literature review on writing business research proposal

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Writing a Literature Review

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A literature review is a document or section of a document that collects key sources on a topic and discusses those sources in conversation with each other (also called synthesis ). The lit review is an important genre in many disciplines, not just literature (i.e., the study of works of literature such as novels and plays). When we say “literature review” or refer to “the literature,” we are talking about the research ( scholarship ) in a given field. You will often see the terms “the research,” “the scholarship,” and “the literature” used mostly interchangeably.

Where, when, and why would I write a lit review?

There are a number of different situations where you might write a literature review, each with slightly different expectations; different disciplines, too, have field-specific expectations for what a literature review is and does. For instance, in the humanities, authors might include more overt argumentation and interpretation of source material in their literature reviews, whereas in the sciences, authors are more likely to report study designs and results in their literature reviews; these differences reflect these disciplines’ purposes and conventions in scholarship. You should always look at examples from your own discipline and talk to professors or mentors in your field to be sure you understand your discipline’s conventions, for literature reviews as well as for any other genre.

A literature review can be a part of a research paper or scholarly article, usually falling after the introduction and before the research methods sections. In these cases, the lit review just needs to cover scholarship that is important to the issue you are writing about; sometimes it will also cover key sources that informed your research methodology.

Lit reviews can also be standalone pieces, either as assignments in a class or as publications. In a class, a lit review may be assigned to help students familiarize themselves with a topic and with scholarship in their field, get an idea of the other researchers working on the topic they’re interested in, find gaps in existing research in order to propose new projects, and/or develop a theoretical framework and methodology for later research. As a publication, a lit review usually is meant to help make other scholars’ lives easier by collecting and summarizing, synthesizing, and analyzing existing research on a topic. This can be especially helpful for students or scholars getting into a new research area, or for directing an entire community of scholars toward questions that have not yet been answered.

What are the parts of a lit review?

Most lit reviews use a basic introduction-body-conclusion structure; if your lit review is part of a larger paper, the introduction and conclusion pieces may be just a few sentences while you focus most of your attention on the body. If your lit review is a standalone piece, the introduction and conclusion take up more space and give you a place to discuss your goals, research methods, and conclusions separately from where you discuss the literature itself.

Introduction:

• An introductory paragraph that explains what your working topic and thesis is
• A forecast of key topics or texts that will appear in the review
• Potentially, a description of how you found sources and how you analyzed them for inclusion and discussion in the review (more often found in published, standalone literature reviews than in lit review sections in an article or research paper)
• Summarize and synthesize: Give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
• Analyze and interpret: Don’t just paraphrase other researchers – add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
• Critically Evaluate: Mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
• Write in well-structured paragraphs: Use transition words and topic sentence to draw connections, comparisons, and contrasts.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance
• Connect it back to your primary research question

How should I organize my lit review?

Lit reviews can take many different organizational patterns depending on what you are trying to accomplish with the review. Here are some examples:

• Chronological : The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time, which helps familiarize the audience with the topic (for instance if you are introducing something that is not commonly known in your field). If you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order. Try to analyze the patterns, turning points, and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred (as mentioned previously, this may not be appropriate in your discipline — check with a teacher or mentor if you’re unsure).
• Thematic : If you have found some recurring central themes that you will continue working with throughout your piece, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic. For example, if you are reviewing literature about women and religion, key themes can include the role of women in churches and the religious attitude towards women.
• Qualitative versus quantitative research
• Empirical versus theoretical scholarship
• Divide the research by sociological, historical, or cultural sources
• Theoretical : In many humanities articles, the literature review is the foundation for the theoretical framework. You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts. You can argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach or combine various theorical concepts to create a framework for your research.

What are some strategies or tips I can use while writing my lit review?

Any lit review is only as good as the research it discusses; make sure your sources are well-chosen and your research is thorough. Don’t be afraid to do more research if you discover a new thread as you’re writing. More info on the research process is available in our "Conducting Research" resources .

As you’re doing your research, create an annotated bibliography ( see our page on the this type of document ). Much of the information used in an annotated bibliography can be used also in a literature review, so you’ll be not only partially drafting your lit review as you research, but also developing your sense of the larger conversation going on among scholars, professionals, and any other stakeholders in your topic.

