A literature review is more than a list of summaries. Its purpose is to explain what relevant sources say, how their ideas or evidence relate, and where your project fits. Follow your course brief and supervisor’s instructions for the scope and format.
1. Define the question and boundaries
Write the research question or review purpose in one sentence. List the key concepts, population or context, and date or subject boundaries that matter. These limits help you decide what to search for and what does not belong. If the question is still broad, narrow it before collecting a large pile of material.
2. Plan a search you can repeat
Use databases and library tools recommended for your discipline. Identify alternative terms and synonyms for each key concept, then combine them in a way that makes sense for the database. Record where and when you searched, the terms you used, and any inclusion or exclusion decisions your course requires. A search log helps you revisit a search and explain how you found sources.
3. Record source details as you go
Capture the author, title, publication year, journal or publisher, page range, and stable identifier where available. Note why the source may be useful before moving on. Save enough information to find it again, and check the original publication when citation details matter.
4. Read with a consistent set of questions
For each relevant source, note its purpose, central claim, evidence or method, key result, limitation, and connection to your question. Separate the author's claims from your own interpretation. You do not need to treat every source equally: prioritize relevance, quality, and direct connection to the review question.
5. Group sources by ideas, not by author
Use a small evidence matrix to compare sources across themes, concepts, methods, findings, or disagreements. Look for patterns and differences: do sources reach similar conclusions for different reasons, use different definitions, or study different contexts? A matrix can reveal a useful structure before you start writing.
6. Build a synthesis
Organize sections around a logical thread. In each section, state the point, compare evidence that supports or complicates it, explain what the comparison shows, and link the discussion back to your question. Avoid writing one paragraph per source unless that structure serves a clear purpose. Make uncertainty and gaps precise; do not claim that a topic has never been studied unless your search supports that conclusion.
7. Check citations and scope
Use the citation style specified by your programme. Verify every in-text citation against the source and reference list. Distinguish paraphrases from quotations, and do not cite a source you have not checked. Before submission, confirm that the review answers the assigned purpose and stays within the required scope.
Planning checklist
- The question and boundaries are clear.
- Search terms and source decisions are recorded.
- Notes distinguish claims, evidence, limits, and your interpretation.
- Sections compare ideas across sources.
- Every citation is traceable to a source you consulted.
Use this guide as a starting point; discipline-specific expectations differ. See the dissertation planning guide and the Study Resources library.