfragt werden kann.
• Gründlichkeit , weil alle verfügbaren wissenschaftlichen Ergebnisse berücksichtigt werden.
• Replizierbarkeit und Aktualisierbarkeit durch andere Forschende.

Systematic Reviews haben auch einige Nachteile.

• Zeitaufwand ist hoch.
• Thematische Begrenztheit , weil nur die genaue Forschungsfrage beantwortet wird.

Die 7 Schritte zur Durchführung eines Systematic Reviews erklären wir dir anhand eines Beispiels. 

1. Formuliere eine Forschungsfrage

Die Formulierung der Forschungsfrage ist wahrscheinlich der wichtigste Schritt eines systematischen Reviews. Eine klare Forschungsfrage ermöglicht es dir,

• deine Forschung effektiver mit anderen Forschenden zu besprechen und
• gute Entscheidungen zu treffen, während du deinen Systematic Review planst und durchführst.

Eine gute Forschungsfrage für einen Systematic Review besteht aus vier Komponenten, die du dir mit dem englischen Akronym PICO merken kannst:

 Du kannst diese vier Komponenten neu anordnen, um deine Forschungsfrage zu formulieren:

• Wie effektiv ( O ) ist I im Vergleich zu C für P ?

Manchmal ist es sinnvoll, als fünfte Komponente die Art des Forschungsdesigns (‚type of study design‘)  mit einzubeziehen. In diesem Fall ist das Akronym PICOT .

Population: Personen mit Dermatitis

Intervention : Behandlung mit Probiotika

Vergleich: Personen mit Dermatitis 

• ohne Behandlung 
• mit Placebo-Behandlung
• mit anderer Behandlung

Ergebnis: Veränderungen, die von den behandelten Personen bzw. deren Eltern und den behandelnden Fachpersonen in Bezug auf Dermatitis-Symptome und die Lebensqualität wahrgenommen wurden. 

Forschungsdesign: Randomisierte kontrollierte Studie  

2. Entwickle ein Protokoll

Ein Protokoll ist ein Dokument, das dein Forschungsdesign für den Systematic Review enthält. Dieser Schritt ist wichtig, denn das Protokoll ermöglicht es dir, effizienter zu arbeiten und Voreingenommenheit (‚bias‘) zu reduzieren.

Dein Protokoll sollte die folgenden Bestandteile enthalten: 

• Hintergrundinformationen: Gib den Kontext der Forschungsfrage an, einschließlich der Gründe, warum sie wichtig ist.
• Forschungsziel(e): Formuliere deine Forschungsfrage als Ziel um.
• Vorgeschlagene Methoden
• Auswahlkriterien: Gib an, wie du entscheidest, welche Studien in deine Bewertung aufgenommen oder davon ausgeschlossen werden sollen.
• Suchstrategie: Erläutere, wie du Studien finden wirst.
• Analyse: Erkläre, welche Informationen du aus den Studien sammeln und wie du die Daten zusammenfassen wirst.

3. Suche nach allen relevanten Studien

Die Suche nach relevanten Studien ist der zeitaufwendigste Schritt eines Systematic Review.

Um Verzerrungen (‚bias‘) zu reduzieren, ist es wichtig, eine systematische Literaturrecherche durchzuführen. Deine Strategie hängt von deinem Fachgebiet und deiner Forschungsfrage ab, aber Quellen fallen im Allgemeinen in diese vier Kategorien:

• Datenbanken: Durchsuche mehrere Datenbanken mit peer-reviewter Literatur, wie z. B. PubMed oder Scopus . Denke sorgfältig darüber nach, wie du deine Suchbegriffe formulierst, und verwende mehrere Synonyme für jedes Wort.
• Handsuche: Zusätzlich zur Suche anhand von Datenbanken musst du auch manuell suchen. Dazu kannst du relevante Zeitschriften oder Konferenzberichte scannen. Außerdem kannst du die Literaturverzeichnisse relevanter Studien durchsuchen.
• Graue Literatur: Graue Literatur umfasst Dokumente, die von Universitäten, Regierungsinstitutionen und anderen Organisationen erstellt wurden und nicht von traditionellen Verlagen veröffentlicht wurden.
• Expertinnen und Experten: Wende dich an Expertinnen und Experten auf deinem Gebiet, um zu fragen, ob sie unveröffentlichte Studien haben, die in deinen Review aufgenommen werden sollten.

In diesem Schritt liest du die Studien noch nicht. Speichere potenziell relevante Quellen einfach mit einer bibliografischen Software wie dem APA- oder MLA-Generator von Scribbr.

Datenbanken: EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, LILACS und ISI Web of Science

Handsuche: Konferenzberichte und Referenzlisten von Artikeln

Graue Literatur: The Cochrane Library, das metaRegister of Controlled Trials und das Ongoing Skin Trials Register

4. Wende die Auswahlkriterien an

Die Anwendung der Auswahlkriterien ist eine Aufgabe für drei Personen. 

Zwei Personen lesen die Studien unabhängig voneinander und entscheiden, welche auf Grundlage der Auswahlkriterien, die in Schritt 2 im Protokoll festgelegt wurden, in ihre Überprüfung aufgenommen werden sollen. 

Die dritte Person vermittelt bei unterschiedlichen Meinungen zu bestimmten Studien.  

Stelle sicher, dass alle Beteiligten die Auswahlkriterien im Detail verstehen, bevor sie beginnen. So erhöhst du die Interrater- Reliabilität . 

Wenn du den Systematic Review im Rahmen deines Studiums schreibst, arbeitest du vermutlich alleine. In diesem Fall muss du die Auswahlkriterien selbst anwenden. Du kannst das als Einschränkung in der Diskussion deiner wissenschaftlichen Arbeit erwähnen.

Du solltest die Auswahlkriterien in zwei Schritten anwenden: 

• Auf die Titel und Abstracts bezogen: Entscheide anhand des Titels und der Informationen im Abstract für jede Studie, ob sie die Auswahlkriterien möglicherweise erfüllt.
• Auf die Volltexte bezogen: Lade die Studien herunter, die in der ersten Phase nicht ausgeschlossen wurden. Wenn ein Artikel nicht online oder über deine Bibliothek verfügbar ist, kannst du die Verfassenden um eine Kopie bitten. Lies die Studien, um zu entscheiden, welche Studien die Auswahlkriterien erfüllen.

Es ist sehr wichtig, für jede Studie genau zu dokumentieren, warum du sie aufgenommen oder ausgeschlossen hast. Sobald der Auswahlprozess abgeschlossen ist, kannst du dein Vorgehen anhand eines PRISMA-Flussdiagramms zusammenfassen.

Anschließend lasen Boyle und Tang die verbleibenden Studien vollständig durch, um zu entscheiden, ob davon weitere Studien aufgrund der Auswahlkriterien ausgeschlossen werden mussten.

Wenn sich Boyle und Tang uneinig waren, ob eine spezifische Studie ausgeschlossen werden sollte, besprachen sie dies mit ihrem Kollegen Varigos, bis die drei Forschenden zu einer Einigung kamen.

5. Extrahiere die Daten 

Daten extrahieren heißt, Informationen aus den ausgewählten Studien systematisch zu sammeln. Es gibt zwei Arten von Informationen, die du aus jeder Studie sammeln musst:

• Informationen zu Methoden und Ergebnissen der Studie. Die genauen Informationen hängen von deiner Forschungsfrage ab und umfassen häufig folgende Punkte:
• Forschungsdesign
• Stichprobengröße
• Studienkontext 
• Forschungsergebnisse  
• Schlussfolgerungen
• Deine Beurteilung der Studienqualität , einschließlich des Risikos von Verzerrungen (‚bias‘) .

Auch das Extrahieren der Daten ist eine Aufgabe für drei Personen. Zwei Personen extrahieren die Daten unabhängig voneinander. Die dritte Person vermittelt bei unterschiedlichen Einschätzungen.

Zudem sammelten sie Daten über mögliche Quellen für Verzerrungen (‚bias‘). Sie achteten z. B. darauf, wie die Studienteilnehmenden in den Kontroll- und Behandlungsgruppen randomisiert wurden.

6. Daten zusammenfassen

Daten zusammenfassen bedeutet, die von dir gesammelten Informationen zu einem einzigen zusammenhängenden Text zusammenzuführen. Es gibt zwei Hauptansätze, um Daten zusammenzufassen. 

• Narrativ ( qualitativ ): Fasse die Informationen in Worten zusammen . Dazu musst die Studien diskutieren und ihre Qualität beurteilen.
• Quantitativ : Verwende statistische Methoden, um Daten aus verschiedenen Studien zusammenzufassen und zu vergleichen. Meistens wird hierzu eine Metaanalyse gemacht. 

Im Idealfall kombinierst du beide Ansätze miteinander. 

Wenn du nicht genügend Daten hast oder die Daten aus verschiedenen Studien nicht miteinander vergleichbar sind, kannst du einfach einen narrativen Ansatz wählen. Du solltest dann jedoch begründen, warum ein quantitativer Ansatz nicht möglich war. 

Dazu kombinierten sie die unterschiedlichen Studiendaten und berechneten so die Gesamteffektstärken (Risikoverhältnisse und Differenzen zwischen den Mittelwerten ) für die Ergebnisse. Für diese Effektstärken berechneten sie Konfidenzintervalle.

Zudem unterteilten die Forschenden die Studien in Untergruppen, z. B. Studien über Babys, Kinder und Erwachsene. Anschließend untersuchten sie für jede dieser Untergruppen die jeweilige Effektstärke.

7. Schreibe deine wissenschaftliche Arbeit

Deine wissenschaftliche Arbeit sollte folgende Abschnitte enthalten.

• Abstract: Zusammenfassung des Systematic Review
• Einleitung: Begründung der Notwendigkeit der Forschung und Forschungsziele
• Methodik: Beschreibung der Auswahlkriterien der Studien, der Suchmethode sowie der Methoden zur Extraktion und Zusammenfassung der Daten
• Forschungsergebnisse: Beschreibung der Ergebnisse des Such- und Auswahlprozesses, der Studienmerkmale, der Risiken von Verzerrung (‚bias‘) in den Studien sowie der Ergebnisse der Zusammenfassung der Daten 
• Diskussion: Interpretation der Ergebnisse und Erörterung der Einschränkungen des Reviews
• Fazit: Beantwortung der Forschungsfrage und Auswirkungen für Forschung und politische Maßnahmen (‚policies‘). 

In der Regel wird die Forschungsfrage beantwortet, indem alle verfügbaren Studien zusammengefasst werden und die Qualität von deren Daten bewertet wird.

Um einen Systematic Review zu schreiben, gehst du in 7 Schritten vor:

Eine Metaanalyse ist eine statistische Forschungsmethode und keine Review-Form.

In Systematic Reviews werden die Ergebnisse der untersuchten Studien oft quantitativ anhand einer Metaanalyse zusammengefasst. Eine Metaanalyse ist eine Technik, um Ergebnisse aus mehreren Studien zusammenzufassen und eine Effektgröße zu bestimmen.

Ein Systematic Review kann sowohl qualitativ als auch quantitativ sein.

Bei einem qualitativen Systematic Review werden die Informationen in Worten zusammengefasst. Dazu werden die Studien diskutiert und es wird ihre Qualität beurteilt.

Bei einem quantitativen Systematic Review werden statistische Methoden verwendet, um Daten aus verschiedenen Studien zusammenzufassen und zu vergleichen. Meistens wird hierzu eine Metaanalyse gemacht.

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Literature Reviews

• What is a literature review?
• Steps in the Literature Review Process
• Define your research question
• Determine inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Choose databases and search
• Review Results
• Synthesize Results
• Analyze Results
• Librarian Support
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

What is a Literature Review?

A literature or narrative review is a comprehensive review and analysis of the published literature on a specific topic or research question. The literature that is reviewed contains: books, articles, academic articles, conference proceedings, association papers, and dissertations. It contains the most pertinent studies and points to important past and current research and practices. It provides background and context, and shows how your research will contribute to the field. 