Usually you will need to synthesize research rather than just summarizing it. This means drawing connections between sources to create a picture of the scholarly conversation on a topic over time. Many student writers struggle to synthesize because they feel they don’t have anything to add to the scholars they are citing; here are some strategies to help you:

• It often helps to remember that the point of these kinds of syntheses is to show your readers how you understand your research, to help them read the rest of your paper.
• Writing teachers often say synthesis is like hosting a dinner party: imagine all your sources are together in a room, discussing your topic. What are they saying to each other?
• Look at the in-text citations in each paragraph. Are you citing just one source for each paragraph? This usually indicates summary only. When you have multiple sources cited in a paragraph, you are more likely to be synthesizing them (not always, but often
• Read more about synthesis here.

The most interesting literature reviews are often written as arguments (again, as mentioned at the beginning of the page, this is discipline-specific and doesn’t work for all situations). Often, the literature review is where you can establish your research as filling a particular gap or as relevant in a particular way. You have some chance to do this in your introduction in an article, but the literature review section gives a more extended opportunity to establish the conversation in the way you would like your readers to see it. You can choose the intellectual lineage you would like to be part of and whose definitions matter most to your thinking (mostly humanities-specific, but this goes for sciences as well). In addressing these points, you argue for your place in the conversation, which tends to make the lit review more compelling than a simple reporting of other sources.

Learning Materials

How to write a literature review in your research proposal.

Updated: September 13, 2024

Crafting a literature review in your research proposal can feel like navigating through a dense forest of information. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of studies and data you need to sift through. An effective literature review summarises recent articles, critically reviews them, and highlights gaps that your research aims to fill. This blog will guide you through understanding the purpose, scoping, searching, evaluating, structuring, and writing your literature review, with practical tips and examples to streamline the process.

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Understanding the purpose of a literature review in a research proposal.

A literature review in a research proposal is not just a formal requirement; it's a crucial component that underpins the entire research process. By reviewing existing literature , the researcher establishes a foundation, showing the current state of knowledge and how their project fits into the broader academic conversation. This review helps to pinpoint where the new research can make a significant contribution and supports the justification for the research question.

The literature review sets the stage by outlining theoretical frameworks and methodologies that have been used in the field, which in turn, influences the choice of methods in the new research. This is vital as it allows the researcher to build on solid ground, using proven frameworks while also identifying any areas that might benefit from a different approach. By doing so, the literature review not only guides the research design but also avoids the duplication of past mistakes.

Furthermore, a well-conducted literature review enhances the credibility of the research proposal. It demonstrates the researcher's deep understanding of the field and their ability to critically analyze and synthesize past studies. This critical engagement is essential for gaining the trust of funding bodies, academic supervisors, or any stakeholders who might have an interest in the research outcomes.

Exploring the Functions of a Literature Review

The functions of a literature review extend beyond mere summarization of existing knowledge. Primarily, it serves to establish the relevance and necessity of the proposed research. Through a literature review, researchers can highlight the gaps in current studies and argue how their work will address these deficiencies. This not only sets the research question but also aligns the study with ongoing academic debates and inquiries.

Additionally, the literature review aids in framing the research within the existing body of knowledge. It allows the researcher to position their study relative to previous findings, demonstrating how it will contribute new insights or solutions to the field. This contextual placement is crucial for justifying the research's significance and for outlining its potential impact, which are key elements in any successful research proposal.

Scoping Your Literature Review: Setting Boundaries

Defining the scope of a literature review is crucial to ensure it is both manageable and relevant to your research question. It involves setting clear boundaries on what will be included in terms of time frame, geographical focus, and the types of sources considered. This helps in narrowing down the vast amount of available literature to a more focused selection that directly supports your research objectives. By defining these parameters early , you can avoid the common pitfall of becoming overwhelmed by too broad or irrelevant information.

When scoping your literature review, consider the following key aspects:

• Time frame: Decide on the time period from which the studies will be sourced. For instance, focusing on research published in the last ten years can provide the most current insights.
• Geographical focus: Depending on your research question, you may choose to focus on studies from specific regions or countries.
• Source types: Determine whether you'll include only peer-reviewed journal articles or also consider grey literature, such as reports and conference papers. This decision will impact the breadth of your review.

Finally, it's important to regularly revisit and potentially revise the scope of your literature review as your understanding of the topic deepens. Initial scoping is an iterative process, and as you begin to gather and review literature, you might find it necessary to adjust the boundaries to either broaden or narrow your focus. This flexibility allows you to tailor the review more closely to your specific research needs and ensures that you are covering the most relevant and critical studies in your field.

