Conduct a Literature Review

About the Guide

A literature review is an essential part of the research process. Conducting a literature review enables scholars to discover what research has already been done and identify what is unknown in a particular field. It is also an inevitable part of study for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

This guide will walk you through the process of conducting a literature review. Specifically, you will learn how to:

• Select & evaluate sources
• Search literature effectively
• Get full text
• Read articles strategically
• Cite sources

What is a Literature Review

Before we dive into each step, let's first look at what a literature review is. Watch these two videos to gain more understanding on:

Source: UCLA Library (CC BY)

(Simple explanation)

• Process of creating a literature review
• Your role as the author of a literature review

Source: NCSU Libraries (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

(In-depth elaboration)

• Purpose of conducting literature reviews
• Types of literature reviews
• A closer look at the "literature" in different disciplines
• Process of writing a literature review
• How to get started
• What's involved in the "reviewing"