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Intro to Review Literature

Research starts with the question

Choose your question then decide the best method to answer that question.

Before you can begin writing your research, you must first develop a thesis or research question.The research question defines the focus and scope of the research. The structure of the research question depends on the researcher’s field of study and the common practices within that field. Similarly, your question will drive the methodology of your research -- it is the "how" of how you will answer the question.

Step 1: Choose a Research Topic

When you start, you don't need to have a specific research question in mind at this point - just a general topic that you want to explore.

Step 2: Find Background Information

Once you have a general topic in mind, it is important to refine your focus until you have a manageable topic. An idea like "I want to learn more about problems of censorship" lacks focus and will leave you frustrated.

Refining your topic can be difficult if you are not deeply familiar with your general area of interest. In order to help you focus your topic, it is important that you gather background information early on in your research. Specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias can also be valuable tools at this stage of your research. They can give you an overview of the topic as a whole and introduce you to the specialized vocabulary related to the topic.

Start searching databases and other research resources as part of shaping your question, and understanding the literature. If the first time you start searching is after you have a research question, you may become frustrated with the lack or resources, or find studies that have already addressed your areas of interest.

Step 3: Translate Your Interest into a Research Question

After gathering background information, frame it as a question. There are a number of ways to focus this.

Who is involved, what goals are being advanced, and how?
Are there interesting comparisons you can make based on changes or differences observed across different population groups, circumstances or viewpoints?
Is there a particular theoretical framework that offers a unique or compelling way to analyze the phenomena you wish to study?

Step 4: Further Modifying Your Topic

You will often need to narrow or broaden your question scope. Also, your methodology will effect your scope. Are you planning a comprehensive scoping review that casts the net wide? Are you doing original research? Check in with librarians, teaching assistants, or your faculty member for advice.

This content is modified from Godwin University

Where to start

If you have already decided to do a scoping or systematic review and have questions, please read over the Systematic Review LibGuide.

If you need search help, for a narrative literature take a look at the "What's my search strategy section" and consider requesting a librarian appointment. You can schedule an appointment.

If you are considering authoring a review article, and have not decided on the type, take a look at the "What kind of review fits my research?" section.

Traditional or narrative literature review

Critiques and summarizes a body of literature
Identifies trends in the literature, not specific elements of research.
Conclusions often relate to the scope of literature, or needs for research -- e.g., " there is a shortage of studies on ______________."
The purpose is typically to identify needs for further research -- either due to gaps or inconsistencies in a body of knowledge
Examples: Mining Learning and Crafting Scientific Experiments..., Theories on Child Protection Work..

Scoping review

Scoping Review

The purpose may be to gather information, form a topic/hypothesis, set parameters for research, or analyze the current literature.
A scoping review is often a first step toward developing a systematic review.
Searches are as comprehensive as possible -- grey literature and non-peer reviewed items are often included.
The researcher's process should allow for replication by future researchers.
Search terms and search history are retained for transparency.
The criteria for including articles is known in advance, and while not required a registered protocol is a best practice, and promotes transparency..
Multiple methods for bias reduction are used, such as having some level of blinding, or having team members select
Best practice for scoping reviews is to have a team rather than a single author.

Examples: Understanding nurses dual practice...,

The scoping review process is very similar to systematic reviews.

Systematic review

Systematic Review

Longer overview article: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Is more comprehensive and transparent than traditional literature reviews (but they are influencing current narrative reviews)
Have a similar process to Scoping Reviews, but either there is a more specific research question that is answered, or the results are used for analysis.
Searches are as comprehensive as possible -- grey literature and non-peer reviewed items are often included.
The researcher's process should allow for replication by future researchers.
Search terms and search history are retained for transparency.
The criteria for including articles is known in advance, and a registered protocol is a best practice, and supports transparency.
Multiple methods for bias reduction are used, such as having some level of blinding, or having team members select
Best practice for systematic reviews is to have a team rather than a single author.
Require specific iterative steps that must be taken and reported (ex: flow/decision charts)
The purpose is typically to analyze data from pre-existing primary research. Secondary research (ex: CDC or Census datasets) analysis is also possible. Data are extracted from the original research articles.This can take many forms.
- A review of qualitative evidence is known as a meta-synthesis.The intention of a meta-synthesis is not to summarize or replicate but to interpret the findings. Example: The use of social media in e-learning
- A review of homogenous quantitative data is known as a meta-analysis. This approach pools the data from many studies. Example: Neural response to threat in children...
- An examination of both qualitative and quantitative evidence is known as a mixed-methods systematic review. Example: Understanding factors that shape gender attitudes...
Often used as the basis for evidence-based practice, and popular in health sciences/public health
Generally researched by a team due to the large work load

Table of review types

Thisdescriptive table comes from Grant MJ, Booth A. A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Info Libr J. 2009 Jun;26(2):91-108. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x. PMID: 19490148.

TABLE 1 pp94-95 from A typology of reviews: and analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies

Use the basic structure of articles to speed research

Getting familiar with the structure of articles, can help you to:

Identify the location of information that you'll need to consider when building a search strategy
- For example, review searches are sometimes limited to abstract and title fields rather than subject fields. Others are not limited to any fields.
Quickly determine the type of study performed, and assess for inclusion
- For example, a skim of the methodology section helps determine if an article meets inclusion criteria.
- Traditional narrative reviews used to be quickly identified by the lack of a methodology section. With the influence of systematic reviews, methodology or "protocols" are now being included, but a "what's missing" check is still helpful.

Typical article structure:

Title - often long and technical.
Author Information - author name, affiliation (ex: university or laboratory) and contact information.
Citation - article title, journal or source name, volume and issue information and pagination. Also, DOI numbers are used in APA style.
Abstract - a summary of the whole article.
Introduction - outlines the problem being examined -- the purpose or hypothesis.
Methodology - how the research or experiment was performed. In order for research to be reproducible, methodology must be thoroughly described. This may include discussion of materials, instruments, and subject selection. Examination of a methodology section will determine if research is primary (data gathered by the researchers) or secondary (researchers using data sets or other information compiled by others).
Data/Results - data in tables, charts, figures, or illustrations.
Discussion/Conclusions - explains and interprets the results, drawing a final conclusion about the problem. Primary research may bring new information to the discipline, or may confirm or dispute previous findings. Review articles may recommend research questions.
References - sources given in a consistent style.