{"id":727,"date":"2024-04-03T13:04:44","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T13:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/?p=727"},"modified":"2026-09-14T21:18:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T15:48:38","slug":"what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\" dir=\"ltr\">\r\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">A literature review must critically analyze and connect published sources to surface themes, contradictions, methodological strengths and weaknesses, and knowledge gaps.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Narrative reviews suit broad background context; systematic reviews and meta-analyses answer specific questions with minimal bias; scoping reviews map emerging topics; and critical, realist, descriptive, and umbrella reviews serve more specialized purposes.<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">The literature review section of a journal article or a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-conduct-and-write-a-literature-review-for-your-dissertation\/\">dissertation literature review chapter<\/a> is meant to show the contribution of your study and justify your research question and methodology. A standalone review is research in itself, following a set structure of title, abstract, introduction, methods (with a PRISMA flow diagram for systematic reviews), body, discussion, conclusion, and references.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#What_Is_a_Literature_Review\" >What Is a Literature Review?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#What_a_Literature_Review_Is_NOT\" >What a Literature Review Is NOT<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Literature_Review_vs_Background_Section_Key_Differences\" >Literature Review vs Background Section: Key Differences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Why_Is_a_Literature_Review_Important\" >Why Is a Literature Review Important?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Types_of_Literature_Reviews\" >Types of Literature Reviews<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#How_to_Choose_the_Right_Type_of_Literature_Review\" >How to Choose the Right Type of Literature Review<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#How_to_Search_the_Literature\" >How to Search the Literature<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Step_1_Define_Your_Research_Question\" >Step 1: Define Your Research Question<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Step_2_Choose_Your_Databases\" >Step 2: Choose Your Databases<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Step_3_Develop_Your_Search_Strategy\" >Step 3: Develop Your Search Strategy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Step_4_Screen_and_Select_Sources\" >Step 4: Screen and Select Sources<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Step_5_Assess_Source_Quality\" >Step 5: Assess Source Quality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Step_6_Supplement_Your_Search\" >Step 6: Supplement Your Search<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#How_to_Synthesize_the_Literature\" >How to Synthesize the Literature<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Strategies_for_Effective_Synthesis\" >Strategies for Effective Synthesis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Common_Pitfalls_in_Literature_Reviews_and_How_to_Avoid_Them\" >Common Pitfalls in Literature Reviews and How to Avoid Them<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Overreliance_on_abstracts_instead_of_full_texts\" >Overreliance on abstracts instead of full texts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Cherry-picking_studies_that_confirm_a_hypothesis_confirmation_bias\" >Cherry-picking studies that confirm a hypothesis (confirmation bias)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Outdated_sources_neglecting_recency\" >Outdated sources \/ neglecting recency<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Poor_synthesis_a_%E2%80%9Clist_of_summaries%E2%80%9D_rather_than_an_integrated_argument\" >Poor synthesis (a &#8220;list of summaries&#8221; rather than an integrated argument)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Ignoring_grey_literature_where_relevant\" >Ignoring grey literature where relevant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Citationreference_management_errors\" >Citation\/reference management errors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Literature_Review_for_a_Thesis_or_Dissertation_Special_Considerations\" >Literature Review for a Thesis or Dissertation: Special Considerations<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Purpose_Within_the_Thesis\" >Purpose Within the Thesis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Key_Differences_from_a_Standalone_Review\" >Key Differences from a Standalone Review<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Common_Pitfalls_for_Thesis_Writers\" >Common Pitfalls for Thesis Writers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#How_to_Structure_a_Standalone_Literature_Review_Article\" >How to Structure a Standalone Literature Review Article<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#1_Title_and_Abstract\" >1. Title and Abstract<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#2_Introduction\" >2. Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#3_Methods_Required_for_Systematic_Scoping_and_Descriptive_Reviews\" >3. Methods (Required for Systematic, Scoping, and Descriptive Reviews)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#4_Body_Results\" >4. Body \/ Results<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#5_Discussion\" >5. Discussion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#6_Conclusion\" >6. Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#7_References\" >7. References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#How_many_sources_should_a_literature_review_include\" >How many sources should a literature review include?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-37\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Can_I_include_grey_literature_such_as_government_reports_policy_documents_or_dissertations\" >Can I include grey literature such as government reports, policy documents, or dissertations?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-38\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#How_do_I_handle_conflicting_findings_across_sources\" >How do I handle conflicting findings across sources?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-39\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Should_I_include_sources_that_contradict_my_thesis_or_position\" >Should I include sources that contradict my thesis or position?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-40\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#What_is_a_qualitative_systematic_review_and_meta-synthesis\" >What is a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-41\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#When_should_I_update_my_literature_review\" >When should I update my literature review?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-42\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#How_do_I_make_sure_Im_not_citing_retracted_studies_or_papers_from_low-quality_predatory_journals\" >How do I make sure I&#8217;m not citing retracted studies or papers from low-quality, predatory journals?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-43\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Can_I_use_AI_in_my_literature_review\" >Can I use AI in my literature review?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-44\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#Can_I_cite_AI_in_a_literature_review\" >Can I cite AI in a literature review?