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What is a Literature Review?
A literature review is NOT an academic research paper, an annotated bibliography, or a report on original research.
Unlike an academic research paper, the main focus of a literature review is not to develop a new argument. A literature review is an overview of a topic that shows the reader what research has been done on that subject . A literature review may build on an annotated bibliography, but it does more than just summarize each article; a literature review should compare and contrast the ideas each article contains, highlight interesting trends and inconsistencies within the research, and suggest future research that is needed on the topic.
- A literature review is a summary and analysis of research published on a specific topic.
- Literature reviews give a "snapshot" of individual articles and explain how each work has contributed to the field's understanding of the topic.
- The purpose of a literature review is to trace the history of research on a particular subject, evaluate that research, and identify aspects of the topic that are in need of further study.
The information for this page is provided from Nursing Resources Research Guide of Jessup Library at Piedmont Virginia Community College with permission.
Synthesizing the Literature
"Synthesizing the literature" means comparing themes, methods, findings, and inconsistencies within the articles you found, so that you can show how the articles relate to each other.
Synthesizing the information that you find in multiple articles can be difficult. It is important to analyze and organize the different perspectives, ideas, and methods that you encounter in your reading.
Using a synthesis matrix may help you keep track of the main ideas of each document. A synthesis matrix is a chart that you use to organize and compare your sources.
As you synthesize your research, look for these things:
- The main purpose of each article and how it relates to your topic
- Methods and f indings discussed in the article
- Similarities and differences among the authors
- Inconsistencies or controversies within the research
Download a Sample Synthesis Matrix to use as you prepare to write your literature review:
