Manual for Comprehensive Literature Reviews
In the vast landscape of research, a focused literature review on [Topic] serves as a beacon, guiding us through the key themes and ideas that have shaped our understanding of this significant issue. This review aims to address specific aspects of [Topic] that have received less attention in the literature, providing a fresh perspective and contributing to the ongoing discourse.
To ensure clarity and accessibility, we will employ clear and precise language, making complex ideas easy to grasp for a broad audience. The structure of this review will be logically and coherently organised, with transitions connecting different sections and ideas smoothly.
To begin, we will embark on a journey through the existing literature, identifying relevant studies and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. We will discuss our methodology, offering a balanced perspective that acknowledges different viewpoints and avoids misinterpretations.
As we delve deeper into the literature, we will summarise key findings, highlighting the most important theories, models, and concepts relevant to our research question. By doing so, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on [Topic].
The introduction to this literature review serves as a roadmap, guiding the reader through the research problem and the solutions our study offers. We will start by situating [Topic] within the broader research landscape, narrowing down to our specific focus, and demonstrating the significance and urgency of the issue.
We will then employ the Create A Research Space (CARS) model, establishing what has already been studied (the territory), identifying the missing synthesis or gap (the niche), and explaining how our review will fill this gap (occupy the niche). We will clearly define the scope and focus of our review, specifying inclusion criteria such as years, regions, or theoretical approaches, so readers understand the review’s comprehensiveness and limitations.
Throughout the review, we will signpost our writing, briefly explaining the structure or sequence of themes and topics covered to orient our readers effectively. We will write concisely, avoiding lengthy quotes, and present our findings in our own voice, demonstrating synthesis and our interpretation.
We encourage readers to review recent literature reviews in our field for tone and style expectations, ensuring our work aligns with disciplinary conventions. By following these practices, we aim to write an introduction that not only describes the literature but also frames our review’s purpose and significance clearly, making it engaging and easy to follow for our audience.
Revision and editing are crucial steps in creating a polished and effective introduction. We recommend getting feedback from peers or mentors to improve the text and ensure it accurately reflects our research and its significance.
In conclusion, this literature review on [Topic] promises to fill gaps in the existing knowledge, providing a fresh perspective and contributing to the ongoing discourse. By following best practices in writing an introduction, we aim to create a compelling and engaging piece that guides readers through the research problem and the solutions our study offers.
[1] Tracy, T., & Ridout, L. (2018). Writing a literature review. In P. Felton, E. J. Newby, M. R. D. Foot, & P. A. M. W. Smeeton (Eds.), Research methods for health professionals. Wiley-Blackwell.
[2] Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2016). The craft of research. University of Chicago Press.
[3] Creswell, J. W. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.
Engaging in lifelong learning, we will draw upon the findings of numerous studies and principles from educational self-development to ensure that our literature review on [Topic] is accessible and clear for a wide audience. As part of our ongoing learning journey, we aim to fill gaps in existing knowledge, offering a fresh perspective and contributing to the ongoing discourse. By carefully revising and editing our work, we strive to create an engaging and polished piece that will guide readers through the research problem and the solutions our study offers, in line with the best practices outlined by renowned authors Tracy, Ridout, Booth, Colomb, Williams, Creswell, and others.
