A literature review is not a summary of papers — it is an argument. Your job is to synthesise existing research into a coherent narrative that establishes why your research question matters.
Day 1: Discovery and Triage
- Search Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science using 3-5 core search strings
- Export results to Zotero or Mendeley
- Screening round 1: title and abstract only (< 30 seconds per paper)
- Target: 100-200 papers after round 1, narrow to 30-50 for deep read
Literature Review Structures
Literature review structure options
| Structure | Best For |
|---|---|
| Thematic | Most common — organise by topic |
| Chronological | Showing field evolution over time |
| Methodological | Methodologically focused research |
| Argumentative | Building a specific argument or case |
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Critical Analysis
Never write "Jones (2018) found that X." Instead: "While Jones (2018) found X, this is limited by the study's small sample size (n=23), which prevents generalisability..." Analysis of limitations elevates summary to scholarship.
Literature ReviewAcademic ResearchDissertationResearch Methods
Tanvir Tuhin
AI consultant, digital marketer, and study abroad mentor based in Aberdeen, UK. Founder of JJAT Education.
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