Guides: Types of Literature Reviews: Getting Started

Purpose of a Literature Review

In general, literature reviews may be written to

• identify a research problem;

• clarify research questions;

• identify the research method best suited to a topic;

• identify and give an overview of major themes, relationships, or patterns found in the literature on a certain topic;

• identify the strengths and weaknesses in the literature on a certain topic; and / or

• identify any gaps in the literature on a certain topic.

There are 2 general categories of literature reviews:

Review of literature that is conducted before a larger research study is conducted (Narrative or Traditional Reviews)
Comprehensive and systematic review of the literature which serves as a type of research study independently (Knowledge Syntheses)