A literature review should: 

• Provide a comprehensive and updated review of the literature;
• Explain why this review has taken place;
• Articulate a position or hypothesis;
• Acknowledge and account for conflicting and corroborating points of view

From  S age Research Methods

Purpose of a Literature Review

A literature review can be written as an introduction to a study to:

• Demonstrate how a study fills a gap in research
• Compare a study with other research that's been done

Or it can be a separate work (a research article on its own) which:

• Organizes or describes a topic
• Describes variables within a particular issue/problem

Limitations of a Literature Review

Some of the limitations of a literature review are:

• It's a snapshot in time. Unlike other reviews, this one has beginning, a middle and an end. There may be future developments that could make your work less relevant.
• It may be too focused. Some niche studies may miss the bigger picture.
• It can be difficult to be comprehensive. There is no way to make sure all the literature on a topic was considered.
• It is easy to be biased if you stick to top tier journals. There may be other places where people are publishing exemplary research. Look to open access publications and conferences to reflect a more inclusive collection. Also, make sure to include opposing views (and not just supporting evidence).

Source: Grant, Maria J., and Andrew Booth. “A Typology of Reviews: An Analysis of 14 Review Types and Associated Methodologies.” Health Information & Libraries Journal, vol. 26, no. 2, June 2009, pp. 91–108. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x.

Meryl Brodsky : Communication and Information Studies

Hannah Chapman Tripp : Biology, Neuroscience

Carolyn Cunningham : Human Development & Family Sciences, Psychology, Sociology

Larayne Dallas : Engineering

Janelle Hedstrom : Special Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Ed Leadership & Policy ​

Susan Macicak : Linguistics

Imelda Vetter : Dell Medical School

For help in other subject areas, please see the guide to library specialists by subject .

Periodically, UT Libraries runs a workshop covering the basics and library support for literature reviews. While we try to offer these once per academic year, we find providing the recording to be helpful to community members who have missed the session. Following is the most recent recording of the workshop, Conducting a Literature Review. To view the recording, a UT login is required.

• October 26, 2022 recording
• Last Updated: Aug 13, 2024 1:52 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.utexas.edu/literaturereviews

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What is a literature review? [with examples]

What is a literature review?

The purpose of a literature review, how to write a literature review, the format of a literature review, general formatting rules, the length of a literature review, literature review examples, frequently asked questions about literature reviews, related articles.

A literature review is an assessment of the sources in a chosen topic of research.

In a literature review, you’re expected to report on the existing scholarly conversation, without adding new contributions.

If you are currently writing one, you've come to the right place. In the following paragraphs, we will explain:

• the objective of a literature review
• how to write a literature review
• the basic format of a literature review

Tip: It’s not always mandatory to add a literature review in a paper. Theses and dissertations often include them, whereas research papers may not. Make sure to consult with your instructor for exact requirements.

The four main objectives of a literature review are:

• Studying the references of your research area
• Summarizing the main arguments
• Identifying current gaps, stances, and issues
• Presenting all of the above in a text

Ultimately, the main goal of a literature review is to provide the researcher with sufficient knowledge about the topic in question so that they can eventually make an intervention.

The format of a literature review is fairly standard. It includes an:

• introduction that briefly introduces the main topic
• body that includes the main discussion of the key arguments
• conclusion that highlights the gaps and issues of the literature

➡️ Take a look at our guide on how to write a literature review to learn more about how to structure a literature review.

First of all, a literature review should have its own labeled section. You should indicate clearly in the table of contents where the literature can be found, and you should label this section as “Literature Review.”

➡️ For more information on writing a thesis, visit our guide on how to structure a thesis .

There is no set amount of words for a literature review, so the length depends on the research. If you are working with a large amount of sources, it will be long. If your paper does not depend entirely on references, it will be short.

Take a look at these three theses featuring great literature reviews:

• School-Based Speech-Language Pathologist's Perceptions of Sensory Food Aversions in Children [ PDF , see page 20]
• Who's Writing What We Read: Authorship in Criminological Research [ PDF , see page 4]
• A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of Online Instructors of Theological Reflection at Christian Institutions Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools [ PDF , see page 56]

Literature reviews are most commonly found in theses and dissertations. However, you find them in research papers as well.

There is no set amount of words for a literature review, so the length depends on the research. If you are working with a large amount of sources, then it will be long. If your paper does not depend entirely on references, then it will be short.

No. A literature review should have its own independent section. You should indicate clearly in the table of contents where the literature review can be found, and label this section as “Literature Review.”

The main goal of a literature review is to provide the researcher with sufficient knowledge about the topic in question so that they can eventually make an intervention.

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Methodology

• How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

Published on January 2, 2023 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 11, 2023.

What is a literature review? A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research that you can later apply to your paper, thesis, or dissertation topic .

There are five key steps to writing a literature review:

• Search for relevant literature
• Evaluate sources
• Identify themes, debates, and gaps
• Outline the structure
• Write your literature review

A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources—it analyzes, synthesizes , and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.

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Table of contents

What is the purpose of a literature review, examples of literature reviews, step 1 – search for relevant literature, step 2 – evaluate and select sources, step 3 – identify themes, debates, and gaps, step 4 – outline your literature review’s structure, step 5 – write your literature review, free lecture slides, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions, introduction.

• Quick Run-through
• Step 1 & 2

When you write a thesis , dissertation , or research paper , you will likely have to conduct a literature review to situate your research within existing knowledge. The literature review gives you a chance to:

• Demonstrate your familiarity with the topic and its scholarly context
• Develop a theoretical framework and methodology for your research
• Position your work in relation to other researchers and theorists
• Show how your research addresses a gap or contributes to a debate
• Evaluate the current state of research and demonstrate your knowledge of the scholarly debates around your topic.

Writing literature reviews is a particularly important skill if you want to apply for graduate school or pursue a career in research. We’ve written a step-by-step guide that you can follow below.

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Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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See an example

Writing literature reviews can be quite challenging! A good starting point could be to look at some examples, depending on what kind of literature review you’d like to write.

• Example literature review #1: “Why Do People Migrate? A Review of the Theoretical Literature” ( Theoretical literature review about the development of economic migration theory from the 1950s to today.)
• Example literature review #2: “Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines” ( Methodological literature review about interdisciplinary knowledge acquisition and production.)
• Example literature review #3: “The Use of Technology in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Thematic literature review about the effects of technology on language acquisition.)
• Example literature review #4: “Learners’ Listening Comprehension Difficulties in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Chronological literature review about how the concept of listening skills has changed over time.)

You can also check out our templates with literature review examples and sample outlines at the links below.

Download Word doc Download Google doc

Before you begin searching for literature, you need a clearly defined topic .

If you are writing the literature review section of a dissertation or research paper, you will search for literature related to your research problem and questions .

Make a list of keywords

Start by creating a list of keywords related to your research question. Include each of the key concepts or variables you’re interested in, and list any synonyms and related terms. You can add to this list as you discover new keywords in the process of your literature search.

• Social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok
• Body image, self-perception, self-esteem, mental health
• Generation Z, teenagers, adolescents, youth

Search for relevant sources

Use your keywords to begin searching for sources. Some useful databases to search for journals and articles include:

• Your university’s library catalogue
• Google Scholar
• Project Muse (humanities and social sciences)
• Medline (life sciences and biomedicine)
• EconLit (economics)
• Inspec (physics, engineering and computer science)

You can also use boolean operators to help narrow down your search.

Make sure to read the abstract to find out whether an article is relevant to your question. When you find a useful book or article, you can check the bibliography to find other relevant sources.

You likely won’t be able to read absolutely everything that has been written on your topic, so it will be necessary to evaluate which sources are most relevant to your research question.

For each publication, ask yourself:

• What question or problem is the author addressing?
• What are the key concepts and how are they defined?
• What are the key theories, models, and methods?
• Does the research use established frameworks or take an innovative approach?
• What are the results and conclusions of the study?
• How does the publication relate to other literature in the field? Does it confirm, add to, or challenge established knowledge?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?

Make sure the sources you use are credible , and make sure you read any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research.

You can use our template to summarize and evaluate sources you’re thinking about using. Click on either button below to download.

Take notes and cite your sources

As you read, you should also begin the writing process. Take notes that you can later incorporate into the text of your literature review.

It is important to keep track of your sources with citations to avoid plagiarism . It can be helpful to make an annotated bibliography , where you compile full citation information and write a paragraph of summary and analysis for each source. This helps you remember what you read and saves time later in the process.

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To begin organizing your literature review’s argument and structure, be sure you understand the connections and relationships between the sources you’ve read. Based on your reading and notes, you can look for:

• Trends and patterns (in theory, method or results): do certain approaches become more or less popular over time?
• Themes: what questions or concepts recur across the literature?
• Debates, conflicts and contradictions: where do sources disagree?
• Pivotal publications: are there any influential theories or studies that changed the direction of the field?
• Gaps: what is missing from the literature? Are there weaknesses that need to be addressed?

This step will help you work out the structure of your literature review and (if applicable) show how your own research will contribute to existing knowledge.

• Most research has focused on young women.
• There is an increasing interest in the visual aspects of social media.
• But there is still a lack of robust research on highly visual platforms like Instagram and Snapchat—this is a gap that you could address in your own research.

There are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature review. Depending on the length of your literature review, you can combine several of these strategies (for example, your overall structure might be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically).

Chronological

The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time. However, if you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order.

Try to analyze patterns, turning points and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred.

If you have found some recurring central themes, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic.

For example, if you are reviewing literature about inequalities in migrant health outcomes, key themes might include healthcare policy, language barriers, cultural attitudes, legal status, and economic access.

Methodological

If you draw your sources from different disciplines or fields that use a variety of research methods , you might want to compare the results and conclusions that emerge from different approaches. For example:

• Look at what results have emerged in qualitative versus quantitative research
• Discuss how the topic has been approached by empirical versus theoretical scholarship
• Divide the literature into sociological, historical, and cultural sources

Theoretical

A literature review is often the foundation for a theoretical framework . You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts.

You might argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach, or combine various theoretical concepts to create a framework for your research.

Like any other academic text , your literature review should have an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion . What you include in each depends on the objective of your literature review.

The introduction should clearly establish the focus and purpose of the literature review.

Depending on the length of your literature review, you might want to divide the body into subsections. You can use a subheading for each theme, time period, or methodological approach.

As you write, you can follow these tips:

• Summarize and synthesize: give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
• Analyze and interpret: don’t just paraphrase other researchers — add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
• Critically evaluate: mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
• Write in well-structured paragraphs: use transition words and topic sentences to draw connections, comparisons and contrasts

In the conclusion, you should summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance.

When you’ve finished writing and revising your literature review, don’t forget to proofread thoroughly before submitting. Not a language expert? Check out Scribbr’s professional proofreading services !

This article has been adapted into lecture slides that you can use to teach your students about writing a literature review.

Scribbr slides are free to use, customize, and distribute for educational purposes.

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If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .

It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper , in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.

There are several reasons to conduct a literature review at the beginning of a research project:

• To familiarize yourself with the current state of knowledge on your topic
• To ensure that you’re not just repeating what others have already done
• To identify gaps in knowledge and unresolved problems that your research can address
• To develop your theoretical framework and methodology
• To provide an overview of the key findings and debates on the topic

Writing the literature review shows your reader how your work relates to existing research and what new insights it will contribute.

The literature review usually comes near the beginning of your thesis or dissertation . After the introduction , it grounds your research in a scholarly field and leads directly to your theoretical framework or methodology .

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other  academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An  annotated bibliography is a list of  source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a  paper .  

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What Is A Literature Review?

A plain-language explainer (with examples).

By:  Derek Jansen (MBA) & Kerryn Warren (PhD) | June 2020 (Updated May 2023)

If you’re faced with writing a dissertation or thesis, chances are you’ve encountered the term “literature review” . If you’re on this page, you’re probably not 100% what the literature review is all about. The good news is that you’ve come to the right place.

Literature Review 101

• What (exactly) is a literature review
• What’s the purpose of the literature review chapter
• How to find high-quality resources
• How to structure your literature review chapter
• Example of an actual literature review

What is a literature review?

The word “literature review” can refer to two related things that are part of the broader literature review process. The first is the task of  reviewing the literature  – i.e. sourcing and reading through the existing research relating to your research topic. The second is the  actual chapter  that you write up in your dissertation, thesis or research project. Let’s look at each of them:

Reviewing the literature

The first step of any literature review is to hunt down and  read through the existing research  that’s relevant to your research topic. To do this, you’ll use a combination of tools (we’ll discuss some of these later) to find journal articles, books, ebooks, research reports, dissertations, theses and any other credible sources of information that relate to your topic. You’ll then  summarise and catalogue these  for easy reference when you write up your literature review chapter. 

