Understanding the field.
WHAT A LITERATURE REVIEW DOES
Establishes what is known, what is disputed, and what remains unanswered.
WHAT IT IS NOT
A list of summaries, one paper after another.
WHAT IT SHOULD BE
Organised by theme or argument, with sources grouped by what they say.
WHY
The reader wants the state of knowledge, not a catalogue.
HOW TO BUILD ONE
Read widely, recording arguments Group sources by position Identify agreement, disagreement and gaps Write about the themes, citing sources as evidence
WHAT TO INCLUDE
Major works in the field Work directly addressing your question Work contradicting your position
THAT LAST ONE
Omitting it weakens the work and is noticed.
WHAT TO STATE
Where the field agrees Where it disagrees, and on what What has not been addressed
WHAT THAT LAST POINT ESTABLISHES
Why your work is worth doing.
WHAT TO AVOID
Reviewing everything regardless of relevance Describing rather than analysing
