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Literature Reviews

This guide introduces the basics of how to conduct a variety of literature reviews.

Choose a topic & create a research question

  • Select a topic that is of interest to you and that you want to spend a significant amount of time researching
  • Use a question framework such as PICO or PCC to develop your research question around your topic
  • Evaluate your research question and narrow or broaden as needed
  • Ask your liaison librarian for help

Getting Started

Choose a manageable and interesting topic not too broad or too narrow scope.

Resources for background information:

After choosing an interesting and manageable topic and gathering background information, add focus with a research question

Explore Questions

Ask open-ended “how” and “why” questions about your general topic.

Consider the “so what” of your topic.

Why does this topic matter to you? Why should it matter to others?

Reflect on the questions you have considered. Identify one or two questions you find engaging and which could be explored further through research.

Determine and Evaluate Your Research Question

What aspect of the more general topic will you explore?

 Is your research question focused? Why does your argument matter?

How might others challenge your argument?

What kind of sources will you need to support your argument?

Examples of Refining Your Research Question

Too broad topic is hard to search because you will get too much information

Too Broad

Cancer too broad because there is different type is of cancer, better to pick a type of cancer

Breast cancer:  may be too broad because there is been a lot of research done on it and lots of factor s contribute to it

*** Better pick a particular type of treatment, aspect of the disease or population

Eating Disorders too broad
 

 Narrow

*** “nutrition and diet factors of breast cancer in urban areas. Could narrow it further by demographics.

*** “Causes and treatment of Bulimia in college athletes”
*** “Prevalence of anorexia in teenage males in the united states”

*** “alternative treatments for chronic eating disorders in adults”

Research Question Development

The purpose of a review is to answer a specific research question. Research question frameworks, such as PICO, can help you to focus and develop the research question as well as identify the primary search terms. 

PICO Elements Considerations
P Patients/Populations/Problems Demographics, Problem Type, Diagnosis
I Intervention/Exposure Therapeutic, Preventative, Diagnostic, Time, Exposure
C Control/Comparison Placebo, Standard of Care, Preventative Measures, Not Applicable
O Outcome Measure Mortality Rate, Measure of Test, Rate of Disease Progression, Resolution

When formatting your question using the PICO format, consider: 

  • Demographic variables can include: age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status in addition to health status. 
  • Comparison is not always an element within the PICO format.
  • Outcomes measure a positive impact on the patient/population/problem and should be measurable
  • Using the PICO format to develop a searchable & answerable question will provide the elements needed to obtain the best evidence from rigorous studies with statistically relevant findings. 

Additional clinical question frameworks: 

PEO = Population, Exposure, Outcome

PIE = Population, Intervention, Effect

FINER = Feasibility, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant

SPICE = Setting, Perspective, Intervention, Comparison, Evaluation

SPIDER = Sample, Phenomena of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research Type

Link to Tutorial. Click image to start tutorial

Population, Concept, and Context framework is another way to guide question development.

Your research question may be one primary question, or can be a primary question with sub-questions that clarify aspects of your PCC. 

Population
  • Important characteristics of participants, including age and other qualifying criteria. In some circumstances, participants per se are not a relevant inclusion criterion.
Concept
  • The core concept examined by the scoping review. This may include elements that would be detailed in a standard systematic review, such as interventions or outcomes.
Context
  • May include cultural factors such as geographic location and/or specific racial or gender-based interests. In some cases, context may also encompass details about the specific setting.

For assistance with question development, please contact your liaison librarian.

Example PCC Question

What is known in the existing literature about burnout among health sciences students undergoing clinical education?

  • Population = health sciences students
  • Concept = burnout
  • Context = clinical education