Published literature reviews are called review articles, however, research articles contain brief literature reviews at the beginning to give context to the study within that article. A literature review's purpose is two-fold: to describe and compare studies in an area of research and to evaluate those studies. You will need both in a well-done literature review understanding that the ability to understand and compare the current research is necessary before you can evaluate it.
Effective literature reviews begin with engaging diverse sources—and more importantly, taking organized, purposeful notes. Good note-taking helps you synthesize insights, ask critical questions, assess source quality, and cite correctly to avoid plagiarism. When done well, it becomes the foundation of a focused, efficient research process and a clear, well-structured review.
The Literature Review matrix is a great resource. You can download the PDF or use the Excel spreadsheet to capture all of the necessary information and organize your notes (and thinking).
[Literature Review Matrix created by: McLean, Lindsey. "Literature Review." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2015. https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/literature-review.]
A Literature Review is a select list of available resources covering the topic in question accompanied by a short description and a critical comparative evaluation/analysis of the works included.
|
|
Zondervan Library Taylor University 1846 Main Street, Upland, IN 46989 (765) 998-4357