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Literature_Review\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480479\"><\/a>What Is a Literature Review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A literature review is a critical analysis and synthesis of existing published material on a particular topic. It does more than simply summarize sources; it evaluates and connects them, drawing out themes, contradictions, methodological strengths and weaknesses, and gaps in current knowledge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_a_Literature_Review_Is_NOT\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480480\"><\/a>What a Literature Review Is NOT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It is equally important to understand what a literature review is not:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Not an annotated bibliography:<\/strong> an annotated bibliography summarizes each source individually with no synthesis between them<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Not an essay or research paper<\/strong>: it does not prove or develop a central argument from scratch<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Not a list of summaries<\/strong>: it goes beyond &#8220;Source A says X, Source B says Y&#8221;<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Not a report<\/strong>: it does not present findings from primary data collection<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Literature_Review_vs_Background_Section_Key_Differences\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480481\"><\/a>Literature Review vs Background Section: Key Differences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Aspect<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Literature Review<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Background (in a Research Proposal\/Research Paper)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Primary Goal<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Comprehensively synthesize and critically evaluate existing knowledge on a topic<\/td>\r\n<td>Set the context and justify why the specific study being proposed\/reported is needed<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Scope<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Broad \u2014 covers the full landscape of relevant research, including differing schools of thought, methodologies, and findings<\/td>\r\n<td>Narrow and selective \u2014 includes only the sources needed to frame the specific research gap<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Depth of Coverage<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Exhaustive within its defined boundaries; aims to leave no major relevant work unaddressed<\/td>\r\n<td>Curated; deliberately excludes tangential work even if relevant to the broader field<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Structure<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Often organized thematically, chronologically, or methodologically, with its own internal logic<\/td>\r\n<td>Usually organized narrowly and linearly: general context \u2192 narrowing focus \u2192 the specific gap \u2192 how this study addresses it<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Level of Critical Analysis<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>High \u2014 evaluates strengths, weaknesses, contradictions, and methodological quality across studies<\/td>\r\n<td>Lower \u2014 critical only where needed to justify the gap; not an evaluation of the entire field<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Length<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Can range from several pages (as a chapter\/section) to an entire standalone paper<\/td>\r\n<td>Typically short \u2014 a page or two, sometimes just a few paragraphs<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Standalone Value<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Can exist independently as a publishable contribution (e.g., a review article)<\/td>\r\n<td>Cannot stand alone; only meaningful as part of a larger proposal or paper<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>End Point<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Concludes by identifying gaps, debates, or open questions in the field generally<\/td>\r\n<td>Concludes by directly leading into the specific research question, hypothesis, or objective of the study<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Reader&#8217;s Takeaway<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>&#8220;Here is the state of knowledge on this topic, and here&#8217;s where the field stands overall&#8221;<\/td>\r\n<td>&#8220;Here is why <em>this particular study<\/em> needs to happen&#8221;<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Typical Location<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>A dedicated chapter\/section (in a thesis) or its own article (as a review paper)<\/td>\r\n<td>A subsection near the start of the Introduction in a proposal, grant application, or research paper<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Core distinction:<\/strong> a literature review maps an entire field to show <em>what is known and unknown broadly<\/em>, while a background section is a brief, targeted narrative that uses only as much of the literature as necessary to justify <em>one specific piece of new research<\/em>. In practice, a background section often reads like a compressed, purpose-built extract of a larger literature review.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Is_a_Literature_Review_Important\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480482\"><\/a>Why Is a Literature Review Important?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A well-conducted literature review serves multiple interconnected purposes:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Purpose<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Contextualises the research<\/td>\r\n<td>Places your study within the existing body of knowledge<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Identifies knowledge gaps<\/td>\r\n<td>Highlights where research is absent, contradictory, or limited<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Establishes credibility<\/td>\r\n<td>Demonstrates your familiarity with the field<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Informs theory and methods<\/td>\r\n<td>Helps justify your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-theoretical-framework-examples-definition-importance-how-to-write-one\/\">theoretical framework<\/a> and methodological choices<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Guides research questions<\/td>\r\n<td>Shapes and sharpens what you choose to investigate<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Avoids duplication<\/td>\r\n<td>Ensures your work builds on, rather than repeats, prior studies<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Informs practice<\/td>\r\n<td>For practitioners, review articles offer state-of-the-art evidence to guide decisions<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_Literature_Reviews\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480483\"><\/a>Types of Literature Reviews<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The table below shows the common types of literature reviews:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Type<\/td>\r\n<td>Core Purpose<\/td>\r\n<td>Approach<\/td>\r\n<td>Best Used When<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/narrative-review-literature-synthesis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Narrative Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Summarize and synthesize a broad topic<\/td>\r\n<td>Flexible, thematic, qualitative<\/td>\r\n<td>Providing background context; exploring a broad topic<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/conducting-and-reporting-systematic-reviews\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Systematic Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Answer a specific question with minimal bias<\/td>\r\n<td>Highly structured, protocol-driven, exhaustive search<\/td>\r\n<td>Aggregating evidence for evidence-based practice<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/meta-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meta-Analysis<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Statistically combine results from multiple studies<\/td>\r\n<td>Quantitative synthesis using statistical methods<\/td>\r\n<td>Sufficient homogeneous studies exist<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/scoping-review\/\">Scoping Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Map the extent and nature of a topic area<\/td>\r\n<td>Comprehensive but exploratory<\/td>\r\n<td>Emerging topics; assessing feasibility of a full systematic review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/rapid-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rapid Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Answer a specific question under tight time constraints<\/td>\r\n<td>Systematic-style methods, streamlined or abbreviated to save time<\/td>\r\n<td>Policy or clinical decisions need evidence quickly<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-a-mapping-review-definition-guidelines-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Descriptive\/Mapping Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Identify patterns and trends in the literature<\/td>\r\n<td>Systematic search + frequency analysis<\/td>\r\n<td>Understanding publication trends in a field<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-critical-literature-review-definition-steps-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Critical Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Critically evaluate and interpret existing literature<\/td>\r\n<td>Reflective, appraisal-focused<\/td>\r\n<td>Identifying methodological weaknesses in a body of