The literature review chapter

The second step of the literature review is to write the actual literature review chapter (this is usually the second chapter in a typical dissertation or thesis structure ). At the simplest level, the literature review chapter is an  overview of the key literature  that’s relevant to your research topic. This chapter should provide a smooth-flowing discussion of what research has already been done, what is known, what is unknown and what is contested in relation to your research topic. So, you can think of it as an  integrated review of the state of knowledge  around your research topic. 

What’s the purpose of a literature review?

The literature review chapter has a few important functions within your dissertation, thesis or research project. Let’s take a look at these:

Purpose #1 – Demonstrate your topic knowledge

The first function of the literature review chapter is, quite simply, to show the reader (or marker) that you  know what you’re talking about . In other words, a good literature review chapter demonstrates that you’ve read the relevant existing research and understand what’s going on – who’s said what, what’s agreed upon, disagreed upon and so on. This needs to be  more than just a summary  of who said what – it needs to integrate the existing research to  show how it all fits together  and what’s missing (which leads us to purpose #2, next). 

Purpose #2 – Reveal the research gap that you’ll fill

The second function of the literature review chapter is to  show what’s currently missing  from the existing research, to lay the foundation for your own research topic. In other words, your literature review chapter needs to show that there are currently “missing pieces” in terms of the bigger puzzle, and that  your study will fill one of those research gaps . By doing this, you are showing that your research topic is original and will help contribute to the body of knowledge. In other words, the literature review helps justify your research topic.  

Purpose #3 – Lay the foundation for your conceptual framework

The third function of the literature review is to form the  basis for a conceptual framework . Not every research topic will necessarily have a conceptual framework, but if your topic does require one, it needs to be rooted in your literature review. 

For example, let’s say your research aims to identify the drivers of a certain outcome – the factors which contribute to burnout in office workers. In this case, you’d likely develop a conceptual framework which details the potential factors (e.g. long hours, excessive stress, etc), as well as the outcome (burnout). Those factors would need to emerge from the literature review chapter – they can’t just come from your gut! 

So, in this case, the literature review chapter would uncover each of the potential factors (based on previous studies about burnout), which would then be modelled into a framework. 

Purpose #4 – To inform your methodology

The fourth function of the literature review is to  inform the choice of methodology  for your own research. As we’ve  discussed on the Grad Coach blog , your choice of methodology will be heavily influenced by your research aims, objectives and questions . Given that you’ll be reviewing studies covering a topic close to yours, it makes sense that you could learn a lot from their (well-considered) methodologies.

So, when you’re reviewing the literature, you’ll need to  pay close attention to the research design , methodology and methods used in similar studies, and use these to inform your methodology. Quite often, you’ll be able to  “borrow” from previous studies . This is especially true for quantitative studies , as you can use previously tried and tested measures and scales. 

How do I find articles for my literature review?

Finding quality journal articles is essential to crafting a rock-solid literature review. As you probably already know, not all research is created equally, and so you need to make sure that your literature review is  built on credible research . 

We could write an entire post on how to find quality literature (actually, we have ), but a good starting point is Google Scholar . Google Scholar is essentially the academic equivalent of Google, using Google’s powerful search capabilities to find relevant journal articles and reports. It certainly doesn’t cover every possible resource, but it’s a very useful way to get started on your literature review journey, as it will very quickly give you a good indication of what the  most popular pieces of research  are in your field.

One downside of Google Scholar is that it’s merely a search engine – that is, it lists the articles, but oftentimes  it doesn’t host the articles . So you’ll often hit a paywall when clicking through to journal websites. 

Thankfully, your university should provide you with access to their library, so you can find the article titles using Google Scholar and then search for them by name in your university’s online library. Your university may also provide you with access to  ResearchGate , which is another great source for existing research. 

Remember, the correct search keywords will be super important to get the right information from the start. So, pay close attention to the keywords used in the journal articles you read and use those keywords to search for more articles. If you can’t find a spoon in the kitchen, you haven’t looked in the right drawer. 

Need a helping hand?

How should I structure my literature review?

Unfortunately, there’s no generic universal answer for this one. The structure of your literature review will depend largely on your topic area and your research aims and objectives.

You could potentially structure your literature review chapter according to theme, group, variables , chronologically or per concepts in your field of research. We explain the main approaches to structuring your literature review here . You can also download a copy of our free literature review template to help you establish an initial structure.

In general, it’s also a good idea to start wide (i.e. the big-picture-level) and then narrow down, ending your literature review close to your research questions . However, there’s no universal one “right way” to structure your literature review. The most important thing is not to discuss your sources one after the other like a list – as we touched on earlier, your literature review needs to synthesise the research , not summarise it .

Ultimately, you need to craft your literature review so that it conveys the most important information effectively – it needs to tell a logical story in a digestible way. It’s no use starting off with highly technical terms and then only explaining what these terms mean later. Always assume your reader is not a subject matter expert and hold their hand through a journe y of the literature while keeping the functions of the literature review chapter (which we discussed earlier) front of mind.

Example of a literature review

In the video below, we walk you through a high-quality literature review from a dissertation that earned full distinction. This will give you a clearer view of what a strong literature review looks like in practice and hopefully provide some inspiration for your own. 

Wrapping Up

In this post, we’ve (hopefully) answered the question, “ what is a literature review? “. We’ve also considered the purpose and functions of the literature review, as well as how to find literature and how to structure the literature review chapter. If you’re keen to learn more, check out the literature review section of the Grad Coach blog , as well as our detailed video post covering how to write a literature review . 

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Literature Review Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

16 Comments

Thanks for this review. It narrates what’s not been taught as tutors are always in a early to finish their classes.

Thanks for the kind words, Becky. Good luck with your literature review 🙂

This website is amazing, it really helps break everything down. Thank you, I would have been lost without it.

This is review is amazing. I benefited from it a lot and hope others visiting this website will benefit too.

Timothy T. Chol [email protected]

Thank you very much for the guiding in literature review I learn and benefited a lot this make my journey smooth I’ll recommend this site to my friends

This was so useful. Thank you so much.

Hi, Concept was explained nicely by both of you. Thanks a lot for sharing it. It will surely help research scholars to start their Research Journey.

The review is really helpful to me especially during this period of covid-19 pandemic when most universities in my country only offer online classes. Great stuff

Great Brief Explanation, thanks

So helpful to me as a student

GradCoach is a fantastic site with brilliant and modern minds behind it.. I spent weeks decoding the substantial academic Jargon and grounding my initial steps on the research process, which could be shortened to a couple of days through the Gradcoach. Thanks again!

This is an amazing talk. I paved way for myself as a researcher. Thank you GradCoach!

Well-presented overview of the literature!

This was brilliant. So clear. Thank you

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Libraries | Research Guides

Literature reviews, what is a literature review, learning more about how to do a literature review.

• Planning the Review
• The Research Question
• Choosing Where to Search
• Organizing the Review
• Writing the Review

A literature review is a review and synthesis of existing research on a topic or research question. A literature review is meant to analyze the scholarly literature, make connections across writings and identify strengths, weaknesses, trends, and missing conversations. A literature review should address different aspects of a topic as it relates to your research question. A literature review goes beyond a description or summary of the literature you have read. 

• Sage Research Methods Core This link opens in a new window SAGE Research Methods supports research at all levels by providing material to guide users through every step of the research process. SAGE Research Methods is the ultimate methods library with more than 1000 books, reference works, journal articles, and instructional videos by world-leading academics from across the social sciences, including the largest collection of qualitative methods books available online from any scholarly publisher. – Publisher

• Next: Planning the Review >>
• Last Updated: Jul 8, 2024 11:22 AM
• URL: https://libguides.northwestern.edu/literaturereviews

How to Write a Literature Review

What is a literature review.

• What Is the Literature
• Writing the Review

A literature review is much more than an annotated bibliography or a list of separate reviews of articles and books. It is a critical, analytical summary and synthesis of the current knowledge of a topic. Thus it should compare and relate different theories, findings, etc, rather than just summarize them individually. In addition, it should have a particular focus or theme to organize the review. It does not have to be an exhaustive account of everything published on the topic, but it should discuss all the significant academic literature and other relevant sources important for that focus.

This is meant to be a general guide to writing a literature review: ways to structure one, what to include, how it supplements other research. For more specific help on writing a review, and especially for help on finding the literature to review, sign up for a Personal Research Session .

The specific organization of a literature review depends on the type and purpose of the review, as well as on the specific field or topic being reviewed. But in general, it is a relatively brief but thorough exploration of past and current work on a topic. Rather than a chronological listing of previous work, though, literature reviews are usually organized thematically, such as different theoretical approaches, methodologies, or specific issues or concepts involved in the topic. A thematic organization makes it much easier to examine contrasting perspectives, theoretical approaches, methodologies, findings, etc, and to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of, and point out any gaps in, previous research. And this is the heart of what a literature review is about. A literature review may offer new interpretations, theoretical approaches, or other ideas; if it is part of a research proposal or report it should demonstrate the relationship of the proposed or reported research to others' work; but whatever else it does, it must provide a critical overview of the current state of research efforts. 

Literature reviews are common and very important in the sciences and social sciences. They are less common and have a less important role in the humanities, but they do have a place, especially stand-alone reviews.

Types of Literature Reviews

There are different types of literature reviews, and different purposes for writing a review, but the most common are:

• Stand-alone literature review articles . These provide an overview and analysis of the current state of research on a topic or question. The goal is to evaluate and compare previous research on a topic to provide an analysis of what is currently known, and also to reveal controversies, weaknesses, and gaps in current work, thus pointing to directions for future research. You can find examples published in any number of academic journals, but there is a series of Annual Reviews of *Subject* which are specifically devoted to literature review articles. Writing a stand-alone review is often an effective way to get a good handle on a topic and to develop ideas for your own research program. For example, contrasting theoretical approaches or conflicting interpretations of findings can be the basis of your research project: can you find evidence supporting one interpretation against another, or can you propose an alternative interpretation that overcomes their limitations?
• Part of a research proposal . This could be a proposal for a PhD dissertation, a senior thesis, or a class project. It could also be a submission for a grant. The literature review, by pointing out the current issues and questions concerning a topic, is a crucial part of demonstrating how your proposed research will contribute to the field, and thus of convincing your thesis committee to allow you to pursue the topic of your interest or a funding agency to pay for your research efforts.
• Part of a research report . When you finish your research and write your thesis or paper to present your findings, it should include a literature review to provide the context to which your work is a contribution. Your report, in addition to detailing the methods, results, etc. of your research, should show how your work relates to others' work.

A literature review for a research report is often a revision of the review for a research proposal, which can be a revision of a stand-alone review. Each revision should be a fairly extensive revision. With the increased knowledge of and experience in the topic as you proceed, your understanding of the topic will increase. Thus, you will be in a better position to analyze and critique the literature. In addition, your focus will change as you proceed in your research. Some areas of the literature you initially reviewed will be marginal or irrelevant for your eventual research, and you will need to explore other areas more thoroughly. 

Examples of Literature Reviews

See the series of Annual Reviews of *Subject* which are specifically devoted to literature review articles to find many examples of stand-alone literature reviews in the biomedical, physical, and social sciences. 

Research report articles vary in how they are organized, but a common general structure is to have sections such as:

• Abstract - Brief summary of the contents of the article
• Introduction - A explanation of the purpose of the study, a statement of the research question(s) the study intends to address
• Literature review - A critical assessment of the work done so far on this topic, to show how the current study relates to what has already been done
• Methods - How the study was carried out (e.g. instruments or equipment, procedures, methods to gather and analyze data)
• Results - What was found in the course of the study
• Discussion - What do the results mean
• Conclusion - State the conclusions and implications of the results, and discuss how it relates to the work reviewed in the literature review; also, point to directions for further work in the area

Here are some articles that illustrate variations on this theme. There is no need to read the entire articles (unless the contents interest you); just quickly browse through to see the sections, and see how each section is introduced and what is contained in them.

The Determinants of Undergraduate Grade Point Average: The Relative Importance of Family Background, High School Resources, and Peer Group Effects , in The Journal of Human Resources , v. 34 no. 2 (Spring 1999), p. 268-293.

This article has a standard breakdown of sections:

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Some discussion sections

First Encounters of the Bureaucratic Kind: Early Freshman Experiences with a Campus Bureaucracy , in The Journal of Higher Education , v. 67 no. 6 (Nov-Dec 1996), p. 660-691.

This one does not have a section specifically labeled as a "literature review" or "review of the literature," but the first few sections cite a long list of other sources discussing previous research in the area before the authors present their own study they are reporting.

• Next: What Is the Literature >>
• Last Updated: Jan 11, 2024 9:48 AM
• URL: https://libguides.wesleyan.edu/litreview

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Introduction to Literature Reviews

Introduction.

