up:: [[Research Process]] tags:: #on/research # Literature Review - **Definition of Literature Review**: - A literature review synthesizes key sources on a topic, discussing them in relation to each other. - It's significant in many disciplines, not just literature studies. - **Purposes and Situations for Writing a Lit Review**: - Varies by discipline; humanities may include argumentation, while sciences might focus on study designs and results. - It can be a part of a research paper, after the introduction and before the methods section, or a standalone piece. - In academia, it helps in familiarizing with a topic, identifying research gaps, and developing theoretical frameworks. - **Structure of a Literature Review**: - Commonly includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. - Introduction: Outlines the topic and key texts or themes. - Body: Summarizes, synthesizes, and analyzes sources, noting strengths and weaknesses. - Conclusion: Summarizes key findings and relates them to the primary research question. - **Organization Strategies**: - Chronological: Tracing the development of a topic over time. - Thematic: Organizing around recurring themes. - Methodological: Comparing different research methods. - Theoretical: Focusing on various theories and models. - **Writing Strategies and Tips**: - Ensure thorough and well-chosen research. - Create an annotated bibliography during the research process. - Synthesize research, drawing connections between sources. - Consider writing the literature review as an argument, especially in humanities, to establish the relevance of your research. Sources: * [Writing a Literature Review - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University](https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/writing_a_literature_review.html)