How to Search for Relevant Literature for Your Review

Starting your literature review with effective search strategies is crucial for gathering relevant materials. Begin by clearly defining your research question, which will guide your search for literature. Utilize databases and academic search engines like Google Scholar to find peer-reviewed journal articles. Additionally, consider including grey literature such as reports and conference papers, which can provide unique insights not available in academic journals.

When searching, it's important to use a combination of keywords that reflect your research topic. Develop a list of main terms and consider synonyms and related terms to broaden your search. Use Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT to refine your results. For instance, searching for "adolescent AND depression" will yield more targeted results than searching for each term separately.

Keep track of your searches and results. Most databases allow you to save your search history, set up alerts for new publications, and export citations to reference management software like Zotero or EndNote. This not only saves time but also helps in organizing the literature for review. Remember, searching for literature is an iterative process; refine your strategies as you discover what yields the most relevant results.

Evaluating Sources for Your Literature Review

Evaluating sources for your literature review involves assessing their credibility, relevance, and timeliness. Start by checking if the source is peer-reviewed, which indicates that it has been evaluated by other experts in the field. Also, consider the publication date to ensure the information is current and reflects the latest research on the topic.

Further evaluate sources by examining the author's credentials and the journal's impact factor. An author with a solid publication record and affiliation with a reputable institution likely adds credibility to the source. Additionally, look at how often the article has been cited in other works, as a higher citation count can indicate a significant impact in the field.

Identifying Key Themes and Gaps in the Literature

Identifying key themes and gaps in the literature is essential for structuring your review and establishing the context of your research. Start by categorizing the collected literature into themes based on similarities in findings, methodology, or focus. This thematic organization helps in highlighting the relationships between studies and in pinpointing areas lacking sufficient research.

As you categorize the literature, note any recurring findings or consensus in the field, as well as contradictory evidence or unresolved questions. These gaps are particularly important as they can form the basis of your research question, guiding your study to contribute new knowledge or solutions. Documenting these gaps will also help demonstrate the necessity and relevance of your research in the proposal.

Structuring Your Literature Review: Methods and Tips

Structuring your literature review effectively is crucial for presenting your research in a clear and logical manner. Begin by categorizing the literature into thematic groups that reflect different aspects or findings related to your research question. This approach not only aids in demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of the subject but also in identifying connections and divergences within the research area. It’s helpful to think of each theme as a chapter or a section of your review, where similar studies are discussed collectively to show trends or common findings.

Within each thematic group, it's beneficial to organize studies in a chronological order or based on their impact on the field. Here are some methods to consider:

• Chronological: Arranging studies by their publication date can help trace the evolution of theories and practices over time.
• Methodological: Grouping studies by methods used can highlight different approaches within the same field.
• Influential: Organizing by impact, such as studies most cited or foundational works, can underscore key contributions and turning points in the field. This method helps in understanding the development of major ideas and theories.

Finally, ensure that each section of your literature review flows logically into the next. Connections between sections should be clear, showing how one theme or study builds upon or contrasts with another. This not only enhances the readability of your review but also strengthens the argument for your research's relevance and necessity. Linking sentences at the end of each section can guide the reader smoothly from one topic to another, maintaining a coherent narrative throughout the review.

Writing the Literature Review: From Start to Finish

Writing the literature review from start to finish is a crucial phase in your research proposal. It involves crafting an introduction that grabs attention, developing well-organized body paragraphs, and concluding with a strong summary of your findings. Start with an engaging introduction that includes a hook to draw in your reader—this could be an intriguing statistic, a compelling question, or a brief anecdote that sets the stage for your review.

The body of your literature review should be structured around key themes or methodologies that emerge from your research. Each theme should form a separate section, within which you compare and contrast the findings of different studies. Here are some tips to keep in mind for writing the body sections:

• Organize the literature thematically to show how different studies relate to each other.
• Use a mix of chronological and methodological arrangements to bring clarity and depth to your analysis.
• Highlight significant trends, discrepancies, and any consensus or debated areas within the field.

Concluding your literature review effectively is about more than just summarizing the main points. It should provide a clear synthesis of the insights gained, demonstrate how your research will fill existing gaps, and set the stage for your proposed study. This final part of the literature review is your chance to make a compelling argument for the relevance and necessity of your research, linking back to the introduction and providing a seamless transition to the main research proposal.

