How is a literature review structured?
A literature review is typically structured much like a standard essay, featuring key structural elements such as an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. For stand-alone extended literature reviews, an abstract is also included.
A well-structured literature review guides the reader through the existing research on a specific topic. It synthesizes information from various sources to provide an overview of current knowledge, identify gaps, and establish a foundation for further research. The structure ensures logical flow and coherence.
Based on general guidelines, the core components are:
H2: The Abstract (For Stand-Alone Reviews)
For an extended literature review that is not part of a larger work (like a thesis or dissertation chapter), an abstract is typically included at the beginning.
- Purpose: Provides a brief summary of the entire review, including its scope, methodology (how sources were selected and analyzed), main findings, and significance.
- Content: Usually 150-300 words, offering a snapshot so readers can quickly determine if the review is relevant to their interests.
H2: The Introduction
The introduction sets the stage for your literature review. It informs the reader about the topic, scope, and purpose of the review.
- Purpose: Introduce the research problem, provide background information, and state the review's objectives or research questions.
- Content:
- Define the topic and its importance.
- State the scope of the review (e.g., time period, specific databases, types of sources).
- Explain the criteria for including or excluding sources.
- Briefly mention the major themes or trends you found (optional, but helpful).
- Outline the structure of the rest of the review.
- End with a clear thesis statement or guiding statement about the current state of research.
H2: The Body
The body is the main part of the literature review where you synthesize and analyze the research you have gathered. This section is organized around themes, topics, methodologies, or chronological order.
- Purpose: Discuss and critically evaluate the relevant literature, demonstrating how different sources relate to your research question or topic.
- Content:
- Group studies by themes, methodologies, chronological periods, or theoretical approaches.
- Summarize and synthesize findings from multiple sources within each section or paragraph.
- Analyze relationships between studies (e.g., agreements, disagreements, gaps).
- Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of key studies.
- Connect the literature back to your overall research purpose or question.
- Organization Strategies (Examples):
- Thematic: Group studies that address similar sub-topics or themes within your main topic.
- Chronological: Trace the development of research over time.
- Methodological: Compare studies using similar research methods.
- Theoretical: Discuss how different theories have been applied to the topic.
H2: The Conclusion
The conclusion summarizes the findings of your literature review and discusses their significance.
- Purpose: Wrap up the discussion by synthesizing the key insights from the body and highlighting the implications.
- Content:
- Restate your thesis or main argument in new words.
- Summarize the main themes, trends, and agreements/disagreements found in the literature.
- Highlight key gaps or inconsistencies in existing research.
- Discuss the implications of the findings for future research or practice.
- If applicable, explain how the literature review lays the groundwork for your own research project.
- Avoid introducing new information or sources.
Summary of Literature Review Structure
Here is a simple table summarizing the structure:
| Section | Purpose | Key Content |
|---|---|---|
| Abstract | Brief summary of the entire review (for stand-alone extended reviews) | Scope, method, main findings, significance |
| Introduction | Introduce topic, scope, purpose | Define topic, scope, objectives, outline, thesis statement |
| Body | Synthesize and analyze literature, discuss findings and relationships | Grouped discussion of studies (thematic, chronological, etc.), synthesis, critique, connection to topic |
| Conclusion | Summarize findings, highlight significance, identify gaps | Restate thesis, summarize themes, discuss gaps, implications for future research |
By following this structure, you can create a clear, logical, and comprehensive overview of the existing literature on your topic.
