A literature review summarises, interprets, and critically evaluates existing “literature” (or published
material) in order to establish current knowledge of a subject. The purpose for doing so relates to
ongoing research to develop that knowledge: the literature review may resolve a controversy,
establish the need for additional research, and/or define a topic of inquiry.
The purpose of a literature review
The purpose of your literature review is to establish current knowledge on an aspect that relates to
legal and ethical issues within the practices of professional nursing. The literature review is a “stand-
alone” review.
What format should I use?
A literature review is as aspect of formal academic writing so include:
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
In the Introduction
define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern, thus providing an appropriate
context for reviewing the literature.
point out overall trends in what has been published about the topic; or conflicts in theory,
methodology, evidence, and conclusions; or gaps in research and scholarship; or a single
problem or new perspective of immediate interest.
establish the writer’s reason (point of view) for reviewing the literature; explain the criteria
to be used in analysing and comparing literature and the organisation of the review
(sequence); and, when necessary, state why certain literature is or is not included (scope).
In the Body
group research studies and other types of literature (reviews, theoretical articles, case
studies, etc.) according to common denominators such as qualitative versus quantitative
approaches, conclusions of authors, specific purpose or objective, chronology, etc.
summarise individual studies or articles with as much or as little detail as each merits
according to its comparative importance in the literature, remembering that space (length)
denotes significance.
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provide the reader with strong “umbrella” sentences at beginnings of paragraphs,
“signposts” throughout, and brief “so what” summary sentences at intermediate points in
the review to aid in understanding comparisons and analyses.
In the Conclusion
summarise major contributions of significant studies and articles to the body of knowledge
under review, maintaining the focus established in the introduction.
evaluate the current “state of the art” for the body of knowledge reviewed, pointing out
major methodological flaws or gaps in research, inconsistencies in theory and findings, and
areas or issues pertinent to future study.
conclude by providing some insight into the relationship between the central topic of the
literature review and a larger area of study such as a discipline, a scientific endeavour, or a
profession.
Adapted from: Review of literature. (2006). UW-Madison Writing Centre,
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html
Questions a literature review will try to answer
1. What do we know about the area of inquiry?
2. What are the relationships between key concepts, factors, variables?
3. What are the current theories?
4. What are the inconsistencies and other shortcoming?
5. What needs further testing because evidence is lacking, inconclusive, contradictory,
limited?
6. What designs or methods are faulty?
7. Why study this question further?
8. What contribution will your work make?