Concluding Your Literature Review Effectively

A strong conclusion for your literature review should synthesize the key themes and findings, rather than merely summarizing them. Highlight the interplay between different studies, and clearly outline any gaps or inconsistencies that your research aims to address. This part of your literature review serves as a bridge, connecting the reviewed literature to the specific objectives and hypotheses of your upcoming study.

To conclude your literature review effectively, consider these strategies:

• Recap the main findings and their implications for the field.
• Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of the reviewed studies.
• Suggest areas for future research, providing a clear direction based on the gaps identified.

This approach not only reinforces the importance of your study but also positions your research within the broader academic conversation, enhancing its impact and relevance.

Examples of Effective Literature Reviews

Effective literature reviews often vary in style and approach, depending on the research question and field of study. For instance, a narrative review might focus on summarising and interpreting existing literature broadly, while a systematic review is more structured, aiming to answer specific research questions through a comprehensive search and analysis strategy. These examples highlight the flexibility in conducting literature reviews and the importance of aligning the style with the research objectives.

Consider a narrative review in healthcare that discusses communication strategies. This review might group studies into themes such as patient outcomes, communication methods, and training for healthcare professionals. Each theme is explored to identify common findings and gaps in the research:

• Patient Outcomes: Studies show varied results on how communication affects patient recovery.
• Communication Methods: Research highlights the move towards digital communication tools.
• Training: There's a noted need for improved communication training in medical curricula.

On the other hand, a systematic review in environmental science could be highly structured, involving a detailed methodology section that outlines search terms, databases, and inclusion/exclusion criteria. The findings might be presented in a tabulated format, showing how different pollution control technologies affect water quality. This structured approach ensures that the review is reproducible and transparent, providing a reliable basis for future research.

What a Literature Review is Not: Common Misconceptions

A literature review is not an exhaustive summary of everything ever written on a topic. It's crucial to understand that you should select sources that are most relevant and critical to your research question. This focused approach avoids the common mistake of overloading the review with unnecessary details, which can distract from the main objectives of your research.

Additionally, a literature review is not merely a list of summaries. Instead, it should critically analyze the literature to show the relationship between your work and existing studies. Key aspects to consider include:

• Identifying contradictions or gaps in the literature,
• Highlighting trends and major developments,
• Discussing the implications of previous studies on your research.

Enhance Your Literature Review with Samwell.ai's Tools

Enhancing your literature review is crucial, and Samwell.ai offers AI-driven tools that can significantly streamline this process. By using Samwell.ai, you can generate comprehensive literature reviews that are tailored to your research topic. The AI tools help in identifying key themes, synthesizing information, and ensuring that all necessary aspects are covered efficiently.

Moreover, Samwell.ai's advanced plagiarism checks are essential for maintaining academic integrity in your literature review. These tools scan your text to ensure it is free of plagiarism, providing peace of mind that your work is original and credible. Utilizing Samwell.ai not only enhances the quality of your literature review but also saves time, allowing you to focus on other critical aspects of your research proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to write a literature review in a research proposal example.

Writing a literature review in a research proposal involves several key steps. Start by defining your research question to guide your literature search. Use academic databases to gather relevant peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. Organise the literature thematically or methodologically to highlight trends and gaps. Each section should compare and contrast findings, showing how they relate to your research question. Conclude your literature review by synthesising the key themes, demonstrating the gaps your research will fill, and linking back to your research proposal.

How to write a literature review in research?

To write a literature review in research, begin by defining a clear research question. Search for relevant literature using databases and include both peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. Evaluate sources for credibility and relevance. Organise the literature into thematic groups to show relationships and identify gaps. Write your review by discussing each theme, highlighting how each study contributes to the field and where gaps exist. Conclude by synthesising the main findings and outlining how your research will address these gaps.

What is the format for literature review?

The format for a literature review typically involves an introduction, body, and conclusion. Start with an engaging introduction that outlines your research question and objectives. The body should be organised into thematic or methodological sections, where you discuss and analyse the literature, showing trends, gaps, and the relationship between studies. Conclude by synthesising the key findings, highlighting the gaps your research aims to fill, and linking the review to your research proposal.

How long should a literature review be in a research proposal?

The length of a literature review in a research proposal can vary depending on the scope of your research and the requirements of your academic field or funding body. Generally, it should be thorough enough to cover key themes and gaps in the literature while being concise to maintain focus and relevance. Typically, a literature review in a research proposal might range from 1,000 to 3,000 words, but it's essential to follow any specific guidelines provided by your institution or funding body.