• Step One: Define
• Step Two: Research
• Step Three: Write
• Suggested Readings

A literature review is a written work that :

• Compiles significant research published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers;
• —Surveys scholarly articles, books, dissertations, conference proceedings, and other sources;
• —Examines contrasting perspectives, theoretical approaches, methodologies, findings, results, conclusions.
• —Reviews critically, analyzes, and synthesizes existing research on a topic; and,
• Performs a thorough “re” view, “overview”, or “look again” of past and current works on a subject, issue, or theory.

From these analyses, the writer then offers an overview of the current status of a particular area of knowledge from both a practical and theoretical perspective.

Literature reviews are important because they are usually a  required  step in a thesis proposal (Master's or PhD). The proposal will not be well-supported without a literature review. Also, literature reviews are important because they help you learn important authors and ideas in your field. This is useful for your coursework and your writing. Knowing key authors also helps you become acquainted with other researchers in your field.

Look at this diagram and imagine that your research is the "something new." This shows how your research should relate to major works and other sources.

Olivia Whitfield | Graduate Reference Assistant | 2012-2015

• Next: Step One: Define >>
• Last Updated: Jul 9, 2024 9:53 AM
• URL: https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/literaturereview

• UConn Library
• Literature Review: The What, Why and How-to Guide
• Introduction

Literature Review: The What, Why and How-to Guide — Introduction

• Getting Started
• How to Pick a Topic
• Strategies to Find Sources
• Evaluating Sources & Lit. Reviews
• Tips for Writing Literature Reviews
• Writing Literature Review: Useful Sites
• Citation Resources
• Other Academic Writings

What are Literature Reviews?

So, what is a literature review? "A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers. In writing the literature review, your purpose is to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. As a piece of writing, the literature review must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g., your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis). It is not just a descriptive list of the material available, or a set of summaries." Taylor, D.  The literature review: A few tips on conducting it . University of Toronto Health Sciences Writing Centre.

Goals of Literature Reviews

What are the goals of creating a Literature Review?  A literature could be written to accomplish different aims:

• To develop a theory or evaluate an existing theory
• To summarize the historical or existing state of a research topic
• Identify a problem in a field of research 

Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1997). Writing narrative literature reviews .  Review of General Psychology , 1 (3), 311-320.

What kinds of sources require a Literature Review?

• A research paper assigned in a course
• A thesis or dissertation
• A grant proposal
• An article intended for publication in a journal

All these instances require you to collect what has been written about your research topic so that you can demonstrate how your own research sheds new light on the topic.

Types of Literature Reviews

What kinds of literature reviews are written?

Narrative review: The purpose of this type of review is to describe the current state of the research on a specific topic/research and to offer a critical analysis of the literature reviewed. Studies are grouped by research/theoretical categories, and themes and trends, strengths and weakness, and gaps are identified. The review ends with a conclusion section which summarizes the findings regarding the state of the research of the specific study, the gaps identify and if applicable, explains how the author's research will address gaps identify in the review and expand the knowledge on the topic reviewed.

• Example : Predictors and Outcomes of U.S. Quality Maternity Leave: A Review and Conceptual Framework:  10.1177/08948453211037398  

Systematic review : "The authors of a systematic review use a specific procedure to search the research literature, select the studies to include in their review, and critically evaluate the studies they find." (p. 139). Nelson, L. K. (2013). Research in Communication Sciences and Disorders . Plural Publishing.

• Example : The effect of leave policies on increasing fertility: a systematic review:  10.1057/s41599-022-01270-w

Meta-analysis : "Meta-analysis is a method of reviewing research findings in a quantitative fashion by transforming the data from individual studies into what is called an effect size and then pooling and analyzing this information. The basic goal in meta-analysis is to explain why different outcomes have occurred in different studies." (p. 197). Roberts, M. C., & Ilardi, S. S. (2003). Handbook of Research Methods in Clinical Psychology . Blackwell Publishing.

• Example : Employment Instability and Fertility in Europe: A Meta-Analysis:  10.1215/00703370-9164737

Meta-synthesis : "Qualitative meta-synthesis is a type of qualitative study that uses as data the findings from other qualitative studies linked by the same or related topic." (p.312). Zimmer, L. (2006). Qualitative meta-synthesis: A question of dialoguing with texts .  Journal of Advanced Nursing , 53 (3), 311-318.

• Example : Women’s perspectives on career successes and barriers: A qualitative meta-synthesis:  10.1177/05390184221113735

Literature Reviews in the Health Sciences

• UConn Health subject guide on systematic reviews Explanation of the different review types used in health sciences literature as well as tools to help you find the right review type
• << Previous: Getting Started
• Next: How to Pick a Topic >>
• Last Updated: Sep 21, 2022 2:16 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.uconn.edu/literaturereview

What is a Literature Review? How to Write It (with Examples)

A literature review is a critical analysis and synthesis of existing research on a particular topic. It provides an overview of the current state of knowledge, identifies gaps, and highlights key findings in the literature. 1 The purpose of a literature review is to situate your own research within the context of existing scholarship, demonstrating your understanding of the topic and showing how your work contributes to the ongoing conversation in the field. Learning how to write a literature review is a critical tool for successful research. Your ability to summarize and synthesize prior research pertaining to a certain topic demonstrates your grasp on the topic of study, and assists in the learning process. 

Table of Contents

• What is the purpose of literature review? 
• a. Habitat Loss and Species Extinction: 
• b. Range Shifts and Phenological Changes: 
• c. Ocean Acidification and Coral Reefs: 
• d. Adaptive Strategies and Conservation Efforts: 

How to write a good literature review 

• Choose a Topic and Define the Research Question: 
• Decide on the Scope of Your Review: 
• Select Databases for Searches: 
• Conduct Searches and Keep Track: 
• Review the Literature: 
• Organize and Write Your Literature Review: 
• How to write a literature review faster with Paperpal? 
• Frequently asked questions 

What is a literature review?

A well-conducted literature review demonstrates the researcher’s familiarity with the existing literature, establishes the context for their own research, and contributes to scholarly conversations on the topic. One of the purposes of a literature review is also to help researchers avoid duplicating previous work and ensure that their research is informed by and builds upon the existing body of knowledge.

What is the purpose of literature review?

A literature review serves several important purposes within academic and research contexts. Here are some key objectives and functions of a literature review: 2  

1. Contextualizing the Research Problem: The literature review provides a background and context for the research problem under investigation. It helps to situate the study within the existing body of knowledge. 

2. Identifying Gaps in Knowledge: By identifying gaps, contradictions, or areas requiring further research, the researcher can shape the research question and justify the significance of the study. This is crucial for ensuring that the new research contributes something novel to the field. 

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3. Understanding Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks: Literature reviews help researchers gain an understanding of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks used in previous studies. This aids in the development of a theoretical framework for the current research. 

4. Providing Methodological Insights: Another purpose of literature reviews is that it allows researchers to learn about the methodologies employed in previous studies. This can help in choosing appropriate research methods for the current study and avoiding pitfalls that others may have encountered. 

5. Establishing Credibility: A well-conducted literature review demonstrates the researcher’s familiarity with existing scholarship, establishing their credibility and expertise in the field. It also helps in building a solid foundation for the new research. 

6. Informing Hypotheses or Research Questions: The literature review guides the formulation of hypotheses or research questions by highlighting relevant findings and areas of uncertainty in existing literature. 

Literature review example

Let’s delve deeper with a literature review example: Let’s say your literature review is about the impact of climate change on biodiversity. You might format your literature review into sections such as the effects of climate change on habitat loss and species extinction, phenological changes, and marine biodiversity. Each section would then summarize and analyze relevant studies in those areas, highlighting key findings and identifying gaps in the research. The review would conclude by emphasizing the need for further research on specific aspects of the relationship between climate change and biodiversity. The following literature review template provides a glimpse into the recommended literature review structure and content, demonstrating how research findings are organized around specific themes within a broader topic. 

Literature Review on Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity:

Climate change is a global phenomenon with far-reaching consequences, including significant impacts on biodiversity. This literature review synthesizes key findings from various studies: 

a. Habitat Loss and Species Extinction:

Climate change-induced alterations in temperature and precipitation patterns contribute to habitat loss, affecting numerous species (Thomas et al., 2004). The review discusses how these changes increase the risk of extinction, particularly for species with specific habitat requirements. 

b. Range Shifts and Phenological Changes:

Observations of range shifts and changes in the timing of biological events (phenology) are documented in response to changing climatic conditions (Parmesan & Yohe, 2003). These shifts affect ecosystems and may lead to mismatches between species and their resources. 

c. Ocean Acidification and Coral Reefs:

The review explores the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity, emphasizing ocean acidification’s threat to coral reefs (Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2007). Changes in pH levels negatively affect coral calcification, disrupting the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. 

d. Adaptive Strategies and Conservation Efforts:

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the literature review discusses various adaptive strategies adopted by species and conservation efforts aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change on biodiversity (Hannah et al., 2007). It emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches for effective conservation planning. 

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Writing a literature review involves summarizing and synthesizing existing research on a particular topic. A good literature review format should include the following elements. 

Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your literature review, providing context and introducing the main focus of your review. 

• Opening Statement: Begin with a general statement about the broader topic and its significance in the field. 
• Scope and Purpose: Clearly define the scope of your literature review. Explain the specific research question or objective you aim to address. 
• Organizational Framework: Briefly outline the structure of your literature review, indicating how you will categorize and discuss the existing research. 
• Significance of the Study: Highlight why your literature review is important and how it contributes to the understanding of the chosen topic. 
• Thesis Statement: Conclude the introduction with a concise thesis statement that outlines the main argument or perspective you will develop in the body of the literature review. 

Body: The body of the literature review is where you provide a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, grouping studies based on themes, methodologies, or other relevant criteria. 

• Organize by Theme or Concept: Group studies that share common themes, concepts, or methodologies. Discuss each theme or concept in detail, summarizing key findings and identifying gaps or areas of disagreement. 
• Critical Analysis: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each study. Discuss the methodologies used, the quality of evidence, and the overall contribution of each work to the understanding of the topic. 
• Synthesis of Findings: Synthesize the information from different studies to highlight trends, patterns, or areas of consensus in the literature. 
• Identification of Gaps: Discuss any gaps or limitations in the existing research and explain how your review contributes to filling these gaps. 
• Transition between Sections: Provide smooth transitions between different themes or concepts to maintain the flow of your literature review. 

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Conclusion: The conclusion of your literature review should summarize the main findings, highlight the contributions of the review, and suggest avenues for future research. 

• Summary of Key Findings: Recap the main findings from the literature and restate how they contribute to your research question or objective. 
• Contributions to the Field: Discuss the overall contribution of your literature review to the existing knowledge in the field. 
• Implications and Applications: Explore the practical implications of the findings and suggest how they might impact future research or practice. 
• Recommendations for Future Research: Identify areas that require further investigation and propose potential directions for future research in the field. 
• Final Thoughts: Conclude with a final reflection on the importance of your literature review and its relevance to the broader academic community. 

Conducting a literature review

Conducting a literature review is an essential step in research that involves reviewing and analyzing existing literature on a specific topic. It’s important to know how to do a literature review effectively, so here are the steps to follow: 1  

Choose a Topic and Define the Research Question:

• Select a topic that is relevant to your field of study. 
• Clearly define your research question or objective. Determine what specific aspect of the topic do you want to explore? 

Decide on the Scope of Your Review:

• Determine the timeframe for your literature review. Are you focusing on recent developments, or do you want a historical overview? 
• Consider the geographical scope. Is your review global, or are you focusing on a specific region? 
• Define the inclusion and exclusion criteria. What types of sources will you include? Are there specific types of studies or publications you will exclude? 

Select Databases for Searches:

• Identify relevant databases for your field. Examples include PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. 
• Consider searching in library catalogs, institutional repositories, and specialized databases related to your topic. 

Conduct Searches and Keep Track:

• Develop a systematic search strategy using keywords, Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), and other search techniques. 
• Record and document your search strategy for transparency and replicability. 
• Keep track of the articles, including publication details, abstracts, and links. Use citation management tools like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley to organize your references. 

Review the Literature:

• Evaluate the relevance and quality of each source. Consider the methodology, sample size, and results of studies. 
• Organize the literature by themes or key concepts. Identify patterns, trends, and gaps in the existing research. 
• Summarize key findings and arguments from each source. Compare and contrast different perspectives. 
• Identify areas where there is a consensus in the literature and where there are conflicting opinions. 
• Provide critical analysis and synthesis of the literature. What are the strengths and weaknesses of existing research? 

