Literature Reviews

Welcome to the Literature Review Research Guide at Walsh University! A literature review helps you explore, analyze, and synthesize existing research on a topic.

What's included in this guide:

• How to find resources
• organizing ideas
• How to write effectively
• How to cite

A literature review is an overview of existing research on a topic, summarizing and analyzing scholarly sources to provide context for further study. It identifies trends, gaps, and major discussions in academic research.

Purpose of a Literature Review

• Provides Background – Helps understand past research and current developments.

• Identifies Gaps – Shows where more research is needed.

• Establishes Context – Connects your study to previous work in the field.

• Demonstrates Understanding – Shows familiarity with key sources and concepts.

Key Components

• Summary – Briefly explains the findings of each source.

• Analysis – Evaluates the relevance, strengths, and weaknesses of studies.

• Synthesis – Connects sources to build a larger understanding of the topic.

• Structure – Organized by themes, methodology, or chronology.

Your professor will establish guidelines for writing a literature review. The following video, Literature Review: An Overview for Graduate Students, by North Carolina State University Libraries is an excellent starting point.  It discusses what literature reviewis, how to review the literature and steps in writing a literature review. (10 minutes)