work<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/integrative-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Integrative Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Synthesize findings across studies with different methodologies<\/td>\r\n<td>Combines quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods evidence<\/td>\r\n<td>Building a fuller picture of a complex, multifaceted topic<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/realist-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Realist Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Understand how and why complex interventions work<\/td>\r\n<td>Theory-driven, context-sensitive<\/td>\r\n<td>Complex social or policy interventions<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/umbrella-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Umbrella Review<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Synthesize findings from multiple systematic reviews<\/td>\r\n<td>Tertiary synthesis<\/td>\r\n<td>Broad research topics with multiple existing systematic reviews<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\u00a0<\/td>\r\n<td>\u00a0<\/td>\r\n<td>\u00a0<\/td>\r\n<td>\u00a0<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Choose_the_Right_Type_of_Literature_Review\"><\/span>How to Choose the Right Type of Literature Review<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Question to ask yourself<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>If yes \/ applies<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Suggested review type(s)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Do I just need broad background\/context on a topic, without a rigid methodology?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Narrative review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Do I need to answer one specific, focused research question with minimal bias?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes \u2192 check timeline below<\/td>\r\n<td>Systematic review, meta-analysis, or rapid review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Do I have only a few weeks, not months, to complete this?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Rapid review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Do the included studies report comparable quantitative data that can be statistically pooled?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Meta-analysis<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>No, but I still need a structured, protocol-driven approach<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Systematic review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Is the topic new or emerging, and I&#8217;m not yet sure how much literature exists?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Scoping review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Do I need to compare conclusions across several <em>existing<\/em> systematic reviews on related topics?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Umbrella review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Does my evidence base include a mix of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies I need to combine?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Integrative review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Do I need to explain <em>how, why, for whom,<\/em> or <em>under what conditions<\/em> a complex intervention works (not just whether it works)?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Realist review<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Does my field\/journal have a strong methodological convention (e.g., PRISMA in health sciences)?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Follow that convention regardless of the above \u2014 field norms override general fit<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Do I have a registered protocol or plan to register one (e.g., PROSPERO)?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Signals systematic review or meta-analysis; rapid\/narrative reviews are rarely pre-registered<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Am I a single reviewer with no second person to independently screen\/extract data?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Leans toward rapid or narrative review; systematic reviews typically require dual review for rigor<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Do I need the review to be publishable as a standalone paper (not just a background section)?<\/td>\r\n<td>Yes<\/td>\r\n<td>Any of the above except a research proposal&#8217;s background section<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>How to use this:<\/strong> work down the left column in order. The first &#8220;yes&#8221; that applies is usually your primary indicator. If two rows point to different types (e.g., timeline says rapid, but your field&#8217;s norms say systematic), prioritize field norms and stated publication requirements over timeline convenience, since a rapid review may need to be explicitly justified or flagged as a limitation in more traditional fields.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Search_the_Literature\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480485\"><\/a>How to Search the Literature<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Define_Your_Research_Question\"><\/span>Step 1: Define Your Research Question<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A well-formulated question shapes every later step of a review, from search terms to inclusion criteria, so choosing the right framework matters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>PICO<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-the-pico-framework-in-research-definition-uses-examples\/\">PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome)<\/a><\/strong> is the standard in health and clinical sciences. It works well for intervention-effectiveness questions, e.g., &#8220;In adults with type 2 diabetes (P), does metformin (I) compared to lifestyle intervention alone (C) reduce HbA1c levels (O)?&#8221; Variants like PICOS (adding Study design) or PICOT (adding Time) refine it further for systematic reviews.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>SPIDER<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>SPIDER<\/strong> (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research type) is better suited to qualitative and mixed-methods research, where there&#8217;s no discrete &#8220;intervention&#8221; to test. It focuses instead on the experience or phenomenon being studied, e.g., &#8220;What are new mothers&#8217; (S) experiences of postnatal anxiety (PI) as explored through interviews (D), regarding coping strategies (E), in qualitative studies (R)?&#8221;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>PEO<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>PEO<\/strong> (Population, Exposure, Outcome) fits observational and exposure-based questions common in public health and epidemiology, where there&#8217;s no intervention being tested, just a naturally occurring exposure, e.g., &#8220;Among adolescents (P), does social media use (E) affect sleep quality (O)?&#8221;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Choosing the wrong framework often produces overly broad or oddly structured questions, so it&#8217;s worth matching the framework to the review&#8217;s underlying design before drafting a question.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Choose_Your_Databases\"><\/span>Step 2: Choose Your Databases<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Different fields have different key databases. Use multiple databases to maximize coverage:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Field<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Recommended Databases<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Medicine &amp; Health<\/td>\r\n<td>PubMed\/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social Sciences<\/td>\r\n<td>PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, ERIC<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>General\/Multidisciplinary<\/td>\r\n<td>Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, JSTOR<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Engineering &amp; Technology<\/td>\r\n<td>IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Humanities<\/td>\r\n<td>JSTOR, Project MUSE, MLA International Bibliography<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Develop_Your_Search_Strategy\"><\/span>Step 3: Develop Your Search Strategy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Identify keywords<\/strong>: Use synonyms and related terms (e.g., &#8220;adolescent,&#8221; &#8220;teenager,&#8221; &#8220;youth&#8221;)<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-do-a-literature-search-examples-and-tips-for-pubmed-google-scholar-and-more\/#What_Are_Boolean_Operators\">Boolean operators<\/a><\/strong>: AND narrows your search; OR