Write a Literature Review: for Researchers
When conducting a literature review for your research, you need to determine the type of review required, search for relevant literature, and locate appropriate resources. If you're new to literature reviewing, we recommend starting from the beginning of this page.
While this resource primarily targets graduate students and researchers, undergraduates may also find it useful. For undergrad-specific guidance, please refer to Write a Literature Review: for Undergraduates. If you're working on a research proposal, explore Write a Research Proposal.
If you have any questions or require assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to our Teaching & Learning Team at [email protected] or request a consultation with our friendly staff.
Literature Reviews
The purpose of a literature review is to find out what is already known about your topic.
A literature review is essential for graduate essays, dissertations, theses, and research projects. It aims to explore existing knowledge on your topic by analysing scholarly articles and relevant sources. This process demonstrates your grasp of the subject.
After reviewing the literature, you should identify key themes, compare perspectives, and spot gaps in existing research. This sets the context for your work, emphasising its significance in the field.
Booth et al. note that literature reviews extend beyond theses and dissertations, also appearing in journals, reports, and policy development (Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D. (2016).Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. Los Angeles, CA: Sage, p. 12).
Key stages of a literature review:
- Define terms.
- Employ effective search strategies.
- Select relevant materials.
- Organize materials for your argument.
- Analyze and synthesize the literature.
- Establish research context.
At postgraduate/thesis level you will normally do either a narrative or systematic literature review, depending on your topic.
Hints
- For general guides in print format : See H62, LB2369, LB1028 (Level 3)
- Library Search Try searching on "Dissertations, Academic"
- See Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. Los Angeles, CA: Sage p. 57-58 for how a literature review might be assessed (H62.H68 2018)
Scoping Reviews
You may be asked to do a scoping review
You may be asked to do a scoping review.
Booth et al. say that a scoping review “Is characterised as a broad-brush approach to finding the most notable studies in the field, with minimal attempts to evaluate them for quality, a rudimentary attempts at synthesis (perhaps through listing, tabulation or mapping), and an analysis that caricatures the quantity and distribution of the literature” (p. 23). They define a scoping review as "A type of review that has as its primary objective the identification of the size and quality of research in a topic area in order to inform the subsequent conduct of a review" (Booth et al. (2016). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review, . p. 314.)
Narrative (Traditional/Scholarly) Literature Reviews
A narrative review provides a synthesis or description of the literature review without using quantitative methods
A narrative review provides a synthesis or description of the literature review without using quantitative methods. Often the purpose of the review involves the evaluation of some set of investigations and involves theoretical statements and casts a wide range of topics and investigations. (Sage Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods).
The Sage Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods states that the strengths of a narrative review are: Unlike quantitative reviews, which have very narrowly defined parameters and precise inclusion and exclusion rules, a narrative review has more flexibility. The narrative review provides more potential for individual insight and opportunities for speculation than most quantitative review approaches. (From Narrative Literature Review (Sage Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods)).
Narrative Literature Review (Sage Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods) describes the narrative review in much more detail and Literature Review: Traditional or Narrative Literature Reviews (Charles Sturt University) describes four different types of narrative review.
How-to Guides
- How to Do a Systematic Review: A Best Practice Guide for Conducting and Reporting Narrative Reviews, Meta-Analyses, and Meta-Syntheses
This guide describes how to plan, conduct, organize, and present a systematic review of quantitative (meta-analysis) or qualitative (narrative review, meta-synthesis) information
Hints & Examples
- Think about the future: Getting published.
- See the Library's Library for Postgraduates.
