What is a Literature Review?

• A literature review summarizes and discusses previous publications on a topic.

• It should also:

  • explore past research and its strengths and weaknesses.

  • be used to validate the target and methods you have chosen for your proposed research.

  • consist of books and scholarly journals that provide research examples of populations or settings similar to your own, as well as community resources to document the need for your proposed research.

  • be completed in the correct citation format requested by your professor (see the Chicago Citations: Author-Date Style tab)

   

Research Tips

Keep in mind...research is not a linear process, even though it is often described and taught that way. 

If you have a setback, or have to take a different direction than you planned - it's normal!

1. Piggyback on others' research! Look at the bibliographies of relevant articles for additional resources.
2. Start early so you can order books or articles from other libraries.
3. Use the tools! Every database has a folder/marked list feature where you can highlight articles of interest.  Use this feature to email yourself articles or, even better, upload them to RefWorks where you can automatically generate a bibliography!

The Scholarly Review Process

This 3-minute video, from NC State University libraries, provides an introduction to the process of peer review and its role in scholarly research, and concludes by pointing to libraries for further help in finding peer-reviewed articles.

Determine Best Sources

• Scholarly books and journals are the most common for college work, although any of the following may be required: 
  

• Check with your professor to find out which types of sources are preferred.

Distinguish Between Scholarly and Popular Sources...  
...to choose the correct sources for your research.

 Found an article and you're not sure if it is scholarly or not?  Learn more about distinguishing scholarly articles in
How do I Know if an Article is Scholarly?