broadens it; NOT excludes terms<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Apply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-do-a-literature-search-examples-and-tips-for-pubmed-google-scholar-and-more\/#What_Is_Truncation\">truncation<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-do-a-literature-search-examples-and-tips-for-pubmed-google-scholar-and-more\/#What_Are_Wildcards\">wildcards<\/a><\/strong>: e.g., &#8220;therap*&#8221; captures therapy, therapies, therapist<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Use subject headings<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-do-a-literature-search-examples-and-tips-for-pubmed-google-scholar-and-more\/#What_Is_Controlled_Vocabulary\">Controlled vocabulary<\/a> like MeSH terms (in PubMed) improves precision<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Set date filters<\/strong>: Limit to a relevant time period based on your topic&#8217;s history<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Document your search<\/strong>: Record exactly what you searched and when. This is essential for transparency and reproducibility<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_Screen_and_Select_Sources\"><\/span>Step 4: Screen and Select Sources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Once you have your initial results, apply inclusion and exclusion criteria:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Inclusion criteria<\/strong> might specify: peer-reviewed articles, published after a certain year, studies conducted in a specific population, written in a specific language<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Exclusion criteria<\/strong> might eliminate: conference abstracts, grey literature (unless doing a scoping review), studies below a quality threshold<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>For systematic reviews, screening should be done independently by at least two reviewers, with a clear process for resolving disagreements.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_5_Assess_Source_Quality\"><\/span>Step 5: Assess Source Quality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Not all published research is of equal quality. Ask yourself:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Is it peer-reviewed?<\/li>\r\n<li>Is the methodology clearly described and appropriate?<\/li>\r\n<li>Is the sample size adequate?<\/li>\r\n<li>Are the conclusions supported by the data?<\/li>\r\n<li>Are there conflicts of interest?<\/li>\r\n<li>For qualitative studies: is the researcher&#8217;s positionality addressed?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_6_Supplement_Your_Search\"><\/span>Step 6: Supplement Your Search<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Backward searching<\/strong>: check the reference lists of key papers you have already identified<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Forward searching<\/strong>: use Google Scholar or Web of Science to find papers that have since cited a key article<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/grey-literature-definition-sources-types-evaluation\/\"><strong>Grey literature<\/strong><\/a>: government reports, theses, and preprints may be relevant, particularly for scoping reviews<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Synthesize_the_Literature\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480486\"><\/a>How to Synthesize the Literature<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-synthesize-literature-in-research-literature-synthesis-examples-and-tips\/\">Synthesis<\/a> is the intellectual core of a literature review. It is what distinguishes a literature review from an annotated bibliography.\u00a0These are the two main approaches to combining findings once studies are selected, and the choice depends on how comparable the included studies are.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>Statistical Pooling<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Statistical pooling (used in meta-analyses) combines numerical results from multiple studies into a single, quantitative effect size, using statistical models such as fixed-effect or random-effects models. This requires the studies to be sufficiently homogeneous, i.e., similar populations, interventions, and outcome measures, so that combining their data produces a meaningful, precise estimate rather than an apples-to-oranges average.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>Narrative synthesis<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Narrative synthesis is used when studies are too heterogeneous in design, population, or outcome measures to pool statistically. Instead, findings are summarized and compared in text, often organized by theme, outcome, or study characteristic, with tables used to structure comparisons. It&#8217;s inherently more subjective than statistical pooling since it relies on the reviewer&#8217;s interpretation and grouping of results rather than a standardized formula.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4>When to choose narrative synthesis vs statistical pooling?<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Factor<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Choose Narrative Synthesis<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Choose Statistical Pooling (Meta-Analysis)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Study homogeneity<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Studies vary substantially in population, intervention, or outcome measures<\/td>\r\n<td>Studies are sufficiently similar in design, population, and outcomes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Outcome measures<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Outcomes measured inconsistently across studies (different scales, tools, or definitions)<\/td>\r\n<td>Outcomes measured consistently or convertible to a common metric<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Study designs included<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Mix of qualitative, quantitative, and\/or mixed-methods studies<\/td>\r\n<td>Predominantly quantitative studies with comparable numerical data<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Number of studies<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Very few studies, or too few per subgroup to pool meaningfully<\/td>\r\n<td>Enough studies (typically several) to generate a statistically stable pooled estimate<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Statistical heterogeneity<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>High heterogeneity (e.g., high I\u00b2 statistic) that would make pooling misleading<\/td>\r\n<td>Low to moderate heterogeneity, or heterogeneity that can be explained\/adjusted for<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Goal of synthesis<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Understanding patterns, context, or a range of findings<\/td>\r\n<td>Producing one precise, generalizable effect size<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Data availability<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Missing or incomplete raw\/summary data from studies<\/td>\r\n<td>Full or sufficient summary statistics available from each study<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The two aren&#8217;t mutually exclusive: a review may narratively synthesize findings from one subset of studies while pooling data statistically from a more homogeneous subset. Choosing narrative synthesis doesn&#8217;t lower a review&#8217;s rigor; it&#8217;s simply the appropriate choice when statistical pooling would misleadingly force incompatible data into a single number.