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15 Literature Review Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Literature reviews are a necessary step in a research process and often required when writing your research proposal . They involve gathering, analyzing, and evaluating existing knowledge about a topic in order to find gaps in the literature where future studies will be needed.

Ideally, once you have completed your literature review, you will be able to identify how your research project can build upon and extend existing knowledge in your area of study.

Generally, for my undergraduate research students, I recommend a narrative review, where themes can be generated in order for the students to develop sufficient understanding of the topic so they can build upon the themes using unique methods or novel research questions.

If you’re in the process of writing a literature review, I have developed a literature review template for you to use – it’s a huge time-saver and walks you through how to write a literature review step-by-step:

Get your time-saving templates here to write your own literature review.

Literature Review Examples

For the following types of literature review, I present an explanation and overview of the type, followed by links to some real-life literature reviews on the topics.

1. Narrative Review Examples

Also known as a traditional literature review, the narrative review provides a broad overview of the studies done on a particular topic.

It often includes both qualitative and quantitative studies and may cover a wide range of years.

The narrative review’s purpose is to identify commonalities, gaps, and contradictions in the literature .

I recommend to my students that they should gather their studies together, take notes on each study, then try to group them by themes that form the basis for the review (see my step-by-step instructions at the end of the article).

Example Study

Title: Communication in healthcare: a narrative review of the literature and practical recommendations

Citation: Vermeir, P., Vandijck, D., Degroote, S., Peleman, R., Verhaeghe, R., Mortier, E., … & Vogelaers, D. (2015). Communication in healthcare: a narrative review of the literature and practical recommendations. International journal of clinical practice , 69 (11), 1257-1267.

Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ijcp.12686  

Overview: This narrative review analyzed themes emerging from 69 articles about communication in healthcare contexts. Five key themes were found in the literature: poor communication can lead to various negative outcomes, discontinuity of care, compromise of patient safety, patient dissatisfaction, and inefficient use of resources. After presenting the key themes, the authors recommend that practitioners need to approach healthcare communication in a more structured way, such as by ensuring there is a clear understanding of who is in charge of ensuring effective communication in clinical settings.

Other Examples

• Burnout in United States Healthcare Professionals: A Narrative Review (Reith, 2018) – read here
• Examining the Presence, Consequences, and Reduction of Implicit Bias in Health Care: A Narrative Review (Zestcott, Blair & Stone, 2016) – read here
• A Narrative Review of School-Based Physical Activity for Enhancing Cognition and Learning (Mavilidi et al., 2018) – read here
• A narrative review on burnout experienced by medical students and residents (Dyrbye & Shanafelt, 2015) – read here

2. Systematic Review Examples

This type of literature review is more structured and rigorous than a narrative review. It involves a detailed and comprehensive plan and search strategy derived from a set of specified research questions.

The key way you’d know a systematic review compared to a narrative review is in the methodology: the systematic review will likely have a very clear criteria for how the studies were collected, and clear explanations of exclusion/inclusion criteria. 

The goal is to gather the maximum amount of valid literature on the topic, filter out invalid or low-quality reviews, and minimize bias. Ideally, this will provide more reliable findings, leading to higher-quality conclusions and recommendations for further research.

You may note from the examples below that the ‘method’ sections in systematic reviews tend to be much more explicit, often noting rigid inclusion/exclusion criteria and exact keywords used in searches.

Title: The importance of food naturalness for consumers: Results of a systematic review  

Citation: Roman, S., Sánchez-Siles, L. M., & Siegrist, M. (2017). The importance of food naturalness for consumers: Results of a systematic review. Trends in food science & technology , 67 , 44-57.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092422441730122X  

Overview: This systematic review included 72 studies of food naturalness to explore trends in the literature about its importance for consumers. Keywords used in the data search included: food, naturalness, natural content, and natural ingredients. Studies were included if they examined consumers’ preference for food naturalness and contained empirical data. The authors found that the literature lacks clarity about how naturalness is defined and measured, but also found that food consumption is significantly influenced by perceived naturalness of goods.