Organize and Write Your Literature Review:

• Literature review outline should be based on themes, chronological order, or methodological approaches. 
• Write a clear and coherent narrative that synthesizes the information gathered. 
• Use proper citations for each source and ensure consistency in your citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). 
• Conclude your literature review by summarizing key findings, identifying gaps, and suggesting areas for future research. 

Whether you’re exploring a new research field or finding new angles to develop an existing topic, sifting through hundreds of papers can take more time than you have to spare. But what if you could find science-backed insights with verified citations in seconds? That’s the power of Paperpal’s new Research feature!  

How to write a literature review faster with Paperpal?

Paperpal, an AI writing assistant, integrates powerful academic search capabilities within its writing platform. With the Research feature, you get 100% factual insights, with citations backed by 250M+ verified research articles, directly within your writing interface with the option to save relevant references in your Citation Library. By eliminating the need to switch tabs to find answers to all your research questions, Paperpal saves time and helps you stay focused on your writing.   

Here’s how to use the Research feature:  

• Ask a question: Get started with a new document on paperpal.com. Click on the “Research” feature and type your question in plain English. Paperpal will scour over 250 million research articles, including conference papers and preprints, to provide you with accurate insights and citations. 
• Review and Save: Paperpal summarizes the information, while citing sources and listing relevant reads. You can quickly scan the results to identify relevant references and save these directly to your built-in citations library for later access. 
• Cite with Confidence: Paperpal makes it easy to incorporate relevant citations and references into your writing, ensuring your arguments are well-supported by credible sources. This translates to a polished, well-researched literature review. 

The literature review sample and detailed advice on writing and conducting a review will help you produce a well-structured report. But remember that a good literature review is an ongoing process, and it may be necessary to revisit and update it as your research progresses. By combining effortless research with an easy citation process, Paperpal Research streamlines the literature review process and empowers you to write faster and with more confidence. Try Paperpal Research now and see for yourself.  

Frequently asked questions

A literature review is a critical and comprehensive analysis of existing literature (published and unpublished works) on a specific topic or research question and provides a synthesis of the current state of knowledge in a particular field. A well-conducted literature review is crucial for researchers to build upon existing knowledge, avoid duplication of efforts, and contribute to the advancement of their field. It also helps researchers situate their work within a broader context and facilitates the development of a sound theoretical and conceptual framework for their studies.

Literature review is a crucial component of research writing, providing a solid background for a research paper’s investigation. The aim is to keep professionals up to date by providing an understanding of ongoing developments within a specific field, including research methods, and experimental techniques used in that field, and present that knowledge in the form of a written report. Also, the depth and breadth of the literature review emphasizes the credibility of the scholar in his or her field.  

Before writing a literature review, it’s essential to undertake several preparatory steps to ensure that your review is well-researched, organized, and focused. This includes choosing a topic of general interest to you and doing exploratory research on that topic, writing an annotated bibliography, and noting major points, especially those that relate to the position you have taken on the topic. 

Literature reviews and academic research papers are essential components of scholarly work but serve different purposes within the academic realm. 3 A literature review aims to provide a foundation for understanding the current state of research on a particular topic, identify gaps or controversies, and lay the groundwork for future research. Therefore, it draws heavily from existing academic sources, including books, journal articles, and other scholarly publications. In contrast, an academic research paper aims to present new knowledge, contribute to the academic discourse, and advance the understanding of a specific research question. Therefore, it involves a mix of existing literature (in the introduction and literature review sections) and original data or findings obtained through research methods. 

Literature reviews are essential components of academic and research papers, and various strategies can be employed to conduct them effectively. If you want to know how to write a literature review for a research paper, here are four common approaches that are often used by researchers.  Chronological Review: This strategy involves organizing the literature based on the chronological order of publication. It helps to trace the development of a topic over time, showing how ideas, theories, and research have evolved.  Thematic Review: Thematic reviews focus on identifying and analyzing themes or topics that cut across different studies. Instead of organizing the literature chronologically, it is grouped by key themes or concepts, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of various aspects of the topic.  Methodological Review: This strategy involves organizing the literature based on the research methods employed in different studies. It helps to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of various methodologies and allows the reader to evaluate the reliability and validity of the research findings.  Theoretical Review: A theoretical review examines the literature based on the theoretical frameworks used in different studies. This approach helps to identify the key theories that have been applied to the topic and assess their contributions to the understanding of the subject.  It’s important to note that these strategies are not mutually exclusive, and a literature review may combine elements of more than one approach. The choice of strategy depends on the research question, the nature of the literature available, and the goals of the review. Additionally, other strategies, such as integrative reviews or systematic reviews, may be employed depending on the specific requirements of the research.

The literature review format can vary depending on the specific publication guidelines. However, there are some common elements and structures that are often followed. Here is a general guideline for the format of a literature review:  Introduction:   Provide an overview of the topic.  Define the scope and purpose of the literature review.  State the research question or objective.  Body:   Organize the literature by themes, concepts, or chronology.  Critically analyze and evaluate each source.  Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the studies.  Highlight any methodological limitations or biases.  Identify patterns, connections, or contradictions in the existing research.  Conclusion:   Summarize the key points discussed in the literature review.  Highlight the research gap.  Address the research question or objective stated in the introduction.  Highlight the contributions of the review and suggest directions for future research.

Both annotated bibliographies and literature reviews involve the examination of scholarly sources. While annotated bibliographies focus on individual sources with brief annotations, literature reviews provide a more in-depth, integrated, and comprehensive analysis of existing literature on a specific topic. The key differences are as follows: 

References 

• Denney, A. S., & Tewksbury, R. (2013). How to write a literature review.  Journal of criminal justice education ,  24 (2), 218-234. 
• Pan, M. L. (2016).  Preparing literature reviews: Qualitative and quantitative approaches . Taylor & Francis. 
• Cantero, C. (2019). How to write a literature review.  San José State University Writing Center . 

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Literature Review schreiben | Aktueller Forschungsstand: taufrisch recherchiert

Bist du gerade dabei, fleißig Literatur für deine wissenschaftliche Arbeit zu sammeln? Doch du bist dir unsicher, wie genau du dein Literature Review schreiben sollst?

Hier bekommst du die Lösung.

Denn in diesem Blog-Artikel erfährst du alles über die Funktion, Methodik und das genaue Vorgehen beim Literature Review schreiben. Mit den Inhalten aus diesem Artikel kannst du den aktuellen Forschungsstand zu deinem Thema so überzeugend präsentieren, dass deine Hausarbeit, Bachelorarbeit oder Masterarbeit mit einem felsenfesten Fundament versehen wird.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Wozu überhaupt ein Literature Review schreiben?
• 2 Methode: Literature Review schreiben
• 3.1.1 Beginne mit einer Online-Recherche
• 3.1.2 Verliere nicht den Fokus
• 3.1.3 Lies deine Quellen gezielt
• 3.1.4 Sammle relevante Inhalte
• 3.2.1 Wichtige Begriffe an den Anfang
• 3.2.2 Aktuelle Forschung in die Mitte
• 3.2.3 Aktuelle und super-relevante Autoren ans Ende
• 3.3 Wähle einen ausgewogenen Mix an Quellen (Schritt #3)
• 4 Zusammenfassung zum Literature Review schreiben

Wozu überhaupt ein Literature Review schreiben?

Ein Literature Review umfasst den aktuellen Forschungsstand zu einem ganz bestimmten Themengebiet, in welchem du dich mit deiner wissenschaftlichen Arbeit bewegst. Oft werden beim Literature Review schreiben auch die Begriffe Aktueller Forschungsstand oder Status Quo der Forschung synonym verwendet.

Ein Literature Review ist die Grundlage deiner wissenschaftlichen Arbeit. 

Es stellt einen Überblick zum aktuellen (Wissens-)Stand der Forschung bereit. Das umfasst sowohl grundlegende Arbeiten von Autoren und Wissenschaftlern, die ein Themengebiet oder einen Begriff geprägt haben. Außerdem erst kürzlich veröffentlichte, relevante Arbeiten zu diesem Thema.

Im Gesamtkontext deiner wissenschaftlichen Arbeit, sei es eine Hausarbeit, Bachelorarbeit oder Masterarbeit, bietet dein Literature Review entweder einen Ausgangspunkt für die Einordnung deiner Ergebnisse oder ist selbst die zentrale Methode deiner Arbeit. In jedem Fall ist ein Literature Review unverzichtbar für eine wissenschaftliche Arbeit.

Je größer die Recherche-Leistung deines Literature Reviews ausfällt, desto größer wird der Mehrwert deiner wissenschaftlichen Arbeit ausfallen und deine Note dementsprechend in die Höhe katapultieren.

In diesem Blog-Artikel möchte ich dir deshalb 3 Schritte mit auf den Weg geben, wie du garantiert ein ein fulminantes Literature Review schreiben wirst.

Methode: Literature Review schreiben

In den meisten Hausarbeiten wirst du keine großartigen Untersuchungen wie etwa Experten-Interviews, Umfragen, Experimente, Prototypen oder sonstige Dinge entwickeln, wie es in Abschlussarbeiten oft der Fall ist. Dann wird das Literature Review zu deiner vorrangigen Methode.

Hier sei gesagt, dass sich – je nach Disziplin – die Methode auch in Abschlussarbeiten auf dein Literature Review beschränken kann. In diesem Fall empfiehlt sich ein systematisches Literature Review , welches eine anerkannte Forschungsmethode darstellt. Es wird in vielen Disziplinen dafür verwendet, den aktuellen Forschungsstand aufzuarbeiten und offene Fragestellungen, Probleme oder den Konsens zu einem bestimmten Thema zu identifizieren.

Im Folgenden möchte ich jedoch eine Anleitung für ein „normales“ Literature Review bereitstellen. Dieses folgt in deiner Hausarbeit oder Abschlussarbeit als Grundlagen-Kapitel auf die Einleitung. Wie sich dein Literature Review in die Gesamtstruktur deiner Arbeit eingliedern lässt, erfährst du in meinem Artikel „So erstellst du eine Gliederung aus Stahl“ .

3 elementare Schritte zum Literature Review schreiben

Den Weg, um dein Literature Review zum felsenfesten Fundament deiner wissenschaftlichen Arbeit zu machen, habe ich in 3 Schritte aufgeteilt. Diese Schritte widmen sich der Vorarbeit, der Strukturierung und schließlich der Technik beim Schreiben eines Literature Reviews.

Mit dem Wissen aus den 3 Schritten kannst du direkt loslegen und deine Literaturquellen in einen stahlharten Block aus Text verwandeln. Somit wird deine Arbeit alle Voraussetzungen für eine herausragende Note erfüllen.

Lückenlose Recherche (Schritt #1)

Wie gut ein Literature Review am Ende ausfällt, hängt zu einem großen Prozentsatz von deiner  Vorarbeit ab. In diesem Fall also der Literatur-Recherche. Je mehr Autoren, Quellen und Textbausteine du zur Verfügung hast, desto einfacher wird es dir fallen, mehrere Seiten zu einem klar abgesteckten Thema zu schreiben.

Mache dabei keinen Halt vor englischen Quellen.

Echte Wissenschaft ist immer englisch (Außer für Germanisten oder Juristen). Stelle also sicher, dass du alle verfügbaren Ressourcen bei deiner Recherche ausschöpfst, damit dir keine wichtigen Quellen durch die Lappen gehen.

Beginne mit einer Online-Recherche

Anstatt zuerst in die Bibliothek zu gehen, jage deine Keywords und wichtigsten Begriffe durch den Online-Katalog deiner Uni-Bib, sowie alle relevanten Datenbanken deines Fachgebiets, wie beispielsweise ScienceDirect oder SpringerLink . Einen kleinen Geheimtrick für einen Kickstart deiner Recherche findest du auch hier: Wikipedia Zitieren : Der Geheimtipp für die Recherche deiner Hausarbeit.

Beschränke dich dabei nicht auf eine oder zwei Datenbanken, sondern lege dir eine komplette Liste an, die du für all deine zukünftigen wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten verwenden kannst. Wenn du unsicher bist, wo du solche Datenbanken findest, dann frage deine BetreuerIn nach ein paar Empfehlungen, welche Datenbanken am besten für dein Studienfach geeignet sind.

