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Literature Reviews

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

What is a Literature (Narrative) Review?

A literature review (also known as a narrative review) is an integrated analysis of the existing literature used to summarize a body of literature, draw conclusions about a topic, and identify research gaps.  By understanding the current state of the literature, you can show how new research fits into the larger research landscape.  

A Literature Review is NOT:

  • Just a summary of sources
  • A review of everything written on a particular topic
  • A research paper arguing for a specific viewpoint - a lit review should avoid bias and highlight areas of disagreements
  • A systematic review

Purposes of a Literature Review

  • Explain the background of research on a topic
  • Demonstrate the importance of a topic
  • Suggest new areas of research
  • Identify major themes, concepts, and researchers in a topic
  • Identify critical gaps, points of disagreement, or flawed approaches for a research topic

Liaison Librarians