literature review
A comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic.
It's not just a summary, but a critical analysis of existing scholarly works, identifying gaps, controversies, and informing the rationale for new research.
Word relationships
- bibliographic survey: A systematic examination of books and other written works.
- research synthesis: The process of combining and integrating findings from multiple studies.
Collocations
- conduct a literature review
- thorough literature review
- systematic literature review
- critical literature review
- literature review section
Example sentences
- "Her first step in the research process was to conduct a thorough literature review to understand what had already been studied." A student starting a research project.
- "The literature review section of the dissertation highlighted the theoretical frameworks and empirical findings relevant to the study's central hypothesis." A section of a thesis or dissertation.
Memory hook
You 'REVIEW' the 'LITERATURE' (written works) to see what's already known. Review Written Works
When not to use
Do not use 'literature review' to refer to a review of fictional books or general reading. It specifically pertains to a systematic survey and critical analysis of scholarly publications related to a research topic.
Fun facts
- A 'systematic literature review' is a specific, highly structured type of literature review that follows a predefined protocol to minimize bias and ensure reproducibility.
Explore more words
critique, commentary, erudite, Analysis, do research, Due diligence
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