Literature Review Process and Types

Though it has a reputation as being a poor relation to primary research or a dull but necessary prelude to a research report/proposal, a good review can extract ideas from other scholar’s work by synthesizing and summarising previous sources. In addition, new theories can emerge from the evidence discussed and new directions for future research can be commended. Through collecting and disseminating evidence from diverse sources and disciplines, LRs can facilitate the use of best professional practices in a specific field and supply answers to clinical questions. They are also an ideal stepping stone into academic publishing. Other reason for writing LR include proposals for funding, as guidelines for professional and evidence-based practice and to fulfil personal curiosity.

A LR can provide a concise examination and discussion of evidence in a particular area. The reviewer should provide a clear overview of the subject matter and it related range of perspectives and opposing views. A LR should avoid presenting ‘‘dry and impenetrable lists of poorly debated facts, randomly selected and referenced’’ (pg. 2).

Types of LR

Systematic Reviews: Related to meta-analysis which attempts to quantitatively condense the results from several papers into a single statistic. Generating a systematic review enables increased power and accuracy in estimating effects and risks. Systematic reviews are also a valuable practice tool because large quantities of information can be evaluated and synthesised into a shorter document. This allows clinicians to keep abreast of new developments without having to track down and read several long reports. Organizations or policymakers can use systematic reviews to help formulate guidelines to promote the use of best evidence in practice. The Cochrane Collaboration is perhaps one of the best known proponents of systematic reviews designed to answer clinical questions about the effectiveness of treatments.

Secondary Data Analysis Research Project: This type of review is a research project in its own right and should be conducted within appropriate confines and rigour. The research still has a clear research question or statement of purpose. Organising and analysing data acquired through secondary data search takes a more qualitative approach the material is often organized by themes.

As an introduction to a primary research topic: This review sets the scene for a primary research topic and so it has to be concise. This preliminary evaluation should convince the reader that the researcher has swept through the previously published work on the topic and that the new research that they have conducted is important and contributes to this body of work. The review progresses from a broad and general appraisal to a more specific examination of the pertinent issues [8]. This type of review is imperative to introduce the study and provides a basis for the author to formulate a discussion of the results.

Steps in a Literature Review

Though these steps are linear, the search is often revisited as the review develops and new areas of relevance are identified.

Starting Out:

Determine why a literature review is being conducted.
The question, search strategy, and criteria for excluding studies from the review should be decided before starting the search and should be explicated in the methods section of the final article.
Keywords are the cornerstone of an effective search. It is important to consider all possible words that might relate to the topic. This includes synonyms, alternate terms, and different spellings of the same terms.
Learn to use databases.

Searching the literature:

Spend time panning the search strategy as this will enable you to more effectively identify relevant articles.
Decide on the discipline that most accurately covers their topic.