Verliere nicht den Fokus

So hilfreich es auch ist, möglichst viel Literatur zu deinem Thema zu horten, solltest du dabei nicht den Überblick verlieren. Lege dir eine aufgeräumte Ordner-Struktur auf deinem PC oder deinem Cloudspeicher an, in denen du deine Literatur nach Themen sortieren kannst.

Eine Alternative dazu bietet ein Literatur-Verwaltungsprogramm wie zum Beispiel Mendeley. Hier kannst du dir ebenfalls verschiedene Ordner anlegen und das Programm mit Word verknüpfen. Hast du in deinem Studium noch mehr als eine wissenschaftliche Arbeit vor dir? Dann empfehle ich dir dringend, ein solches Programm zu nutzen. Mehr Infos dazu findest du auch in der shribe! Werkzeugkiste .

Lies deine Quellen gezielt

Denk daran, du musst die ganzen Quellen auch lesen. Mache dabei jedoch nicht den Fehler und lies alle Quellen von Anfang bis Ende. Natürlich solltest du einige wichtige Forschungsartikel komplett lesen, um dein Thema vollständig zu durchdringen. Doch 30-40 Artikel oder Bücher komplett zu lesen ist leider nicht ganz wirtschaftlich.

Hier zeigt sich ein großer Vorteil von elektronischen Quellen. In deinen PDFs kannst du ganz einfach die Suchfunktion (STRG+F) verwenden und nur die entsprechenden Abschnitte zu den für dich wichtigsten Begriffen lesen. Stößt du hier auf andere wichtige Autoren, besorge dir auch diese Quellen.

Sammle relevante Inhalte

Die wichtigsten Textstellen sammelst du in einem Dokument. Du kannst auch mehrere anlegen, damit es nicht unübersichtlich wird. Hier wieder für jeden wichtigen Begriff ein Dokument (wie bei den Literatur-Ordnern). Dabei ist es wichtig, die entsprechenden Autoren und Seitenzahl zu vermerken. Die Autoren brauchst du immer, die Seitenzahlen nur, wenn du direkt zitieren willst. Wie du richtig zitierst, erfährst du auch hier: Richtig zitieren: 4 Wege um Literatur legitim in deine wissenschaftliche Arbeit einzuflechten.

Hast du nun alle Quellen durchgelesen und hast prall gefüllte Dokumente mit Textstellen vor dir, kannst du an die Textproduktion gehen.

Dann nimm jetzt Teil an meinem neuen online CRASH-KURS! (100% kostenlos)

(und erfahre die 8 Geheimnisse einer 1,0 Abschlussarbeit)

• Gehe von „allgemein“ nach „spezifisch“ (Schritt #2)

Für die Struktur beim Literature Review schreiben sorgt ein ganz einfaches Prinzip: Baue es wie einen Trichter auf. Dabei gehst du von Allgemeiner Forschung zu deinem Themengebiet bzw. den Begriffen bis hin zu ganz spezifischen Arbeiten, die verwandt mit deiner ganz speziellen Forschungsfrage sind. Den gesamten Trichter kannst du zudem durch Unterkapitel mit Überschriften zu den speziellen Begriffen unterteilen.

Wichtige Begriffe an den Anfang

Zuerst klärst du zu Beginn die wichtigsten Begriffe anhand der Literatur und gibst dazu passende Definitionen. In vielen Artikeln und Büchern wirst du Definitionen zu deinen Begriffen finden. Wähle eine Definition aus, die deiner Meinung nach am geeignetsten ist und zitiere die entsprechende Original-Quelle. Erläutere außerdem, wo diese Begriffe oder das Forschungsgebiet ihren Ursprung haben und welche Autoren Grundlagenwerke geschaffen haben.

Aktuelle Forschung in die Mitte

Nun kannst du ein wenig aktueller werden und Arbeiten und Autoren auflisten, die sich mit deinem Thema beschäftigt haben und welche ihre wichtigsten Erkenntnisse waren. Diese stehen meist im Abstract und dem Fazit der entsprechenden Forschungsartikel (Falls du etwas Zeit sparen möchtest). Baue die Reihenfolge dabei so auf, dass die vorgestellten Inhalte der logischen Struktur deiner Hausarbeit folgen und zu deiner Forschungsfrage oder deinem theoretischen Hintergrund führen.

Aktuelle und super-relevante Autoren ans Ende

Die letzten Quellen deines Literature Reviews sollten sich mit einer beinahe identischen Forschungsfrage wie deiner eigenen beschäftigen. Und dabei nicht älter als 5-7 Jahre alt sein. Falls du zusätzlich einen bestimmten Aspekt der Forschung in einem weiteren Kapitel (Theoretischer Hintergrund/Theoretischer Rahmen) vertiefen möchtest, sollte der letzte Absatz deines Literature Review inhaltlich dorthin leiten.

Wähle einen ausgewogenen Mix an Quellen (Schritt #3)

Sowohl für die Recherche als auch die letztendliche Auswahl deiner Literatur solltest du eine ausbalancierte Mischung aus älteren Grundlagenwerken und brandaktuellen Publikationen wählen (Es sei denn, du schreibst eine geschichtliche Hausarbeit).

Das gleiche gilt für deinen Zitierstil. Streue hier und da ein paar direkte Zitate ein. Am besten immer dann, wenn es schwierig erscheint, die Textstelle in eigenen Worten wiederzugeben. Mal ein langes, mal ein kurzes Zitat. Der Großteil deine Literature Reviews sollte jedoch als indirekt zitierter Text aufgebaut sein, in dem sich fast jeder Satz mit einer oder mehreren Quellen belegen lässt. Ungefähr so wie hier:

Hinter wichtigen Erkenntnissen kannst du ruhig auch mal 2-5 Autoren nennen, das zeigt, dass du viel gelesen hast und unterstreicht, dass eine Mehrzahl von Autoren der gleichen Ansicht ist.

Das waren die 3 Schritte für ein bombenfest formuliertes Literature Review. Falls du speziellere Fragen hast, schreibe sie mir unter [email protected] oder in die Kommentare auf dem Blog oder YouTube-Kanal.

Falls du noch mehr Inspiration beim Schreiben deiner Hausarbeit brauchst, dann hol dir jetzt das Gratis-PDF mit 30 grandiosen Formulierungen. Diese kannst du sofort in deine wissenschaftliche Arbeit einbauen.

Die 30 besten Formulierungen für eine aufsehenerregende Einleitung

Zusammenfassung zum Literature Review schreiben

• Das Schreiben eines Literature Reviews bildet die Grundlage einer guten wissenschaftlichen Arbeit
• Es kann als eigenständige Methode dienen (z.B. als Systematic Literature Review)
• In der Regel wird das Literature Review durch eine weitere Methode begleitet (z.B. Umfragen, Interviews, Prototypen, etc., vor allem in Abschlussarbeiten)
• Unternimm eine lückenlose Recherche (Schritt #1)
• Balanciere deine Quellen und Stil-Auswahl aus (Schritt #3)

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Wie erstellt man einen Literatur Review?

Angesichts der heutigen Informationsflut und einer Vielzahl interdisziplinärer Publikationen ist ein systematischer Überblick über die relevante Literatur zu einem bestimmten Thema oder zu einer definierten Forschungsfrage eine wichtige Voraussetzung für wissenschaftliches Arbeiten und Schreiben. Die Durchführung einer (systematischen) Literaturrecherche gilt daher als eine zentrale Kompetenz wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens.

Deshalb gewinnen systematische Recherchearbeiten wie Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analysen etc. verstärkt an Bedeutung, da sie das Ziel haben, möglichst alle für eine Fragestellung relevanten Publikationen zu identifizieren, methodisch zu bewerten und zusammenzufassen. Gleichzeitig dienen sie dazu,   systematische Verzerrungen (Bias) zu erkennen.

Um die Recherche und Auswahl der in Frage kommenden Literatur zielgerichtet durchzuführen (und die subjektive Willkür dabei einzuschränken), wird zunehmend ein sog. systematischer Literature Review (auch Literaturreview genannt) verlangt – dies nicht nur bei einem wissenschaftlichen Fachartikel, sondern auch bei einer Bachelorarbeit oder Masterarbeit (bei Doktorarbeiten in der Regel ohnehin).

Der systematische Literature Review  basiert auf dem Prinzip einer „evidenz-basierten“ Forschung und soll nicht nur die Ergebnisse einschlägiger wissenschaftlicher Forschung in transparenter Weise nachvollziehbar machen, sondern auch den Weg dorthin. Das heisst, auch die Literaturrecherche und -auswahl muss klar und systematisch (d.h. reproduzierbar) dargelegt und dokumentiert werden.

Charakteristisch für solche Reviews ist es daher, die Kriterien für die Auswahl der Quellen und auch das Vorgehen bei der Literatursuche und -Recherche offen darzulegen. Dem Begriff des systematischen Reviews eigen ist die Zielsetzung, dass die Literaturrecherche nicht mehr oder minder willkürlich erfolgt, sondern Subjektivität und Zufälligkeit durch verstärkten methodisch-formalen Aufwand reduziert werden.

Bereits die Fragestellung ist entscheidend

Für die Durchführung eines sinnvollen Literature Reviews entscheidend kann bereits die Formulierung einer geeigneten Fragestellung sein. Diese Fragestellung muss letztlich aus der Literatur ableitbar sein, ansonsten hilft auch die beste Methodik nichts (zumindest bei einer deduktiven Vorgehensweise). Anhand dieser Vorgehensweise bei der Formulierung der Fragestellung kann die Literaturrecherche strukturiert und die weitere Vorgehensweise bestimmt werden.

Vorgehensweise zur Erstellung eines systematischen Literatur Review

Ein Literatur Review kann in mehrere Phasen unterschieden werden, die wiederum je nach Literaturlage differieren können. Im Folgenden wird ein Vorschlag einer grundlegenden Abfolge von Schritten (Trichter-Modell) zur Anfertigung eines systematischen Literaturreviews erstellt:

I. Überblick über das Themengebiet erlangen

• Welche Konzepte und Begriffe sind im Forschungsgebiet relevant?
• Recherche mittels Google Scholar, wissenschaftliche Datenbanken
• Erste Strukturierung des Themas mittels MindMap o.ä.

II. Wissenschaftliche Fragestellung

• Welche Fragestellung und Hypothesen untersucht die Arbeit? Was sind die thematischen Abgrenzungen?
• Suchstrategie definieren unter Berücksichtigung von Boolschen Operatoren
• Welche Ein- und Ausschlusskriterien für die Recherche werden festgelegt?
• Welche Literatur- und Dokumententypen sollen berücksichtigt werden?

III. Recherchieren der Literaturquellen (detaillierte Beschreibung der Literatursuche)

• Gezielte Recherche v.a. in wissenschaftlichen Fachdatenbanken. Hierfür kann die vorherige Kenntnis geeigneter Journals und deren Ranking hilfreich sein (s.u.)
• Welche Suchbegriffe (und deren Synonyme, Oberbegriffe oder Unterbegriffe) werden berücksichtigt und wie ist deren logische Verknüpfung?
• Auswahl der relevanten, im Review zu behandelnden Arbeiten anhand dieser Kriterien. Die Kriterien sollten möglichst aus dem Theorieteil abgeleitet werden können.

Eine Darstellung der Kriterien zur Auswahl der relevanten Literatur kann so aussehen (Beispiel):

In der Vorgehensweise kann sich am PRISMA-Modell orientiert werden, d.h. nach Durchführung der systematisierten Recherche findet die systematische Literaturanalyse statt. Grafisch kann sich das Ergebnis der Recherche in der Ausarbeitung dann so darstellen (Beispiel):

Im Rahmen dieser trichterförmigen Vorgehensweise werden die verbliebenen Titel dann im Volltext beurteilt, sowie qualitativ und quantitativ zusammengefasst.

IV. Beschreibung der Literaturquellen (Analyse) (Inhaltliche Auswertung, extrahieren relevanter Information und Daten):

• Welche Variablen sollen bei der Auswertung der Quellen zu Grunde gelegt werden?
• Welche Auswertungsmethoden (z.B. Inhaltsanalyse) werden eingesetzt? Wie werden die Ergebnisse verwertet?
• Exzerpte sind sinnvoll und können mit Hilfe von Literaturverwaltungs-Programmen (wie z.B. Citavi) extrahiert bzw. mit eigenen Kommentaren versehen werden.
• Bildung von Auswertungskategorien, um die inhaltliche Strukturierung des Reviews zu unterstützen bzw. vorzubereiten.
• Quantitativ werden dabei die zahlenbasierten Besonderheiten der eingeschlossenen Studien tabellarisch erfasst und dargestellt.

