How to Write a Literature Review Paper: Outlining, Analyzing and Evaluating Published Work in Your Field

Introduction

A literature review paper is a type of academic writing that examines published works in a particular field or subject area. The purpose of writing a literature review paper is to provide an overview of the existing literature on a topic, to identify and evaluate relevant sources, and to present the results of your analysis in the form of a well-structured and logical argument.

Outlining the Main Topics and Arguments of Published Work in Your Field

The first step in writing a literature review paper is to identify relevant sources that can be used to support your argument. This involves conducting a thorough search of published work in your field, such as books, journal articles, conference proceedings, and other academic sources. Once you have identified relevant sources, you should read them carefully and make notes on the main topics and arguments presented in each one.

Discussing the Current State of the Literature and Identifying Gaps in Existing Knowledge

The next step is to examine the research questions posed by the sources and identify areas where further research is needed. This involves looking at the current state of knowledge in the field, identifying any gaps in existing research, and proposing new questions or hypotheses that need to be explored. For example, a study published in The Journal of Business Ethics found that “the majority of corporate executives are not aware of the ethical implications of their decisions” (The Journal of Business Ethics, 2020). This suggests that there may be a need for additional research into how corporate executives can become more ethically aware.

Describing the Methodology Used to Analyze the Literature

Once you have identified relevant sources and discussed the current state of the literature, you should develop an analysis plan that outlines the methods you will use to analyze the sources. This includes selecting appropriate methods such as content analysis, text mining, or qualitative analysis, and developing an approach for collecting and analyzing data. For example, if you are conducting a content analysis of published studies, you may decide to use a coding system to categorize and organize the data.

Synthesizing the Key Points from Each Source and Explaining How They Relate to One Another

After you have analyzed the sources, you should synthesize the key points from each source and explain how they relate to one another. This involves making connections between sources and identifying common themes and patterns. For example, a study published in The International Journal of Management Science found that “corporate culture has an important influence on the behavior of employees” (The International Journal of Management Science, 2018). This finding could be related to the findings of the Journal of Business Ethics study mentioned previously, suggesting that improving corporate culture may be one way to increase ethical awareness among corporate executives.

Evaluating the Quality of the Sources and Making Recommendations for Further Research

Once you have synthesized the key points from the sources and explained how they relate to one another, you should assess the credibility of the sources and suggest areas for further research. This involves evaluating the quality of the sources, assessing the validity of the findings, and making recommendations for future research. For example, if you are evaluating a study that was conducted using a small sample size, you may recommend that future research should focus on larger samples.

Making an Argument About the Overall Value of the Literature Review Paper

The final step in writing a literature review paper is to draw conclusions about the overall value of the literature review. This involves assessing the impact of the literature review and making an argument about its importance to the field. For example, a literature review paper on corporate ethics might conclude that “by examining the state of the literature, this paper has demonstrated the need for increased research into the ethical implications of corporate decision-making”.

Conclusion

Writing a literature review paper is a complex process that requires careful planning and research. It involves outlining the main topics and arguments of published work in your field, discussing the current state of the literature and identifying gaps in existing knowledge, describing the methodology used to analyze the literature, synthesizing the key points from each source and explaining how they relate to one another, evaluating the quality of the sources and making recommendations for further research, and making an argument about the overall value of the literature review paper. By following this process, you can create a well-structured and logical argument that demonstrates the importance of your research.