How to Write a Proper Literature Review for a Research Paper

A literature review represents an important element of a research paper. It forms an entire chapter in a research paper dedicated to exploring current findings and research done on a specific topic and is used to find out existing gaps in research. The development of an effective literature review is important for a research paper because it provides a framework for developing solutions to problems by finding existing research gaps.

A literature review, therefore, provides a comprehensive view of current knowledge on a particular subject with the goal of highlighting areas where further study is required.

A literature review is important for a research paper because it justifies why the research is important. It also helps define the direction of the research, including the areas of focus that the study will explore.

Understanding Why a Literature Review is Important for a Research Paper

As explained above, it is clear that a literature review is an important part of a research paper for several reasons.

1. It is through a literature review that gaps in research can be identified and a clear path developed for further research.
2. It also provides an elaborate view of current research, which includes the current position as far as evidence of a particular phenomenon is concerned.
3. A literature review provides a theoretical framework for conducting the study. Current research provides multiple theories about a topic that can be used to better understand the particular field of study.
4. By exploring existing research, a researcher is able to provide a solid justification of why the research they intend to carry out is important and necessary.
5. A literature review, therefore, provides a foundation for conducting research because it establishes the researcher’s expertise and credibility in the particular field of study based on their understanding of theories and concepts in the field.

The Literature Review Process

A literature review is a structured undertaking involving planning and considering multiple factors to ensure it adequately represents an effective research paper writing process.

1. The first step in the literature review process is defining the topic for which the review will address. This also involves developing research questions that will guide the research process.
2. The second step is explaining the topic in great depth by exploring existing literature on the topic. This is important for acquiring an elaborate view of the concepts and ideas pertinent to the study.
3. The search for existing research includes finding quality and relevant studies from different sources, including databases and search engines.
4. The studies identified need to be evaluated to ensure that they meet the needs of the research. This means that they should be aligned with the purpose of the study and should base on the research questions.
5. To include and incorporate the studies in the literature review requires a synthesis of their content, including their findings, solutions, and their recommendations. The goal is to explore themes, structure, and knowledge they present to find the gaps present in existing research.
6. Writing down the literature review is one of the important elements of the process. It involves a clear structure with an introduction to the topic and purpose of the literature review, an overview of the research questions, and a comprehensive discussion of the findings, themes, conclusions, and recommendations from the identified studies.

How to Structure Your Literature Review

An effective literature review is based on several important sections highlighting order and the writing process.

1. The first section is the introduction which offers an elaborate description of the topic, research questions, the importance of the review, and most importantly, what the literature review will address.
2. The second section is the background which provides background information, including the context of why the literature review is important.
3. The third section is the methodology which describes the different strategies used to give rise to an effective literature review. It includes a strategy for searching for different studies and the criteria for choosing the different studies for the literature review.
4. The fourth section summarizes the different studies, including their respective findings and results, their themes, and the gaps that they present that require further studies.
5. Discussing the findings of the different studies will be important for analyzing and interpreting the information they present and how they relate to the topic and research questions.
6. A conclusion provides a culmination of the overarching idea explored through the literature review. It should include an overview of the gaps identified, and the research is expected to handle them.
7. All the studies identified and used in the literature review should be included in the reference section of the research and should be appropriately formatted.

Conclusion

Writing an effective literature review relies on an individual’s ability to understand its purpose. Current and existing studies provide solutions to many problems. However, the purpose of a research study is to explore new solutions to existing problems or to find solutions to new problems.

The purpose of a literature review is, therefore, to provide an outline of what has been presented as solutions and find gaps to find new solutions. Therefore, an effective literature review is pertinent to writing a successful research review.