V. Qualitative Bewertung und Diskussion der Ergebnisse (Synthese)

• Vergleich der einzelnen Methoden, die die Literaturquellen verwenden.
• Untersuchungsgegenstand (Stichprobe, Fallstudie etc.)
• Gegenstand der Untersuchung (was untersucht wurde)
• Abhängige und unabhängige Variablen
• Effekte / Ergebnisse / Aussagen in dem Artikel bzw. Studie
• Diskussion und Bewertung der Aussagekraft der recherchierten Literaturergebnisse -> Was ist zur Fragestellung in der Literatur bekannt? Welche Variablen werden untersucht? Was ist die Untersuchungsmethodik (Fallstudie, Meta-Analyse etc.)? Wo sind Limitationen der jeweiligen Studien? Welche Bereiche der Fragestellung wurden bisher unkritisch oder gar nicht behandelt?
• Der Arbeitsschritt der qualitativen Zusammenfassung hat zum Ziel, die wesentlichen Aspekte auch textlich zu bewerten und vergleichend niederzulegen. Ziel beider Auswertungsschritte ist es, zwecks Beantwortung der Forschungsfrage die wesentlichen Erkenntnisse der eingeschlossenen Studien wiederzugeben und zu bewerten und somit als systematisches Review den Forschungsstand zu erweitern.
• Je nach Fachgebiet und Anforderung an den wissenschaftlichen Text kann auch eine standardisierte Qualitätsbeurteilung mittels CONSORT erforderlich sein. Das sog. CONSORT-Statement (CONSORT = Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) gibt vor, welche Informationen standardmäßig in Veröffentlichungen hinsichtlich der  Ergebnisse aus randomisierten kontrollierten Studien beinhaltet sein müssen.

Erfüllt und berücksichtigt ein Literature Review diese Kriterien, so ist damit die Anforderung einer systematischen Aufarbeitung des jeweiligen Forschungsgebietes erfüllt.

Kritik an systematischen Literature Reviews

Mitunter wird der starke Formalismus solcher Literature Reviews kritisiert. Diese Kritik scheint angesichts des hohen Aufwands teilweise berechtigt zu sein, lässt aber die genannten Vorteile dieser Vorgehensweise außer Acht. Es kommt dabei aber vor allem auf das jeweilige Thema und Fachgebiet an. So eignet sich beispielsweise eine Bachelorarbeit aus dem Marketingbereich in der Regel weniger für einen systematischen Literaturreview als eine Masterarbeit im Fachbereich Pflegewissenschaften, Gesundheitswissenschaften oder auch Wirtschaftspsychologie. Generell gilt: die wissenschaftliche Methode sollte zum Thema passen.

Hilfe bei der Erstellung eines systematischen Literatur Reviews

Sollten Sie Unterstützung beim Schreiben Ihres Literature Reviews für Ihre Bachelorarbeit, Masterarbeit, Doktorarbeit oder einer sonstigen wissenschaftlichen Publikation benötigen, wenden Sie sich gerne an uns. Mit unserer langjährigen Erfahrung kennen wir die methodischen Anforderungen, die an systematische Reviews gestellt werden.

Wie schreibe ich ein Literature Review als Bachelorarbeit oder Masterarbeit?

Ein Literature Review ist eine wissenschaftliche Arbeit, im Rahmen einer Bachelorarbeit oder Masterarbeit, in der eigenständig bestimmte Informationen und Daten aus wissenschaftlichen Studien gesammelt werden, um eine bestimmte Frage zu beantworten.

Die Studien stammen aus wissenschaftlichen Zeitschriften (Journals). Die Hauptmethoden sind logisches Schließen, Analogien, Vergleiche, Simulieren, kritische Betrachtungen und weitere logische Operationen.

Was sind die Vorteile bei einem Literature Review?

• Keine Abhängigkeit von anderen,
• Quellen gibt es genug und vor allem digital,
• klare Methodik,
• enge Orientierung an Literatur möglich,
• gut planbar,
• schnell schreiben ist möglich,
• relativ wenig Aufwand,
• keine Wartezeiten,
• weniger Risiken und weniger Überraschungen,
• Bestnote ist möglich.

Was sind die Nachteile eines Literature Reviews?

• Schwierige Themenfindung,
• Dein Englisch muss recht gut sein,
• anspruchsvolle Quellen,
• Forschungsfrage schwer zu formulieren,
• die Eigenleistung ist nicht einfach, da muss man überlegen,
• Risiko, sich in der Literatur zu verlieren,
• Plagiatsgefahr.

Wie sieht ein Thema für ein Literature Review aus?

Wie das von anderen Arten der Arbeit auch. Der Unterschied liegt in den Datenquellen und Methoden.

Was sind die Herausforderungen bei einem Literature Review und wie meistere ich sie?

Deine Eigenleistung bei einem Literature Review sind neue Erkenntnisse mittels Auswertung von wissenschaftlichen Studien. Dabei gibt es diese Schwierigkeiten.

1. Du musst neue Erkenntnisse gewinnen, auf Studienbasis!

Die größte Herausforderung ist die Eigenleistung. Wenn alles schon in den Studien steht, wie soll ICH denn dann noch etwas NEUES daraus erkennen? Das geht doch gar nicht... Doch, das geht. Du musst die vorhandenen Studien nach einem Schema auswerten und dann die Studien nach deren Fokus clustern. Hier ist ein Schema dazu. Versuche, in Deinen Studien die Variablen A bis D zu finden.

2. Du musst Textanalyse-Methoden benutzen!

Du hast nur Studien. Keine Experten, keine Leute, die Du befragen kannst. Die Zeit ist knapp. Viele Texte scheinen gut. Aber immer wieder findest Du bessere Texte... Und wie kannst Du all diese Inhalte beim Lesen behalten? Nicht einfach!!

Mit der Formulierung der Leitfrage am Anfang der Arbeit hast Du schon den Roten Faden für das Auswerten der Studien und damit die Arbeit.

Wie  gehe ich mit der Plagiatsgefahr beim Literature Review um!

In einem Literature Review ist die Gefahr des Abschreibens hoch und damit das Plagiatsrisiko. Auf das Plagiatsrisiko kannst Du schon beim Schreiben achten, indem Du ein paar Regeln befolgst .

Tipp: Eine neue Technik, um schnell guten wissenschaftlichen Text ohne Plagiate zu schreiben, findest Du im Buch "Schreib-ABC – Fünf Seiten pro Tag". Hier ist ein Probeauszug .

Womit fange ich mein Literature Review am besten an?

Fange mit der Forschungsfrage und dem Thema und den passenden Quellen an! Was willst Du für Antworten für welche Fragen gewinnen?

Folge diesem standardisierten Ablauf.

• Exposé schreiben (kläre Leitfrage, Erwartungen des Betreuers und Methoden etc.)
• gezielt Bücher filtern und Theorie-Kapitel füllen,
• Forschungsstand mittels Studienauswertung erheben und Kapitel schreiben,
• Analyse-Methoden überlegen (Forschungsmethoden) und beschreiben,
• Infos, Daten und Argumente aus Quellen beschaffen und auswerten,
• neue Erkenntnisse mittels Analysen gewinnen
• Schlussfolgerungen ziehen, Ergebniskapitel schreiben und Arbeit abschließen.

PS: Der Thesis-Guide von Aristolo kann dir beim Schreiben deiner Arbeit helfen.

Citation Styles

• Chicago Style
• Annotated Bibliographies

What is a Lit Review?

How to write a lit review.

• Video Introduction to Lit Reviews

Main Objectives

Examples of lit reviews, additional resources.

• Zotero (Citation Management)

What is a literature review?

• Either a complete piece of writing unto itself or a section of a larger piece of writing like a book or article
• A thorough and critical look at the information and perspectives that other experts and scholars have written about a specific topic
• A way to give historical perspective on an issue and show how other researchers have addressed a problem
• An analysis of sources based on your own perspective on the topic
• Based on the most pertinent and significant research conducted in the field, both new and old

• A descriptive list or collection of summaries of other research without synthesis or analysis
• An annotated bibliography
• A literary review (a brief, critical discussion about the merits and weaknesses of a literary work such as a play, novel or a book of poems)
• Exhaustive; the objective is not to list as many relevant books, articles, reports as possible
• To convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic
• To explain what the strengths and weaknesses of that knowledge and those ideas might be
• To learn how others have defined and measured key concepts    
• To keep the writer/reader up to date with current developments and historical trends in a particular field or discipline
• To establish context for the argument explored in the rest of a paper
• To provide evidence that may be used to support your own findings
• To demonstrate your understanding and your ability to critically evaluate research in the field
• To suggest previously unused or underused methodologies, designs, and quantitative and qualitative strategies
• To identify gaps in previous studies and flawed methodologies and/or theoretical approaches in order to avoid replication of mistakes
• To help the researcher avoid repetition of earlier research
• To suggest unexplored populations
• To determine whether past studies agree or disagree and identify strengths and weaknesses on both sides of a controversy in the literature

• Choose a topic that is interesting to you; this makes the research and writing process more enjoyable and rewarding.
• For a literature review, you'll also want to make sure that the topic you choose is one that other researchers have explored before so that you'll be able to find plenty of relevant sources to review.

• Your research doesn't need to be exhaustive. Pay careful attention to bibliographies. Focus on the most frequently cited literature about your topic and literature from the best known scholars in your field. Ask yourself: "Does this source make a significant contribution to the understanding of my topic?"
• Reading other literature reviews from your field may help you get ideas for themes to look for in your research. You can usually find some of these through the library databases by adding literature review as a keyword in your search.
• Start with the most recent publications and work backwards. This way, you ensure you have the most current information, and it becomes easier to identify the most seminal earlier sources by reviewing the material that current researchers are citing.

The organization of your lit review should be determined based on what you'd like to highlight from your research. Here are a few suggestions:

• Chronology : Discuss literature in chronological order of its writing/publication to demonstrate a change in trends over time or to detail a history of controversy in the field or of developments in the understanding of your topic.  
• Theme: Group your sources by subject or theme to show the variety of angles from which your topic has been studied. This works well if, for example, your goal is to identify an angle or subtopic that has so far been overlooked by researchers.  
• Methodology: Grouping your sources by methodology (for example, dividing the literature into qualitative vs. quantitative studies or grouping sources according to the populations studied) is useful for illustrating an overlooked population, an unused or underused methodology, or a flawed experimental technique.

• Be selective. Highlight only the most important and relevant points from a source in your review.
• Use quotes sparingly. Short quotes can help to emphasize a point, but thorough analysis of language from each source is generally unnecessary in a literature review.
• Synthesize your sources. Your goal is not to make a list of summaries of each source but to show how the sources relate to one another and to your own work.
• Make sure that your own voice and perspective remains front and center. Don't rely too heavily on summary or paraphrasing. For each source, draw a conclusion about how it relates to your own work or to the other literature on your topic.
• Be objective. When you identify a disagreement in the literature, be sure to represent both sides. Don't exclude a source simply on the basis that it does not support your own research hypothesis.
• At the end of your lit review, make suggestions for future research. What subjects, populations, methodologies, or theoretical lenses warrant further exploration? What common flaws or biases did you identify that could be corrected in future studies?

• Double check that you've correctly cited each of the sources you've used in the citation style requested by your professor (APA, MLA, etc.) and that your lit review is formatted according to the guidelines for that style.

Your literature review should:

• Be focused on and organized around your topic.
• Synthesize your research into a summary of what is and is not known about your topic.
• Identify any gaps or areas of controversy in the literature related to your topic.
• Suggest questions that require further research.
• Have your voice and perspective at the forefront rather than merely summarizing others' work.
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• Literature Review Tutorials and Samples - Wilson Library at University of La Verne
• Literature Reviews: Introduction - University Library at Georgia State
• Literature Reviews - The Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill
• Writing a Literature Review - Boston College Libraries
• Write a Literature Review - University Library at UC Santa Cruz
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Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review

Marco pautasso.

1 Centre for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology (CEFE), CNRS, Montpellier, France

2 Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (CESAB), FRB, Aix-en-Provence, France

Literature reviews are in great demand in most scientific fields. Their need stems from the ever-increasing output of scientific publications [1] . For example, compared to 1991, in 2008 three, eight, and forty times more papers were indexed in Web of Science on malaria, obesity, and biodiversity, respectively [2] . Given such mountains of papers, scientists cannot be expected to examine in detail every single new paper relevant to their interests [3] . Thus, it is both advantageous and necessary to rely on regular summaries of the recent literature. Although recognition for scientists mainly comes from primary research, timely literature reviews can lead to new synthetic insights and are often widely read [4] . For such summaries to be useful, however, they need to be compiled in a professional way [5] .