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Strategies_for_Effective_Synthesis\"><\/span>Strategies for Effective Synthesis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Group sources thematically<\/strong> rather than discussing one paper at a time. Cluster sources that address the same concept or finding<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Compare and contrast<\/strong>. Identify where researchers agree, disagree, or use conflicting methods<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Track developments over time<\/strong>. Note how thinking on a topic has evolved across decades<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Identify patterns<\/strong>. Look for recurring findings, dominant methodological approaches, or shared theoretical frameworks<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-find-research-gaps-gap-statement-examples-and-tips\/\"><strong>Highlight gaps<\/strong><\/a>: point out where has research been sparse, inconsistent, or entirely absent<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Build a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-synthesize-literature-in-research-literature-synthesis-examples-and-tips\/#2_Build_a_Synthesis_Matrix\">synthesis matrix<\/a>:<\/strong> a table with sources as rows and key themes or variables as columns helps you visualize connections and gaps before you start writing<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Pitfalls_in_Literature_Reviews_and_How_to_Avoid_Them\"><\/span>Common Pitfalls in Literature Reviews and How to Avoid Them<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Even well-intentioned literature reviews can fall short due to a handful of recurring mistakes. Being aware of these early can save significant rework later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Overreliance_on_abstracts_instead_of_full_texts\"><\/span>Overreliance on abstracts instead of full texts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Abstracts are compressed summaries and often omit crucial methodological details, limitations, or nuanced findings. Relying on them alone risks misrepresenting a study&#8217;s actual scope or conclusions, and can lead to including studies that don&#8217;t actually meet inclusion criteria once the full text is examined. Abstracts are useful for initial screening, but decisions about inclusion, quality appraisal, and data extraction should always be based on the full text.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cherry-picking_studies_that_confirm_a_hypothesis_confirmation_bias\"><\/span>Cherry-picking studies that confirm a hypothesis (confirmation bias)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It&#8217;s tempting, consciously or not, to give more weight to studies that support a preferred conclusion while downplaying or excluding contradictory evidence. This undermines the credibility of the entire review. A rigorous review reports the full range of findings, including conflicting or null results, and explains discrepancies rather than glossing over them. Predefined, transparent inclusion\/exclusion criteria (ideally set before searching, as in a registered protocol) help guard against this.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Outdated_sources_neglecting_recency\"><\/span>Outdated sources \/ neglecting recency<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Citing only older, &#8220;foundational&#8221; work while ignoring recent developments can make a review feel disconnected from the current state of a field, especially in fast-moving disciplines like technology or medicine. While seminal older studies often deserve inclusion for context, reviewers should explicitly search for and incorporate recent literature, and periodically re-run searches if the review process spans many months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Poor_synthesis_a_%E2%80%9Clist_of_summaries%E2%80%9D_rather_than_an_integrated_argument\"><\/span>Poor synthesis (a &#8220;list of summaries&#8221; rather than an integrated argument)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>One of the most common structural weaknesses: presenting a string of &#8220;Study A found X. Study B found Y. Study C found Z.&#8221; without ever connecting these findings into a coherent argument. A strong literature review identifies patterns, contradictions, and gaps across studies, and organizes discussion thematically or conceptually rather than study-by-study. The goal is synthesis, not summary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ignoring_grey_literature_where_relevant\"><\/span>Ignoring grey literature where relevant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/grey-literature-definition-sources-types-evaluation\/\">Grey literature<\/a> (conference proceedings, theses, government reports, preprints, clinical trial registries) can be essential for topics prone to publication bias, since studies with null or negative results are less likely to appear in peer-reviewed journals. Excluding grey literature entirely, without acknowledging the decision, can skew a review toward inflated effect sizes or overly positive conclusions. Whether to include it should be a deliberate, justified methodological choice, not an oversight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Citationreference_management_errors\"><\/span>Citation\/reference management errors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Misattributed quotes, incorrect page numbers, duplicate entries, or inconsistent citation formatting undermine a review&#8217;s credibility and can misdirect readers trying to verify claims. These errors compound quickly in reviews citing dozens or hundreds of sources. Using reference management software (e.g., Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley) from the outset, and periodically auditing the reference list against the in-text citations, helps catch these issues before submission.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Literature_Review_for_a_Thesis_or_Dissertation_Special_Considerations\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480488\"><\/a>Literature Review for a Thesis or Dissertation: Special Considerations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A thesis or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-conduct-and-write-a-literature-review-for-your-dissertation\/\">dissertation literature review<\/a> carries unique expectations compared to a standalone review article.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Purpose_Within_the_Thesis\"><\/span>Purpose Within the Thesis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The literature review in a thesis serves to:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Establish the theoretical and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/conceptual-framework-research-examples-elements-tips-essays-dissertations\/\">conceptual framework<\/a> you will work within<\/li>\r\n<li>Justify your research questions by showing what remains unknown or contested<\/li>\r\n<li>Demonstrate to examiners that you have a thorough, critical grasp of the field<\/li>\r\n<li>Provide the scholarly context that validates your chosen methodology<\/li>\r\n<li>Show original critical thinking \u00a0(not just coverage, but insight)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Differences_from_a_Standalone_Review\"><\/span>Key Differences from a Standalone Review<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Dissertation Literature Review<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Standalone Review Article<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Primary purpose<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Grounds your original research<\/td>\r\n<td>Is research in itself<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Perspective<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Written from your position as a researcher-in-progress<\/td>\r\n<td>Addresses the broader scholarly community<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Coverage<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Selective but rigorous, must justify your study<\/td>\r\n<td>May be exhaustive (systematic) or broadly representative (narrative)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Critical voice<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Your analytical stance should be present throughout<\/td>\r\n<td>Voice depends on review type<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Evolution<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>May be revised as empirical work progresses<\/td>\r\n<td>Fixed once published<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Pitfalls_for_Thesis_Writers\"><\/span>Common Pitfalls for Thesis Writers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Over-describing and under-analysing<\/strong>: spending too much time recounting what studies found and too little evaluating and connecting them<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Losing the thread<\/strong>: failing to link the discussion back to your own research question<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Neglecting seminal works<\/strong>: skipping foundational theories or landmark studies in your field<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>No critical voice<\/strong>: presenting the literature as if all sources are equally valid and beyond debate<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Outdated coverage<\/strong>: not including recent publications. Always check for literature from the last 3\u20135 years before submission<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Structure_a_Standalone_Literature_Review_Article\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480489\"><\/a>How to Structure a Standalone Literature Review Article<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A standalone literature review (published as a journal article) follows a recognizable structure, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/imrad-paper-example-structure-outline\/\">IMRAD format<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/research-paper-vs-review-paper-key-differences-with-examples\/\">Review articles<\/a> are among the most widely cited in academic literature, because they synthesize knowledge that others need as a starting point for their own research.