- Search "narrative literature review" in Library Search, to see how these are set up
- Check out Research Commons theses
- See Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination p. 6 for an example of a review which displays familiarity with the literature. Call no.: H62.H28 2018
Integrative Reviews
Integrative reviews are widely used in nursing
An integrative literature review (sometimes called an IR or a Systematic Integrative Review) is a “method that summarizes past empirical or theoretical literature to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a particular phenomenon or healthcare problem” (Broome 1993, as cited in Whittemore & Knafl, 2005, p. 546)
In the same way as a systematic literature view does, the write up of the integrative review literature search needs to explicitly state the search terms and databases used, as well as the criteria used for including and excluding sources. The University of Waikato’s Library discovery layer software known as Library Search is great for getting a sense of the literature, but, as it is a search engine, not an individual database, when conducting the definitive searches, you need to go to individual databases.
Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546–553. https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x
An example of an integrative review in a peer reviewed journal:
Pajakoski, E., Rannikko, S., Leino-Kilpi, H., & Numminen, O. (2021). Moral courage in nursing - An integrative literature review. Nursing & Health Sciences. https://doi-org.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/10.1111/nhs.12805
This ebook is available through the library and shows how to conduct an integrative review:
Toronto, C. E., & Remington, R. (Eds.). (2020). A step-by-step guide to conducting an integrative review. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37504-1
Systematic (Interventional/Evidence-based Practice) Literature Reviews
Not simply a literature review conducted in a systematic manner, a systematic literature review is tightly structured and focuses on a topic with strict research parameters.
A systematic review is a tightly structured literature review that focuses on a topic with strict research parameters. The methodology used to collect research has to be consistent in order to reduce misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the data. See Systematic Reviews: What is a systematic review?
Further recommended readings include:
How-to Guides
- How to Do a Systematic Review: A Best Practice Guide for Conducting and Reporting Narrative Reviews, Meta-Analyses, and Meta-Syntheses
This guide describes how to plan, conduct, organize, and present a systematic review of quantitative (meta-analysis) or qualitative (narrative review, meta-synthesis) information - Steps in a systematic review
- Systematic Literature Reviews for Education
- Contains methodological guidance for the preparation and maintenance of Cochrane intervention reviews. Many of the principles and methods described here are appropriate for systematic reviews applied to other types of research and to systematic reviews of interventions undertaken by others.
First Steps
- Use referencing software e.g. EndNote
- Create a folder with a page for each database
- Note the search strategy for each database
- Note all search terms, note the key words for each search
- Note the number of references found, note the date/s of search
- Note the number of results when words added or returned to search
- In databases, look at help menu e.g. for " " search strategies, limits
- Note any limits used
- Use filters e.g. exclude reviews, note filters used
- Save search strategy online so you can rerun your search
- Write up in a narrative way but use flow charts, put results in a table.
What is PRISMA?
PRISMA is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PRISMA focuses on the reporting of reviews evaluating randomized trials, but can also be used as a basis for reporting systematic reviews of other types of research, particularly evaluations of interventions. See the PRISMA flow diagram http://www.prisma-statement.org and the *PRISMA checklist (see Booth et al. Systematic approaches to a successful literature review, p. 124)
What is Meta-analysis?
Meta-analysis uses statistical methods to combine the results of a systematic literature review. It is considered original work. Booth et al. define meta-analysis as "the process of combining statistically quantitative studies that have measured the same effect using similar methods and a common outcome measure". (Booth et al, Systematic approaches to a successful literature review, p. 309).
Ask your supervisors about the best software or see this web page 13 best free meta-analysis software to use or check examples of theses or articles using meta-analysis to see which software would be best for you.
How-to Guides
- Meta-analysis Booth et al. Systematic approaches to a successful literature review, pp. 186-209. Essential reading for learning about graphical ways of showing results.
- Systematic Reviews: Meta Analysis
- Methods of meta-analysis
- Meta-analysis
Hints & Examples
- Think about the future: Getting published
- See the Library's Services for Postgraduates
- In Library Search, search "systematic literature review" to see how these are set up
- Research Commons theses
- A Guide to Conducting a Systematic Literature Review of Information Systems Research/Okoli and Schabram
- Systematic review examples
Clarification of terminology
The term “Systematic Literature Review” is a specific type of review which involves, among other things, designing a specific search strategy, and then conducting it in one or several databases (not Library Search), applying specified inclusion and exclusion criteria to the items found, and reporting on it. If you have been advised to conduct a systematic review it would pay to clarify this, as it may be that you just need to perform a literature search in a systematic manner, rather than a full Systematic Literature Review.