When starting from scratch, reviewing the literature can require a titanic amount of work. That is why researchers who have spent their career working on a certain research issue are in a perfect position to review that literature. Some graduate schools are now offering courses in reviewing the literature, given that most research students start their project by producing an overview of what has already been done on their research issue [6] . However, it is likely that most scientists have not thought in detail about how to approach and carry out a literature review.

Reviewing the literature requires the ability to juggle multiple tasks, from finding and evaluating relevant material to synthesising information from various sources, from critical thinking to paraphrasing, evaluating, and citation skills [7] . In this contribution, I share ten simple rules I learned working on about 25 literature reviews as a PhD and postdoctoral student. Ideas and insights also come from discussions with coauthors and colleagues, as well as feedback from reviewers and editors.

Rule 1: Define a Topic and Audience

How to choose which topic to review? There are so many issues in contemporary science that you could spend a lifetime of attending conferences and reading the literature just pondering what to review. On the one hand, if you take several years to choose, several other people may have had the same idea in the meantime. On the other hand, only a well-considered topic is likely to lead to a brilliant literature review [8] . The topic must at least be:

• interesting to you (ideally, you should have come across a series of recent papers related to your line of work that call for a critical summary),
• an important aspect of the field (so that many readers will be interested in the review and there will be enough material to write it), and
• a well-defined issue (otherwise you could potentially include thousands of publications, which would make the review unhelpful).

Ideas for potential reviews may come from papers providing lists of key research questions to be answered [9] , but also from serendipitous moments during desultory reading and discussions. In addition to choosing your topic, you should also select a target audience. In many cases, the topic (e.g., web services in computational biology) will automatically define an audience (e.g., computational biologists), but that same topic may also be of interest to neighbouring fields (e.g., computer science, biology, etc.).

Rule 2: Search and Re-search the Literature

After having chosen your topic and audience, start by checking the literature and downloading relevant papers. Five pieces of advice here:

• keep track of the search items you use (so that your search can be replicated [10] ),
• keep a list of papers whose pdfs you cannot access immediately (so as to retrieve them later with alternative strategies),
• use a paper management system (e.g., Mendeley, Papers, Qiqqa, Sente),
• define early in the process some criteria for exclusion of irrelevant papers (these criteria can then be described in the review to help define its scope), and
• do not just look for research papers in the area you wish to review, but also seek previous reviews.

The chances are high that someone will already have published a literature review ( Figure 1 ), if not exactly on the issue you are planning to tackle, at least on a related topic. If there are already a few or several reviews of the literature on your issue, my advice is not to give up, but to carry on with your own literature review,

The bottom-right situation (many literature reviews but few research papers) is not just a theoretical situation; it applies, for example, to the study of the impacts of climate change on plant diseases, where there appear to be more literature reviews than research studies [33] .

• discussing in your review the approaches, limitations, and conclusions of past reviews,
• trying to find a new angle that has not been covered adequately in the previous reviews, and
• incorporating new material that has inevitably accumulated since their appearance.

When searching the literature for pertinent papers and reviews, the usual rules apply:

• be thorough,
• use different keywords and database sources (e.g., DBLP, Google Scholar, ISI Proceedings, JSTOR Search, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science), and
• look at who has cited past relevant papers and book chapters.

Rule 3: Take Notes While Reading

If you read the papers first, and only afterwards start writing the review, you will need a very good memory to remember who wrote what, and what your impressions and associations were while reading each single paper. My advice is, while reading, to start writing down interesting pieces of information, insights about how to organize the review, and thoughts on what to write. This way, by the time you have read the literature you selected, you will already have a rough draft of the review.

Of course, this draft will still need much rewriting, restructuring, and rethinking to obtain a text with a coherent argument [11] , but you will have avoided the danger posed by staring at a blank document. Be careful when taking notes to use quotation marks if you are provisionally copying verbatim from the literature. It is advisable then to reformulate such quotes with your own words in the final draft. It is important to be careful in noting the references already at this stage, so as to avoid misattributions. Using referencing software from the very beginning of your endeavour will save you time.

Rule 4: Choose the Type of Review You Wish to Write

After having taken notes while reading the literature, you will have a rough idea of the amount of material available for the review. This is probably a good time to decide whether to go for a mini- or a full review. Some journals are now favouring the publication of rather short reviews focusing on the last few years, with a limit on the number of words and citations. A mini-review is not necessarily a minor review: it may well attract more attention from busy readers, although it will inevitably simplify some issues and leave out some relevant material due to space limitations. A full review will have the advantage of more freedom to cover in detail the complexities of a particular scientific development, but may then be left in the pile of the very important papers “to be read” by readers with little time to spare for major monographs.

There is probably a continuum between mini- and full reviews. The same point applies to the dichotomy of descriptive vs. integrative reviews. While descriptive reviews focus on the methodology, findings, and interpretation of each reviewed study, integrative reviews attempt to find common ideas and concepts from the reviewed material [12] . A similar distinction exists between narrative and systematic reviews: while narrative reviews are qualitative, systematic reviews attempt to test a hypothesis based on the published evidence, which is gathered using a predefined protocol to reduce bias [13] , [14] . When systematic reviews analyse quantitative results in a quantitative way, they become meta-analyses. The choice between different review types will have to be made on a case-by-case basis, depending not just on the nature of the material found and the preferences of the target journal(s), but also on the time available to write the review and the number of coauthors [15] .

Rule 5: Keep the Review Focused, but Make It of Broad Interest

Whether your plan is to write a mini- or a full review, it is good advice to keep it focused 16 , 17 . Including material just for the sake of it can easily lead to reviews that are trying to do too many things at once. The need to keep a review focused can be problematic for interdisciplinary reviews, where the aim is to bridge the gap between fields [18] . If you are writing a review on, for example, how epidemiological approaches are used in modelling the spread of ideas, you may be inclined to include material from both parent fields, epidemiology and the study of cultural diffusion. This may be necessary to some extent, but in this case a focused review would only deal in detail with those studies at the interface between epidemiology and the spread of ideas.

While focus is an important feature of a successful review, this requirement has to be balanced with the need to make the review relevant to a broad audience. This square may be circled by discussing the wider implications of the reviewed topic for other disciplines.

Rule 6: Be Critical and Consistent

Reviewing the literature is not stamp collecting. A good review does not just summarize the literature, but discusses it critically, identifies methodological problems, and points out research gaps [19] . After having read a review of the literature, a reader should have a rough idea of:

• the major achievements in the reviewed field,
• the main areas of debate, and
• the outstanding research questions.

It is challenging to achieve a successful review on all these fronts. A solution can be to involve a set of complementary coauthors: some people are excellent at mapping what has been achieved, some others are very good at identifying dark clouds on the horizon, and some have instead a knack at predicting where solutions are going to come from. If your journal club has exactly this sort of team, then you should definitely write a review of the literature! In addition to critical thinking, a literature review needs consistency, for example in the choice of passive vs. active voice and present vs. past tense.

Rule 7: Find a Logical Structure

Like a well-baked cake, a good review has a number of telling features: it is worth the reader's time, timely, systematic, well written, focused, and critical. It also needs a good structure. With reviews, the usual subdivision of research papers into introduction, methods, results, and discussion does not work or is rarely used. However, a general introduction of the context and, toward the end, a recapitulation of the main points covered and take-home messages make sense also in the case of reviews. For systematic reviews, there is a trend towards including information about how the literature was searched (database, keywords, time limits) [20] .

How can you organize the flow of the main body of the review so that the reader will be drawn into and guided through it? It is generally helpful to draw a conceptual scheme of the review, e.g., with mind-mapping techniques. Such diagrams can help recognize a logical way to order and link the various sections of a review [21] . This is the case not just at the writing stage, but also for readers if the diagram is included in the review as a figure. A careful selection of diagrams and figures relevant to the reviewed topic can be very helpful to structure the text too [22] .

Rule 8: Make Use of Feedback

Reviews of the literature are normally peer-reviewed in the same way as research papers, and rightly so [23] . As a rule, incorporating feedback from reviewers greatly helps improve a review draft. Having read the review with a fresh mind, reviewers may spot inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and ambiguities that had not been noticed by the writers due to rereading the typescript too many times. It is however advisable to reread the draft one more time before submission, as a last-minute correction of typos, leaps, and muddled sentences may enable the reviewers to focus on providing advice on the content rather than the form.

Feedback is vital to writing a good review, and should be sought from a variety of colleagues, so as to obtain a diversity of views on the draft. This may lead in some cases to conflicting views on the merits of the paper, and on how to improve it, but such a situation is better than the absence of feedback. A diversity of feedback perspectives on a literature review can help identify where the consensus view stands in the landscape of the current scientific understanding of an issue [24] .

Rule 9: Include Your Own Relevant Research, but Be Objective

In many cases, reviewers of the literature will have published studies relevant to the review they are writing. This could create a conflict of interest: how can reviewers report objectively on their own work [25] ? Some scientists may be overly enthusiastic about what they have published, and thus risk giving too much importance to their own findings in the review. However, bias could also occur in the other direction: some scientists may be unduly dismissive of their own achievements, so that they will tend to downplay their contribution (if any) to a field when reviewing it.

In general, a review of the literature should neither be a public relations brochure nor an exercise in competitive self-denial. If a reviewer is up to the job of producing a well-organized and methodical review, which flows well and provides a service to the readership, then it should be possible to be objective in reviewing one's own relevant findings. In reviews written by multiple authors, this may be achieved by assigning the review of the results of a coauthor to different coauthors.

Rule 10: Be Up-to-Date, but Do Not Forget Older Studies

Given the progressive acceleration in the publication of scientific papers, today's reviews of the literature need awareness not just of the overall direction and achievements of a field of inquiry, but also of the latest studies, so as not to become out-of-date before they have been published. Ideally, a literature review should not identify as a major research gap an issue that has just been addressed in a series of papers in press (the same applies, of course, to older, overlooked studies (“sleeping beauties” [26] )). This implies that literature reviewers would do well to keep an eye on electronic lists of papers in press, given that it can take months before these appear in scientific databases. Some reviews declare that they have scanned the literature up to a certain point in time, but given that peer review can be a rather lengthy process, a full search for newly appeared literature at the revision stage may be worthwhile. Assessing the contribution of papers that have just appeared is particularly challenging, because there is little perspective with which to gauge their significance and impact on further research and society.

Inevitably, new papers on the reviewed topic (including independently written literature reviews) will appear from all quarters after the review has been published, so that there may soon be the need for an updated review. But this is the nature of science [27] – [32] . I wish everybody good luck with writing a review of the literature.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to M. Barbosa, K. Dehnen-Schmutz, T. Döring, D. Fontaneto, M. Garbelotto, O. Holdenrieder, M. Jeger, D. Lonsdale, A. MacLeod, P. Mills, M. Moslonka-Lefebvre, G. Stancanelli, P. Weisberg, and X. Xu for insights and discussions, and to P. Bourne, T. Matoni, and D. Smith for helpful comments on a previous draft.

Funding Statement

This work was funded by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) through its Centre for Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity data (CESAB), as part of the NETSEED research project. The funders had no role in the preparation of the manuscript.

Übersicht über bestehende Literatur: (Literatur) Reviews

• First Online: 03 June 2023

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• Valentin Ritschl 4 ,
• Lisa Sperl 4 ,
• Tanja Stamm 4 ,
• Peter Putz 5 &
• Agnes Sturma 6 , 7  

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Wenn das Ziel eines Forschungsprojekts darin besteht, sich mit bereits bestehender Literatur kritisch auseinanderzusetzten, dann eignen sich dafür unterschiedliche Formen von Literaturstudien und Reviews. Dieses Kapitel gibt einen Einblick in die verschiedenen Arten von Reviews, wie z. B. systematische Reviews, Meta-Analysen und Scoping Reviews, sowie in deren Durchführung und ihre Bedeutung als eigenständige Forschungsmethode.

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Ritschl, V., Sperl, L., Stamm, T., Putz, P., Sturma, A. (2023). Übersicht über bestehende Literatur: (Literatur) Reviews. In: Ritschl, V., Weigl, R., Stamm, T. (eds) Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten und Schreiben. Studium Pflege, Therapie, Gesundheit . Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-66501-5_8

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