Are you worn out of going through an endless pile of research papers without making any progress? Are you trying to organize your ideas and gather credible information from different sources for your literature review? If so, know that you’re not alone in this hassle.
Conducting a literature review is one of the tricky challenges for most students, even some seasoned academic writers. This research project requires a solid foundation for analysis to identify gaps and opportunities. We present this handy guide to help you overcome your challenges and ace the writing process.
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Stage #1: Research for a Relevant Literature
Analyze your research question and create a list of keywords related to it. Include each concept or variable that resonates with your topic. List down any synonyms or related terms that would help you in your writing process.
For instance, the literature review for your dissertation’s topic is the effects of social media on youngsters. So, your keywords will be:
- Social media, Facebook, Tiktok, Reddit, Snapchat
- Self-perception, self-esteem, mental health, body image, depression
- Generation Z, youth, teenagers, children, youth, adolescents
Always prefer relevant and reliable databases for your research, such as:
- Your university’s library catalogue
- Google Scholar
- Medline (for life science and biomedicine)
- JTSOR
- EBSCO
- Project Muse (humanities and social sciences)
- Inspec (physics, engineering, and computer science)
Use your chosen keywords for effective research using the above sources. Check the bibliography and abstract in articles to find relevant content.
Stage #2: Assess Various Sources to Choose the Most Suitable Ones
It isn’t humanly possible to read everything related to your topic within a limited time and the brain’s capacity. So, only assess sources that are the most relevant to your research query.
While evaluating each source, ask yourself:
- What questions or challenges is the writer addressing?
- What are the main concepts and how are they explained?
- What are the key models, theories, and methods?
- What are the outcomes and final verdict of the study?
- How does the article relate to the other literature within the field? Does it affirm, add something more to, or challenge the established knowledge?
- What are the weaknesses and strengths of the investigation?
Take notes while you’re conducting your investigation and cite every source you use. The dissertation master Uk suggests using a free APA or MLA citation generator to speedily create corrections and consistent citations. It will let you keep track of whatever you read and save time later when finalizing your document.
Stage #3: Pay Attention to Themes, Trends, and Gaps
When you organize your literature review’s structure, understand the connections and relationships between all sources you’ve analyzed so far. Look for the following things while looking at your notes and journeying back into your memory of when you read:
- Trends and patterns in your methods, theories, or results that have become less or more famous over time
- Themes in concepts or questions across the literature. You can find it out by noticing the repetitiveness
- Any conflicts, debates, or contradictions in your sources
- Gaps in your literature. Is there anything that has not been addressed properly or not at all?
Undertaking this step will let you structure your literature review for your thesis. It will help you get an idea of how your research will contribute to the existing studies.
Stage #4: Create an Organized Structure
There are various ways to organize your literature review’s body, but we’ve explained the major four. Consider the one that goes with your word count and theme.
Methodological: Go for the methodological format if you are using sources of various disciplines or fields that require different research methods. It helps compare the outcomes and conclusions that come from diverse approaches.
Here are some scenarios in which you can use methodological format:
- Find out the outcomes resulting from quantitative versus qualitative research
- Break down the literature into historical, sociological, and cultural sources
- Elaborate how the topic has been presented by theoretical versus empirical scholarship
Chronological: It is the simplest method to present the development of your chosen time over time. If you opt for this option, avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order. Observe patterns, key debates, and important turning points that have evolved the field. Present your interpretation of how and why specific developments happened.
Thematic: Opt for this method if you have noticed central themes that you can organize for your literature review into subsections. It will let you tackle the topic from diverse aspects, helping you present a wholesome review. However, managing your content while adhering to this style is tricky. If things are getting out of your hands and you don’t want to face disappointment, hire a suitable thesis writing service.
Theoretical: A literature review is usually the groundwork for a theoretical framework. So, it is your chance to explain different relevant models, theories, and definitions of main concepts. This format is the best choice if you want to argue the relevance of a particular theoretical approach.
Stage #5: The Writing Process
Like all other academic documents, the format for the writing would be similar. It will start with a strong introduction, break down into a main body, and close with a concluding conclusion. The information you include you in each part will depend on your document’s objective.
Nonetheless, here are some ideas for each section you can consider:
Introduction:
- Present an outline of your topic, issue, or theme
- Highlight the particular area of focus
- Explain your methodology. Describe how you determine which sources you will include or exclude
- Briefly mention your reason behind writing the review.
Body:
- Present the most relevant information related to your topic.
- Respectfully evaluate the studies
- Use direct quotations only if goes well with the literature review
Conclusion:
- Conclude your key findings of the sources that you reviewed in the main body.
- Assess the current gaps or flaws and inconsistencies in your chosen area
- Highlight any potential area for future analysis
- Close your document by drawing a connection between your topic and the broader study of the discipline.
Wrapping Up
Writing an effective literature review for your dissertation involves careful planning, organization, and analysis. By following the strategies outlined above, you can craft a literature review that sets a solid foundation for your research.
Always try to be methodical in your approach, utilize reliable databases, and keep your writing focused and coherent. Mastering these skills will not only contribute to your field but also pave the way for a well-structured and impactful dissertation.