Learning Commons at the

Wilson Library

Literature Review Basics

What is a literature review?

A literature review is both the process and the product.

A literature review is a descriptive, analytic summary of the existing material relating to a particular topic or area of study.
The literature review process involves a systematic examination of prior scholarly works.

Bangert-Drowns, R. (2005). Literature review. In S. Mathison (Ed.), Encyclopedia of evaluation. (pp. 232-233). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Why review the literature?

Reference to prior literature is a defining feature of academic and research writing. Why review the literature?

To help you understand a research topic
To establish the importance of a topic
To help develop your own ideas
To make sure you are not simply replicating research that others have already successfully completed
To demonstrate knowledge and show how your current work is situated within, builds on, or departs from earlier publications

Feak, C. B., Swales, J. M., Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2009). Telling a research story: Writing a literature review. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Press.

Literature Reviews: An Overview for Graduate Students by North Carolina State University Libraries