Literature reviews

Define your question

Design a search strategy

Identify appropriate databases – see your subject library for help

Limit your search using inclusion/exclusion criteria e.g. age of participants, years, methodology etc.

Make sure your reader knows why you have chosen the literature

Take notes while reading

Be critical – a good lit review does not just describe the studies, it discusses strengths, weaknesses and limitations

Synthesise material – compare and contrast, identify themes

Identify gaps in the research – what has not been studied/what groups have not been studied

Use a grid to help you synthesise and critique the literature