Systematic vs. Scoping vs. Integrative Review
This guide briefly compares each type of review and so you can determine which type of review is best for your needs: https://guides.library.duq.edu/c.php?g=1055475&p=7725920
Dissertations, Theses and Essays
For a masters degree, you will include a dissertation equivalent to two papers, or a thesis equivalent to three papers, or a thesis equivalent to four papers
For a masters degree, you will include a dissertation equivalent to two papers, or a thesis equivalent to three papers, or a thesis equivalent to four papers.
- See the Library's Services for Postgraduates
- See your Faculty's graduate handbook
- See also your Faculty's Graduate Guide to Masters Theses and Dissertations
Remember your Teaching & Learning Team can help you do the best search on the best Library databases for your topic.
Level 5 Dissertations
The literature review often appears near the start of your dissertation, and is a key part of your overall dissertation structure. It is a summary of the current writings in the field you are researching and into which your dissertation will eventually fit (Oxbridge Essays).
For tips and guidance on writing your literature review, the following resources are recommended by the Library to help you get started.
- How do I write an Undergraduate or Master's dissertation?
- Top 10 tips for writing your dissertation literature review
- Thomson Rivers University Literature Review template
- Writing a Literature Review
- Call Number: LB2369
For a range of print books on dissertation writing, e.g. Your undergraduate dissertation: the essential guide for success
- Doing your Undergraduate Project: the Literature Review
If you feel you need extra guidance, this is a great chapter on Doing your Undergraduate Project.
Masters Theses
In addition to the resources listed in the Level 5 Dissertation section, see:
- Call Numbers LB2639 and H62
For a range of print books on thesis writing.
- Writing Up
Writing up your research is a crucial stage of any research project. This stage in the Sage Research Methods Project Planner, explains how to write academically, providing tips for writing up reports, dissertations, and theses, and guidance on how to write up different sections of your research paper.
Literature Searches
A literature search is a systematic search of the accredited sources and resources
"A literature search is a systematic search of the accredited sources and resources. It involves identifying paper and electronic sources relevant to your topic and method(s)..." (Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. Los Angeles, CA: Sage, p. 3)
- Define the research question so that you can focus your search on material relevant to your purpose.
- Develop a search strategy Literature Review: Developing a search strategy.
- You may only be interested in theory or methodology, quantitative research or qualitative research, or a combination of these.
- Before beginning to search, think of the type of material you should be looking for such as books, journal articles, newspaper articles, commercial reports, government documents, unpublished dissertations and theses, statistical material, primary sources and so on (see Resources).
- Consider the scope of your literature which may be confined to a geographical area or a period of time.
- Become familiar with the Library's resources to search for material (See Finding Resources)
- Resources beyond the Library (and beyond Google!) (See Grey Literature)
Hints
- Try typing e.g. "literature searching" biology into Library Search
- Look at Library Search subject headings Research methodology or Dissertations, Academic
- Keep a research diary
- EndNote tutorials are offered by the Library and are recommended before you start
- NVivo can be used to systematically analyse literature. For more information please see the NVivo help page
- Reading critically
- See these guides to Reading at University from Student Learning
Scoping or Indicative Searches
Booth et al. define a Scoping search as "a type of literature search that seeks to determine rapidly and efficiently the scale of a predefined topic in order to inform subsequent review" (Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D.(2016). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review, Los Angeles, CA, Sage, p. 314).
- Stage 1 Scoping Search
From Booth et al. Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. For both narrative (pp.111 - 114) and complex intervention searches (p. 114 - 115).
