Cayan Library
CJ 332 / SOC 493
The Literature Review
Because your literature review is supposed to “paint a picture,” you should:
- observe trends and themes
- draw conclusions
- consider and discuss larger issues, not the details of a specific article
- compare and contrast articles and describe their similarities and differences
- look for problems and their solutions
Do not choose random articles; choose articles that are related by something. Consider using articles that are cited by other articles.
A literature review is an assignment that involves a lot of thinking and considering. Thinking and considering take time. A good literature review uses the best articles, and this limitation also requires time. The best advice is START EARLY!
Books
- Conducting research literature reviews [Q 180.55 .M4 F56 2005]
- Designing and managing a research project: A business student's guide [HD 30.4 .P65 2005]
- Dissertations and theses from start to finish [BF 76.5 .C645 2006]
- Doing qualitative research [H 62 .S472 2005]
- The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students [LB 2369 .R525 2008]
How to . . .
- The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It
- Write a Literature Review
- What is a literature review? Literature Review Tutorial
- Article: Conducting a literature review
- Article: Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing a Literature Review
- Article: Improving The Writing Of Literature Reviews Through A Literature Integration Exercise
Examples
- Characteristics of Children Who Are Unresponsive to Early Literacy Intervention. A Review of the Literature
- Impacts of Television Viewing on Young Children's Literacy Development in the USA: A Review of the Literature