Define the topic and purpose of the review.
Explain the scope—what is covered and what is excluded.
Outline the structure of the review.
Organize research by themes, theories, methodologies, or chronology.
Summarize key findings from relevant studies.
Compare perspectives and highlight agreements or contradictions.
Identify gaps in existing research and suggest where further study is needed.
Summarize overall findings and key insights.
Discuss limitations in current research.
Suggest directions for future research.
Properly cite all sources used (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
Ensure all references support your review’s arguments.
Here are some web resources to help you with the process of identifying resources, summarizing your findings and writing a literature review.
}Business
◦Casson, M., & Lee, J. (2011). The Origin and Development of Markets: A Business History Perspective. Business History Review, 85(1), 9-37. doi: 10.1017/S0007680511000018
}Psychology
◦Sample APA Papers: Literature Reviews from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University.
}Health Care
◦Walker, W. (2008, February 15). Accident and emergency staff opinion on the effects of family presence during adult resuscitation: critical literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 61(4), 348-362. Retrieved July 7, 2009, from CINAHL with Full Text database.
◦Paul, F., & Rattray, J. (2008, May). Short- and long-term impact of critical illness on relatives: literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(3), 276-292. Retrieved July 6, 2009, from CINAHL with Full Text database.
}Science
◦Jonkman, S., Vrijling, J., & Vrouwenvelder, A. (2008). Methods for the estimation of loss of life due to floods: a literature review and a proposal for a new method. Natural Hazards, 46(3), 353-389. Retrieved June 9, 2011, from ProQuest Science Journals. (Open access journal).
Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care
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