- Scoping searches
- Search the literature: scope your topic
- The initial or indicative search
In Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination p. 12.
- Key elements of qualitative research and quantitative research (Bruce Curtis & Cate Curtis)
- Different types of literature review
In Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination, pp. 93-106
Hints
Which sort of review of the literature is most suitable for your thesis topic - Narrative or Systematic?
- Systematic Reviews: What is a systematic review
- Literature Review: Traditional or Narrative Literature Reviews describes four different types of narrative reviews.
Finding Resources for your Literature Review
There are two main approaches to finding literature
A good literature review will contain mostly high-quality, peer reviewed academic material such as journal articles, books and theses.
There are two main approaches to finding literature:
- Keyword Approach: Generate relevant keywords and use them in various search engines, including subject-specific databases, Library Search, and Google Scholar.
- Citation Approach: Leverage existing literature to discover more by examining reference lists or checking citations through Google Scholar or databases like Scopus.
For tailored guidance, reach out to the Teaching & Learning Team.
Key Resources
- Books: Access via Library Search with options for books and ebooks.
- Databases: Accessed via the Library website, Databases mainly offer access to journal articles, but also contain ebook collections (search "ebooks") and Reference Collections. Databases are also categorised by subject area for efficient access to relevant resources.
- WorldCat: Access records for over 1.2 billion items worldwide, including theses, books, and articles. Links to full-text are available when possible.
- Ebooks: Explore various searchable ebook databases, with Ebook Central as the primary collection. Find them in the Library's Databases list.
- Journal Articles: Locate journal articles through Library Search or BrowZine, a web and tablet application offering thousands of scholarly journals from the University of Waikato Library.
- Journals: Visit Journal Search (exlibrisgroup.com) to search online and physical journals held by the Library. Also accessed via the the search bar on the Library website .
- These: Discover theses at the University of Waikato and worldwide using Research Commons and nzresearch.org.nz.
- Newspapers: Explore news databases for comprehensive research on your topic.
- General Research: Access peer-reviewed research papers and resources from New Zealand's universities, polytechnics, and research organisations through nzresearch.org.nz.
Hints
- See Researchers: Finding Information pages for expanded information on finding Data repositories and New Zealand statistics, citation searching, and how to evaluate your sources.
- Learn how to Setup Alerts to new articles on your topic
- If we don’t have an article you need, use Interlibrary Loan.
- For some topics you may also want to include Grey Literature.
Grey Literature
Grey literature (or gray literature) are materials and research produced by organizations outside of the traditional commercial or academic publishing and distribution channels (Wikipedia).
"Grey literature stands for manifold document types produced on all levels of government, academics, business and industry in print and electronic formats that are protected by intellectual property rights, of sufficient quality to be collected and preserved by libraries and institutional repositories, but not controlled by commercial publishers; i.e. where publishing is not the primary activity of the producing body. (The Twelfth International Conference on Grey Literature, Prague, 2010).
Examples of grey literature in the Health field for instance, includes: conference abstracts, presentations, proceedings; regulatory data; unpublished trial data; government publications; reports (such as white papers, working papers, internal documentation); dissertations/theses; patents; and policies & procedures.
- What is Grey Literature?
- Grey Literature
Includes definitions and a list of document types
- Document types in Grey Literature
- How to find...: Grey literature
- Grey literature: What it is and how to find it
Government Documents
Which government department deals with your topic? See Govt.nz https://www.govt.nz/ . Another way to get the best out of government publications - go to Government A-Z. Find the Government Department you think will help. Click on the link, and at the next page, choose website from the list under Contact. Then you can use the search box to search for your topic.
Digital Collections
University of Waikato Digital Collections
Hints
- See Booth et al., Systematic approaches to a successful literature review, pp. 113, 120, 203. LB2369.B66 2016
- Open Access Repositories are useful for Grey Literature: See Registry of Open Access Repositories (ROAR)