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

Using Generative AI (GenAI) in Literature Review

While GenAI tools can help in literature review by producing article summaries, identifying relevant sources, key themes and trends etc, it is important to use them responsibly and cautiously. Researchers must use their critical thinking skills to evaluate the quality of sources identified by the GenAI tools, ask meaningful questions, and interpret research results accurately. 

To learn how to use GenAI tools ethically and responsibly, go to Guidelines for Using GenAI.

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"