How to Write the Literature Review of a Dissertation in 2024

Introduction

Rather than existing in a vacuum, a dissertation is a work of research that builds on the foundation of existing literature and theoretical frameworks in the field corresponding with the research subject. Hence, a dissertation literature review is imperative for contextualizing the study within a wider body of knowledge. An academic literature review essentially offers an overview of the previous research within the field of study.

However, the structure of a dissertation literature review does not only include a summary of the literature established across history. It includes a critical evaluation of the studies, allowing you to identify knowledge gaps, recurring themes, research methodologies, and most importantly, establish your argument as informed by previous studies.

The literature review informs the reader of how previous research led you to the research question(s) in addition to the significance of such a trajectory.

What is a Literature Review?

A literature review examines scholarly articles, books, dissertations, conference proceedings, and other material related to a certain topic, study area, or theory. An academic literature review provides context for a dissertation by identifying existing works of literature that pinpoint the contemporary views on the research subject.

Authors of dissertations must constantly keep themselves updated with various works of research and novel viewpoints to make original contributions to the domain of knowledge.

Where does the Literature Review come in?

The literature review is generally positioned in the earlier part of a dissertation or thesis, followed immediately by the introduction to the study. The academic literature review establishes a scholarly framework that directly streamlines the literature relevant to your study. Ultimately, the review leads directly to the theoretical framework or methodology utilized in the study.

What is the Purpose of a Literature Review?

The following is a list of purposes that an academic literature review aims to fulfill:

  • Identifying various gaps within previous literature; these are called lacunae.
  • Ensuring that the original work within the dissertation does not overlap with previously conducted studies in the field.
  • Setting the context and offering background information regarding the research topic.
  • Increasing the scope of knowledge within your field of research.
  • Supporting the identification of seminal works within your field.
  • Providing your study with an intellectual context and allowing for comparison with other similar studies.
  • Providing you and the reader with different and opposing perspectives. 
  • Recognizing research methodologies appropriate to your work.

Important Steps for Writing a Literature Review:

how-to-write-the-literature-review-of-a-dissertation-TrueEditors
The steps of writing a Literature Review in Dissertation

The following are important steps for writing an academic literature review in your dissertation or thesis.

Step 1: Identify and Choose Relevant Sources

It is quite likely that, as a researcher, you shall come across a gazillion articles and works of research within your field, many of which you will not even find relevant enough to cite in your study. A great deal of critical thinking is required for a researcher to deal with the unending list of references to identify articles, books, or opinion pieces that are even loosely related to the research subject.

Only the most relevant of these studies will be included in your dissertation.

Ensure that the sources that you use in your study are a diverse mix of works that ensure an optimum level of balance within the literature review. Consult books, journal articles, and other literature reviews to curate an ideal list of existing research works.

Step 2: Organize your Literature Review

Upon browsing through previous studies, you may observe the variety of categories and parameters that may be used to build your dissertation. Let us consider the various options that may be utilized for strategizing the order of studies reviewed in the review.

a). Chronological Order:

Using a historical approach to list our various works of reviewed literature will highlight the evolution of your research subject and how various scholars have approached it. Generally, the chronological approach to literature reviews is the most commonly employed by researchers.

b). Thematic Order:

At times, certain themes or trends may emerge in the literature relevant to the study. In such circumstances, the literature may be grouped thematically to further reinforce the themes identified.

c). Methodological Approach:

In case the research topic has been studied using a variety of approaches, a methodological approach may be employed to group together, compare, and contrast between studies that utilize varying methodologies.

d). Theoretical Framework:

A theoretical framework is frequently built upon the foundation provided by a literature review to explain a variety of ideas, models, and significant definitions of concepts.

You might provide a case for a particular theoretical approach, or you could combine several theoretical concepts to build a framework for your research.

Step 3: Determine the Knowledge Gap

How did your analysis of the extant literature guide you to the particular topic that you are presently studying?

A knowledge gap is essentially a lack or fallacy within the domain of literature on the focus of your present study that requires further investigation and deliberation. Based on the need for a literature review, a section that outlines the knowledge gap may vary in length. In either case, consult your university’s guidelines for specifics on word count and chapter count.

Clearly describe the type of knowledge that your dissertation intends to offer:

  • Is it able to fill a knowledge gap in the existing literature?
  • Does it propose a novel methodological approach to an issue that already exists?
  • Does it examine/re-examine existing literature from a novel perspective?

Step 4: Write your Literature Review

The academic literature review of your dissertation must include an introduction, the main body, and a conclusion. The objectives of your literature review determine the components of each section.

a). Introduction:

The focus and purpose of the dissertation literature review must be clearly stated in the introduction.

b). Main Body:

The body of the academic literature may be divided into subsections, based on its length. Each subject, time period, or methodological approach may have its own subheading.

You may consider the following tips as you write your literature review:

  • Summarize and Synthesize: Summarize the main points of each source and culminate them into a broader argument.
  • Analyze and Interpret: Rather than repeating the arguments of other researchers, add your original interpretations as appropriate and describe the significance of the findings in the context of the entire literature review.
  • Critically Evaluate: Examine your sources critically and outline their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Write in Well-structured Paragraphs: Use transition words and topic sentences to establish connections, comparisons, and contrasts in well-structured paragraphs.

c). Conclusion:

The conclusion of the literature review summarizes and highlights the most salient findings from the reviewed literature. This section must also include the gap in the literature and how this may be addressed.

Why write a Literature Review?

In order to position your work of research within the extant domain of knowledge in relation to the research subject, a literature review is imperative in the drafting of a thesis, dissertation, or research paper. The literature review provides you with the opportunity to:

  • Demonstrate your understanding of the topic and scholarly background.
  • Create a theoretical framework and research methodology for your study.
  • Position your own work in relation to that of other theorists and researchers.
  • Demonstrate how your study fills a void or contributes to a debate.

You may also be asked to prepare a literature review as a stand-alone assignment. The goal here is to assess the current state of research and demonstrate your understanding of scholarly debates on a certain issue.

Conclusion

While each case may differ in terms of content, the methods used to carry out an academic literature review typically remain the same.

Drafting an academic literature review is a skill that is essential for a student intending to apply to graduate school or pursue a career in research.

-Arthur Solomon

TrueEditors

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