• A systematic review of research on online teaching and learning from 2009 to 2018 (Martin, Sun & Westine, 2020) – read here
• Where Is Current Research on Blockchain Technology? (Yli-Huumo et al., 2016) – read here
• Universities—industry collaboration: A systematic review (Ankrah & Al-Tabbaa, 2015) – read here
• Internet of Things Applications: A Systematic Review (Asghari, Rahmani & Javadi, 2019) – read here

3. Meta-analysis

This is a type of systematic review that uses statistical methods to combine and summarize the results of several studies.

Due to its robust methodology, a meta-analysis is often considered the ‘gold standard’ of secondary research , as it provides a more precise estimate of a treatment effect than any individual study contributing to the pooled analysis.

Furthermore, by aggregating data from a range of studies, a meta-analysis can identify patterns, disagreements, or other interesting relationships that may have been hidden in individual studies.

This helps to enhance the generalizability of findings, making the conclusions drawn from a meta-analysis particularly powerful and informative for policy and practice.

Title: Cholesterol and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk: A Meta-Meta-Analysis

Citation: Sáiz-Vazquez, O., Puente-Martínez, A., Ubillos-Landa, S., Pacheco-Bonrostro, J., & Santabárbara, J. (2020). Cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease risk: a meta-meta-analysis. Brain sciences, 10(6), 386.

Source: https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10060386  

O verview: This study examines the relationship between cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Researchers conducted a systematic search of meta-analyses and reviewed several databases, collecting 100 primary studies and five meta-analyses to analyze the connection between cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease. They find that the literature compellingly demonstrates that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels significantly influence the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

• The power of feedback revisited: A meta-analysis of educational feedback research (Wisniewski, Zierer & Hattie, 2020) – read here
• How Much Does Education Improve Intelligence? A Meta-Analysis (Ritchie & Tucker-Drob, 2018) – read here
• A meta-analysis of factors related to recycling (Geiger et al., 2019) – read here
• Stress management interventions for police officers and recruits (Patterson, Chung & Swan, 2014) – read here

Other Types of Reviews

• Scoping Review: This type of review is used to map the key concepts underpinning a research area and the main sources and types of evidence available. It can be undertaken as stand-alone projects in their own right, or as a precursor to a systematic review.
• Rapid Review: This type of review accelerates the systematic review process in order to produce information in a timely manner. This is achieved by simplifying or omitting stages of the systematic review process.
• Integrative Review: This review method is more inclusive than others, allowing for the simultaneous inclusion of experimental and non-experimental research. The goal is to more comprehensively understand a particular phenomenon.
• Critical Review: This is similar to a narrative review but requires a robust understanding of both the subject and the existing literature. In a critical review, the reviewer not only summarizes the existing literature, but also evaluates its strengths and weaknesses. This is common in the social sciences and humanities .
• State-of-the-Art Review: This considers the current level of advancement in a field or topic and makes recommendations for future research directions. This type of review is common in technological and scientific fields but can be applied to any discipline.

How to Write a Narrative Review (Tips for Undergrad Students)

Most undergraduate students conducting a capstone research project will be writing narrative reviews. Below is a five-step process for conducting a simple review of the literature for your project.

• Search for Relevant Literature: Use scholarly databases related to your field of study, provided by your university library, along with appropriate search terms to identify key scholarly articles that have been published on your topic.
• Evaluate and Select Sources: Filter the source list by selecting studies that are directly relevant and of sufficient quality, considering factors like credibility , objectivity, accuracy, and validity.
• Analyze and Synthesize: Review each source and summarize the main arguments  in one paragraph (or more, for postgrad). Keep these summaries in a table.
• Identify Themes: With all studies summarized, group studies that share common themes, such as studies that have similar findings or methodologies.
• Write the Review: Write your review based upon the themes or subtopics you have identified. Give a thorough overview of each theme, integrating source data, and conclude with a summary of the current state of knowledge then suggestions for future research based upon your evaluation of what is lacking in the literature.

Literature reviews don’t have to be as scary as they seem. Yes, they are difficult and require a strong degree of comprehension of academic studies. But it can be feasibly done through following a structured approach to data collection and analysis. With my undergraduate research students (who tend to conduct small-scale qualitative studies ), I encourage them to conduct a narrative literature review whereby they can identify key themes in the literature. Within each theme, students can critique key studies and their strengths and limitations , in order to get a lay of the land and come to a point where they can identify ways to contribute new insights to the existing academic conversation on their topic.

Ankrah, S., & Omar, A. T. (2015). Universities–industry collaboration: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 31(3), 387-408.