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Title_and_Abstract\"><\/span>1. Title and Abstract<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/title-research-paper\/\">title<\/a> should clearly signal the topic, scope, and review type (e.g., &#8220;A Systematic Review of&#8230;&#8221;; &#8220;Trends in&#8230; A Narrative Review&#8221;)<\/li>\r\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-write-abstract\/\">abstract<\/a> should summarize the purpose, scope, methods (for systematic reviews), key findings, and conclusions<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Introduction\"><\/span>2. Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/introduction-research-paper\/\">introduction<\/a> should:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Introduce the broader subject and establish its significance<\/li>\r\n<li>Narrow to your specific topic and the research question driving the review<\/li>\r\n<li>Define the scope: what time period, disciplines, and study types are included and why<\/li>\r\n<li>State the type of review being conducted<\/li>\r\n<li>Explain what the review contributes and how it is organized (a forecasting statement)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Methods_Required_for_Systematic_Scoping_and_Descriptive_Reviews\"><\/span>3. Methods (Required for Systematic, Scoping, and Descriptive Reviews)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>For rigorous review types, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/methods-section-research-paper\/\">methods section<\/a> must include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Search strategy<\/strong>: databases, date ranges, and search terms used<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Inclusion and exclusion criteria<\/strong>: clearly stated, ideally in a table<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Screening process<\/strong>: number of reviewers and how conflicts were resolved<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Quality appraisal<\/strong>: tools or criteria used to assess study quality<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Data extraction<\/strong>: what information was extracted and how<\/li>\r\n<li>A <strong>PRISMA flow diagram<\/strong> is standard for systematic reviews (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Body_Results\"><\/span>4. Body \/ Results<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Organize the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/results-section-research-paper\/\">results section<\/a> or body according to one of these approaches:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Organizational Approach<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Description<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Best For<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Thematic<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Groups sources by topic, concept, or finding<\/td>\r\n<td>Most reviews; emphasizes intellectual connections<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Chronological<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Traces how knowledge has evolved over time<\/td>\r\n<td>When historical development is important<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Methodological<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Groups by the methods used in primary studies<\/td>\r\n<td>When comparing research approaches is the main goal<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Theoretical<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>Groups by theoretical framework or school of thought<\/td>\r\n<td>Theory-heavy disciplines like sociology or education<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Within each section of the body:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Provide background and definitions as needed<\/li>\r\n<li>Group and synthesize related findings. Do not move source by source<\/li>\r\n<li>Compare and contrast studies, and evaluate their methodological quality<\/li>\r\n<li>Note contradictions and debates<\/li>\r\n<li>Write topic sentences that express the analytical point of the paragraph, not just the name of a researcher<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Discussion\"><\/span>5. Discussion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Where present, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/discussion-section-research-paper\/\">discussion section<\/a>:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Draws together patterns and conclusions from across the body<\/li>\r\n<li>Addresses the implications of knowledge gaps for the field<\/li>\r\n<li>Evaluates the overall strength and consistency of the evidence base<\/li>\r\n<li>Suggests specific directions for future research<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Conclusion\"><\/span>6. Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/conclusion-research-paper-implications-limitations-recommendations\/\">conclusion<\/a> should:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Summarize the major contributions of the reviewed literature<\/li>\r\n<li>Reiterate what is known, what is contested, and what remains unknown<\/li>\r\n<li>Propose concrete avenues for future inquiry<\/li>\r\n<li>Avoid introducing new material not covered in the body<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_References\"><\/span>7. References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Maintain a consistent citation style throughout (APA, MLA, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.)<\/li>\r\n<li>Cite both direct quotations and paraphrased material<\/li>\r\n<li>Use citation management software (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote) to stay organized<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><a id=\"_Toc234480490\"><\/a>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_sources_should_a_literature_review_include\"><\/span>How many sources should a literature review include?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>There is no universal rule. The appropriate number depends on the scope of your topic, the level of your work, and the type of review. A thesis chapter might include 40\u201380 sources; a short undergraduate paper might require 10\u201320; a comprehensive systematic review in medicine can include hundreds of primary studies. The key criterion is not quantity but coverage: have you engaged with the key theories, landmark studies, and recent developments relevant to your question? Check with your supervisor or your institution&#8217;s guidelines if you are unsure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_include_grey_literature_such_as_government_reports_policy_documents_or_dissertations\"><\/span>Can I include grey literature such as government reports, policy documents, or dissertations?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Yes, and in some cases you should. Grey literature can be valuable, particularly for scoping reviews or when the academic literature on a topic is sparse. Apply the same critical appraisal standards you would to any source: consider the authority of the producing organisation, the transparency of the methodology, and any potential for bias. Including grey literature is also important for systematic reviews because it helps reduce publication bias (the tendency for studies with positive or significant findings to be published more readily than those with null results).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_handle_conflicting_findings_across_sources\"><\/span>How do I handle conflicting findings across sources?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Conflicting findings are a feature of the literature, not a problem to be hidden. They are often the most intellectually valuable thing a literature review can surface. Rather than ignoring contradictions, explore possible reasons for them: differences in study populations, methodologies, measurement tools, sample sizes, or time periods. Acknowledge where consensus is strong and where genuine debate exists. This kind of nuanced analysis signals to your reader that you understand the field deeply.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_include_sources_that_contradict_my_thesis_or_position\"><\/span>Should I include sources that contradict my thesis or position?