A literature review is a contemplation of scholarly information on a particular topic. This survey provides an overview while it identifies the theories, ways, and gaps linked to the existing research.
For writing a literature review, you will have to find publications relevant to the topic, analyzing them, and elaborating on your findings.
Furthermore, a literature review is essential in maintaining the quality of medical device development. Aside from this, a literature review aids the students to represent their in-depth knowledge related to a specific subject. Are you facing difficulty in writing a literature review? Well, we are here to help. If you want to read in-depth comprehensive guide on how to write a dissertation literature you can visit here.
Here are seven easy to follow steps that can help you ace your literature review writing.
Step#1 Analyse your topic for literature review
Firstly, you will have to focus on a particular area of the study. To narrow down your interest, consider what appeals to the other researchers from your field more.
Also, you can talk to an experienced person. It can be your professor, a senior, or a fellow student. Once you have gathered opinions, it is about time you shall brainstorm while reading notes and looking into recent developments alongside issues related to your field.
Finally, narrow down your literature review’s scope to a relatively precise topic.
After you have chosen exactly what you will write on, formulate a concise yet well-defined question and define the terminologies related to it.
Moreover, make sure you are not replicating any of the published literature reviews related to it. Aside from this, you can analyse your topic through implementing frameworks like SPIDER and PICO.
Step#2 Research for writing a literature review
Now that you are well-aware of your topic and its various aspects, you should move onto the process of collecting data related to it.
For doing so, identify the source criteria you would want to follow. E.g., the methodology or the geographic region. Additionally, you can use keywords to research; it will help you find useful information quickly.
Furthermore, you can use references provided on the recently published, which will lead you to important information.
Aside from this, we recommend you include contracting articles to improve the overall quality of your article.
Nonetheless, the orthodox way of researching can be beneficial as well. You can refer to your library database and take down notes from relevant books, articles, magazines, and research papers available in your university’s library.
Step#3 Evaluate your research for literature review
Once you are done with collecting information, evaluate it to synchronize your findings and the conclusion.
While doing so, you shall note the researchers’ assumptions, the methodologies and testing procedures, opposing theories, and the acceptance of these theories.
While you assess the research, include the information you deem useful and exclude the excess information that may not play a significant part in adding value to your literature review.
Also, it will provide you with a more defined structure you shall follow.
Step#4 Develop a structure for literature review
Once you are done with the first few steps of research and analysis, you will have to place the information related to your literature review in an organized pattern with appropriate sub-topics, a good beginning and a vast main body, and a suitable ending.
Since literature reviews are extensive, a defined structure will help you incorporate all the useful information efficiently.
Step#5 Construct the thesis statement for writing a literature review
To interconnect the trends, you have identified through your research, write a few sentences based on the developments and your conclusion before jumping into literature review writing.
Step#6 Write the literature review
This one is by far the most crucial stage.
To write a literature review, refer to the structure you created before and stick to it. Create logical linkages between the information you mention and make sure to synchronize each section with the other.
Along with this, adopt an analytical and evaluative approach. This means that focus more on analysing the themes and subjects than describing them plainly. While analysing, keep the cause-and-effect relationship in mind.
Moreover, watch out for linguistic devices and use transition words, e.g., improve the readability.
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Step#7 Recheck your literature review
Once you are done with the review, put it aside and take a break.
After you are all fresh and active again, starting rechecking your work. While reviewing your work, look for grammatical errors, logical development, and the transition between paragraphs and sentence structures.
Besides, cross-check your references and citations to ensure they relate to the literature review topic well.
Most importantly, check your paper for plagiarism. As plagiarism can result in the rejection of your work, and your efforts might go to waste. Certain websites like research prospect can help you write a systematic literature review and rechecking it.
To conclude, writing a systematic literature review might be a challenging task, but our step-by-step guide will aid you in breaking the task into more uncomplicated steps and formulating an excellent literature review.