Asghari, P., Rahmani, A. M., & Javadi, H. H. S. (2019). Internet of Things applications: A systematic review. Computer Networks , 148 , 241-261.

Dyrbye, L., & Shanafelt, T. (2016). A narrative review on burnout experienced by medical students and residents. Medical education , 50 (1), 132-149.

Geiger, J. L., Steg, L., Van Der Werff, E., & Ünal, A. B. (2019). A meta-analysis of factors related to recycling. Journal of environmental psychology , 64 , 78-97.

Martin, F., Sun, T., & Westine, C. D. (2020). A systematic review of research on online teaching and learning from 2009 to 2018. Computers & education , 159 , 104009.

Mavilidi, M. F., Ruiter, M., Schmidt, M., Okely, A. D., Loyens, S., Chandler, P., & Paas, F. (2018). A narrative review of school-based physical activity for enhancing cognition and learning: The importance of relevancy and integration. Frontiers in psychology , 2079.

Patterson, G. T., Chung, I. W., & Swan, P. W. (2014). Stress management interventions for police officers and recruits: A meta-analysis. Journal of experimental criminology , 10 , 487-513.

Reith, T. P. (2018). Burnout in United States healthcare professionals: a narrative review. Cureus , 10 (12).

Ritchie, S. J., & Tucker-Drob, E. M. (2018). How much does education improve intelligence? A meta-analysis. Psychological science , 29 (8), 1358-1369.

Roman, S., Sánchez-Siles, L. M., & Siegrist, M. (2017). The importance of food naturalness for consumers: Results of a systematic review. Trends in food science & technology , 67 , 44-57.

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Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Literature review for a research proposal: a quick guide, writing a literature review in a research proposal.

University of Pittsburgh Library System

• Collections

Course & Subject Guides

Writing a research proposal @ pitt: literature review.

• Getting Started
• Literature Review
• Search Tips
• Funding Sources
• Special Considerations
• Writing & Citing

For researching your proposal your best resources will be the research article databases focused on your subject area. Find a specific database by its title or look at a list of databases for a particular subject area.

• Librarian Subject Specialists If you have questions about using these databases or PittCat, or you would like to discuss your literature research, you may want to consult with the subject specialist for your area or a librarian at your regional campus.

Search Engines

Search engines search broadly across the web. Remember that links to full text will only work if the article is freely available or if the ULS subscribes to the article and you are searching through the Pitt network or have been authenticated through Pitt Passport.

• Google Scholar Google Scholar does a broad search across all subject areas. It retrieves more scholarly results than Google, but can't search everything that has been published. Use the Advanced Search feature to tailor your search.

Why do a literature review?

A thorough review of the relevant literature is an important part of your preparation for writing a proposal. It plays several critical roles.

• Don't reinvent the wheel. You won't get credit for proposing work that has already been reported.
• Develop the context of your research. Show how your work grows from or relates to work that has already been done.
• Establish the significance of your research. Show how your work will fill a gap or push forward research in a new direction.
• Refine your idea and approach. Gain new ideas or clarify your thinking about what you need to do or how best to do it.
• Identify the literature you will cite. You must cite the key sources used in developing your proposal.

The links on this page can help you find resources for doing your literature search.

• PittCat Access PittCat directly or use the ULS homepage.

Searching PittCat

Signing into PittCat gives you access to the most results. The sign in option is in the upper right hand corner of your screen. 

To begin a search, enter a term in the “search anything” box. You can select Books, Articles, and More  to search for items across the entire library system including journal articles, images, ebooks, and more. Use the Library Catalog  option to search for items available both electronically and physically in our libraries such as books, videos, music scores and more. The Course Reserves option will help you find materials put on reserve by instructors for a specific course.

The Results Screen shows you a list of items with basic information--click on a title to get a more detailed overview of the item you’ve selected. This detailed view gives you much more information about the item. You can see where the item is located and ways to email or print the record as well as how to cite. You may also see an abstract for the item or a table of contents if available.

You can Refine Your Results by using the menu on the left. For instance, if you want a physical copy of a book, you can choose "Held by library" under Show Only. If you want a digital or e-book copy, choose "Available online." 

If Full-Text Content is available, you can get the full-text by clicking on the item title or the "available online" link underneath the description.

You can add Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT) into the Simple Search (the default search box) by adding them in all caps.

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• Last Updated: Oct 7, 2024 12:19 PM
• URL: https://pitt.libguides.com/researchproposals