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Absolutely. Engaging critically with contradictory evidence is a mark of scholarly integrity. Selectively citing only sources that support your position (sometimes called &#8220;cherry-picking&#8221;) is a serious academic flaw. A strong literature review acknowledges the full landscape of evidence, including studies that challenge your perspective, and explains why, on balance, the evidence or argumentation supports your position. As the University of Toronto advises, always ask yourself whether you have cited and discussed studies contrary to your own perspective.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_qualitative_systematic_review_and_meta-synthesis\"><\/span>What is a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/qualitative-systematic-review-and-meta-synthesis-examples-protocols-tips\/\">qualitative systematic review<\/a> is a structured, transparent method for identifying, appraising, and synthesizing findings from multiple qualitative studies on a specific research question. Unlike traditional narrative reviews, it follows an explicit, reproducible protocol for searching, selecting, and evaluating studies, reducing bias and improving rigor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Meta-synthesis is the interpretive process at its core. Rather than statistically pooling data (as meta-analysis does with quantitative studies), it integrates findings from qualitative research to generate new, higher-order understandings that transcend individual studies. Researchers compare and combine themes, concepts, and interpretations across studies to produce fresh insights.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_should_I_update_my_literature_review\"><\/span>When should I update my literature review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Treat a literature review as a living document during the research process. For a thesis, update it whenever significant new publications appear, and always check for recent work before final submission. For published standalone reviews, the shelf life depends on the pace of the field: in fast-moving areas like biomedicine or artificial intelligence, reviews may become partially outdated within 2\u20133 years. As a general rule, if your database search was conducted more than 12\u201318 months ago in an active field, it is worth running updated searches before finalizing your manuscript.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_make_sure_Im_not_citing_retracted_studies_or_papers_from_low-quality_predatory_journals\"><\/span>How do I make sure I&#8217;m not citing retracted studies or papers from low-quality, predatory journals?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>To avoid citing retracted papers or work from predatory journals, start with a few manual checks: look up retraction status through the Retraction Watch Database or Crossref&#8217;s metadata, and confirm journals appear in legitimate indexes like DOAJ, Scopus, or Web of Science. Cross-referencing questionable titles against Cabell&#8217;s Predatory Reports or the archived Beall&#8217;s List also helps, as does watching for red flags like unclear peer review, suspiciously fast publication, vague editorial boards, or aggressive solicitation emails.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>But checking every reference by hand is slow and error-prone, especially since retraction status can change after you&#8217;ve already cited a paper. That&#8217;s where Paperpal&#8217;s Reference Checker (<a href=\"https:\/\/paperpal.com\/tools\/reference-checker\">https:\/\/paperpal.com\/tools\/reference-checker<\/a>) helps. It automatically scans your full reference list and flags retracted papers, citations from predatory or low-quality journals, broken or inaccurate references, and formatting inconsistencies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Running your manuscript through it before submission is worth the few minutes it takes, since even one problematic citation can undermine an otherwise solid paper.<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_use_AI_in_my_literature_review\"><\/span>Can I use AI in my literature review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Yes, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-ai-to-write-a-literature-review-without-hallucinations-prompts-and-steps-for-human-validation\/\">AI to draft a literature review<\/a> as long as you have assembled all the evidence beforehand and verified it manually. Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-ai-to-write-a-literature-review-without-hallucinations-prompts-and-steps-for-human-validation\/#Prompts_You_Can_Copy_and_Adapt\">specific, narrow prompts<\/a> and never ask AI to generate entire sections at one go as this increases the risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-check-for-hallucinations-in-ai-text-examples-and-checklist-for-researchers-and-students\/\">hallucinations.<\/a> Be sure to screen all AI output carefully, especially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-verify-ai-generated-citations-references-steps-checklist-examples\/\">citations and references<\/a>. If you&#8217;re also using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/ai-literature-search-how-to-use-ai-for-searching-evaluating-and-synthesizing-research\/\">AI to search the literature<\/a> or to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/ai-literature-search-how-to-use-ai-for-searching-evaluating-and-synthesizing-research\/#Prompting_for_Structured_Extraction\">extract data<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/ai-literature-search-how-to-use-ai-for-searching-evaluating-and-synthesizing-research\/#AI-Assisted_Literature_Synthesis_From_Extraction_Table_to_Argument\">synthesize<\/a>, keep this workflow separate and first manually screen and verify that output before you use AI for any writing.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_cite_AI_in_a_literature_review\"><\/span>Can I cite AI in a literature review?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Yes, but with care. You must distinguish between using AI as a source vs using AI to actually perform some of the study tasks (e.g., search or screen papers).<\/p>\r\n<h4>Citing AI as a source (references)<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>If you&#8217;re referencing an AI-generated output itself as content (e.g., quoting or discussing something an AI produced), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-cite-generative-ai-in-academic-writing-apa-mla-chicago-ieee-turabian-and-ama\/\">cite AI output<\/a> like an Internet or non-standard source, with tool name, developer, version, and access date.<\/li>\r\n<li>AI outputs aren&#8217;t peer-reviewed or independently verifiable, so they generally shouldn&#8217;t be cited as evidence or scholarly sources within the review&#8217;s argument.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4>Disclosing AI assistance (process)<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Separate from citations, goes in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/methods-section-research-paper\/\">Methods<\/a><\/strong> or an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-write-an-ai-disclosure-statement-examples-and-format-for-journal-articles-and-dissertations\/\">AI disclosure statement<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<li>\u00a0State <em>which tasks<\/em> AI helped perform: search term generation, summarizing papers, identifying themes\/gaps, drafting or editing prose, formatting references.<\/li>\r\n<li>Note the tool\/version used and confirm you verified outputs (accuracy of summaries, correct attributions, no fabricated citations).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Cantero, C. (2019). <em>How to Write a Literature Review<\/em>. San Jos\u00e9 State University Writing Center. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sjsu.edu\/writingcenter\/docs\/handouts\/Literature%20Reviews.pdf\">https:\/\/www.sjsu.edu\/writingcenter\/docs\/handouts\/Literature%20Reviews.pdf<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<li>Alex, D. (2026). <em>What is a Literature Review? How to Write It (with Examples)<\/em>. Paperpal Blog. <a href=\"https:\/\/paperpal.com\/blog\/academic-writing-guides\/what-is-a-literature-review-how-to-write-it-with-examples\">https:\/\/paperpal.com\/blog\/academic-writing-guides\/what-is-a-literature-review-how-to-write-it-with-examples<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Par\u00e9, G., &amp; Kitsiou, S. (2017). Chapter 9: Methods for Literature Reviews. In F. Lau &amp; C. Kuziemsky (Eds.), <em>Handbook of eHealth Evaluation: An Evidence-based Approach<\/em>. University of Victoria. