How to Write a Literature Review

NURSING RESEARCH


HOW TO WRITE A LITERATURE REVIEW

, WHAT IS A LITERATURE REVIEW?



A literature review:

 Surveys scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations, conference
proceedings, theses) relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory.

 Provides a short description and critical evaluation of work critical to the topic.

 Offers an overview of significant literature published on a topic.

,A literature review:

• Enables to develop background knowledge of a field of inquiry by:
 Exploring current known facts
 Exploring eminent scholars’ opinions and work on the topic
 Establishing an overview of the parameters of the field
 Looking for the most significant existing ideas, theories, questions, and hypotheses
 Getting a sense of the gaps of knowledge in the field.


 A good literature review enables the readers to situate your own research into the
bigger picture.

, WHY CONDUCTING A LITERATURE REVIEW?



• To embark on a new area of research

• To generate hypotheses or questions for a
future study

• To determine if a proposed study is actually
needed.
• Even if similar research published, researchers
might suggest a need for similar studies or
replication.