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK481583\/\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK481583\/<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Taylor, D. (n.d.). <em>The Literature Review: A Few Tips on Conducting It<\/em>. Health Sciences Writing Centre, University of Toronto. <a href=\"https:\/\/advice.writing.utoronto.ca\/types-of-writing\/literature-review\/\">https:\/\/advice.writing.utoronto.ca\/types-of-writing\/literature-review\/<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Institute for Academic Development, University of Edinburgh. (n.d.). <em>Literature Review<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/institute-academic-development.ed.ac.uk\/study-hub\/learning-resources\/literature-review\">https:\/\/institute-academic-development.ed.ac.uk\/study-hub\/learning-resources\/literature-review<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><em>This article was originally published on April 3, 2024, and updated on June 3, 2026.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A literature review must critically analyze and connect published sources to surface themes, contradictions, methodological strengths and weaknesses, and knowledge gaps.\u00a0 Narrative reviews suit broad background context; systematic reviews and meta-analyses answer specific questions with minimal bias; scoping reviews map emerging topics; and critical, realist, descriptive, and umbrella reviews serve more specialized purposes. The literature [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":729,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"Core distinction: a literature review maps an entire field to show what is known and unknown broadly, while a background section is a brief, targeted narrative that uses only as much of the literature as necessary to justify one specific piece of new research. An umbrella review, sometimes called a \"review of reviews,\" sits a level above systematic reviews: instead of synthesizing individual primary studies, it synthesizes findings across multiple existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses on related questions within a broader topic. Literature Review. https:\/\/institute-academic-development.ed.ac.uk\/study-hub\/learning-resources\/literature-review.","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"manual","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"ff684bf6d1fd4c81c659e3b591ba98ba9e6d8631"},"categories":[5],"tags":[48],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples | Editage Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what is a literature review, types of literature reviews, literature review for a thesis, how to do a literature search, and how to structure a literature review.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples | Editage Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn what is a literature review, types of literature reviews, literature review for a thesis, how to do a literature search, and how to structure a literature review.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-04-03T13:04:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-14T15:48:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pexels-george-milton-7034451-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"780\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Editor Editor\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Editor Editor\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"20 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Editor Editor\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/194519c669bbbc38e9ed47cc02c5a44f\"},\"headline\":\"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-04-03T13:04:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-14T15:48:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/\"},\"wordCount\":4613,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"literature review\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Academic Writing\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/\",\"name\":\"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples | Editage Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-04-03T13:04:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-14T15:48:38+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn what is a literature review, types of literature reviews, literature review for a thesis, how to do a literature search, and how to structure a literature review.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog\",\"description\":\"Get insightful educational articles from the world of academia for researchers, students and authors. Visit Editage Blog for helpful content and tips on getting published and writing articles that are up to international journal publication standards. Click here to find out more!\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/editage-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/editage-logo.png\",\"width\":394,\"height\":82,\"caption\":\"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/194519c669bbbc38e9ed47cc02c5a44f\",\"name\":\"Editor Editor\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/33094b932a69316d705f8302c2f84d82?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/33094b932a69316d705f8302c2f84d82?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Editor Editor\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/author\/admin-2\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples | Editage Blog","description":"Learn what is a literature review, types of literature reviews, literature review for a thesis, how to do a literature search, and how to structure a literature review.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples | Editage Blog","og_description":"Learn what is a literature review, types of literature reviews, literature review for a thesis, how to do a literature search, and how to structure a literature review.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/","og_site_name":"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog","article_published_time":"2024-04-03T13:04:44+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-09-14T15:48:38+00:00","og_image":[{"width":780,"height":400,"url":"http:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pexels-george-milton-7034451-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Editor Editor","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Editor Editor","Est. reading time":"20 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/"},"author":{"name":"Editor Editor","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/194519c669bbbc38e9ed47cc02c5a44f"},"headline":"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples","datePublished":"2024-04-03T13:04:44+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-14T15:48:38+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/"},"wordCount":4613,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#organization"},"keywords":["literature review"],"articleSection":["Academic Writing"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/","url":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/","name":"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples | Editage Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-04-03T13:04:44+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-14T15:48:38+00:00","description":"Learn what is a literature review, types of literature reviews, literature review for a thesis, how to do a literature search, and how to structure a literature review.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-literature-review-definition-types-and-examples\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What is a Literature Review? Definition, Types and Examples"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/","name":"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog","description":"Get insightful educational articles from the world of academia for researchers, students and authors. Visit Editage Blog for helpful content and tips on getting published and writing articles that are up to international journal publication standards. Click here to find out more!","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog","url":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/editage-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/editage-logo.png","width":394,"height":82,"caption":"Educational Articles For Researchers, Students And Authors - Editage Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/194519c669bbbc38e9ed47cc02c5a44f","name":"Editor Editor","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/33094b932a69316d705f8302c2f84d82?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/33094b932a69316d705f8302c2f84d82?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Editor Editor"},"url":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/author\/admin-2\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pexels-george-milton-7034451-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/727"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=727"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/727\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2544,"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/727\/revisions\/2544"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}