This document discusses literature reviews, including their purpose and how they differ from academic research papers. A literature review analyzes and synthesizes published work by scholars and researchers on a topic to evaluate current knowledge and identify gaps. It is meant to summarize arguments and ideas of others, not support the author's own argument. The document outlines the steps in conducting a literature review, including developing search strategies, critically evaluating sources, organizing the literature, and synthesizing major themes and gaps. It provides resources for writing literature reviews.

1. Presented by
Monique Flaccavento
OISE Library
October 28, 2009

2.  What is a literature review? What is its
purpose?
 How does a literature review differ from an
academic research paper?
 Steps in the research process

3.  Finding relevant literature
 Writing your literature review

4. “an account of what has been published on
a topic by accredited scholars and
researchers”
Dena Taylor,
Health Sciences Writing Centre,
University of Toronto
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/literature-
review

5. “a piece of discursive prose, not a list
describing or summarizing one piece of
literature after another”
Dena Taylor,
Health Sciences Writing Centre,
University of Toronto
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/literature-
review

6. “[It] may be a self-contained unit -- an end in
itself -- or a preface to and rationale for
engaging in primary research.”
The Writing Centre,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html

7. “A review is a required part of grant and
research proposals and often a chapter in
theses and dissertations.”
The Writing Centre,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html

8. “Generally, the purpose of a review is to
analyze critically a segment of a published
body of knowledge through summary,
classification, and comparison of prior
research studies, reviews of literature, and
theoretical articles.”
The Writing Centre,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html

9. The literature review helps a researcher
identify gaps in a body of knowledge
worthy of further research.

10. The literature review:
“summarizes and evaluates existing
knowledge on a particular topic. Its
purpose is to produce a position on the
state of that knowledge; this is the thesis”
Machi, Lawrence A. & Brenda T. McEvoy. (2009).
The Literature review: Six steps to success.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, p. 2

11. “the main focus of an academic research
paper is to support your own argument”
The Writing Centre
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html

12. “the focus of a literature review is to
summarize and synthesize the arguments
and ideas of others.”
The Writing Centre
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html

13. 1. Identify your topic. Formulate a clear
research question.
2. Identify keywords and descriptors or
subject headings.
3. Make a list of the catalogues, databases /
indexes, and websites you plan to
search.

14. 4. Search:
 library catalogues (for books,
encyclopaedias, reports, journals, theses,
etc.)
 article databases available through UTL
(such as ERIC, PsycInfo, PAIS
International, Source OECD); Data
Library site

15.  Theses (catalogue, T-Space, Dissertations
and Theses: Full-Text, AMICUS (LAC))
CIDEC R&D Database
(http://cide.oise.utoronto.ca/database.php)
 Google Scholar
 Websites – Government, United Nations
organizations, etc.

16. 5. Refine, focus, or expand your topic as
well as your keywords and descriptors
6. Scan the literature and critically appraise
sources to determine which are the most
relevant to your research.

17. Who is the author? Is he / she a respected
and / or well-cited scholar in the field?
Has the article / study been published in a
scholarly / academic / peer-reviewed
journal? Has the book been published by
a reputable publisher?

18. Is the author of the website a reputable
organization / individual? How current is
the information? When was it last
updated?
Are the research methods employed sound?
Is there bias in the article?

19. Consider using a citation index (Scopus or
Web of Knowledge) or Google Scholar to
help you determine which articles are
seminal works in your field.
Remember, though, that this is not the only
criteria which should be used to measure
an article’s “worth”.

20.  Check your course outline for a list of
well-respected CIDE journals
 Search Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory to
determine if a journal is scholarly
(“refereed”)
 Some databases allow you to limit your
searches to peer-reviewed / scholarly
articles

21. Try not to exclude articles which are contrary
to your point of view.

22. 7. Revise your topic. You may need to
broaden or narrow the scope of your
research problem, and refine your
keywords / descriptors / subject headings
8. Survey the literature: summarize the
most relevant articles / research

23. 9. Create a “literature map”. Group or
organize the literature hierarchically, by
theme / by important concepts / etc.
10. Synthesize the literature. Ask yourself
what is known about this issue, what major
themes have emerged in the literature, and
what gaps remain in the body of
knowledge.

24. A clear, concise guide is available online:
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html
The guide includes suggestions regarding
what should be included in the introduction,
the body, and the conclusion of your
literature review.

25. Another excellent resource is:
Machi, Lawrence A. & Brenda T. McEvoy.
(2009). The Literature review: Six steps to
success. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
(call number 001.4 M149L).
1 copy of this book is available on short term
loan at the OISE Library (Available at the
Circulation Desk).

26. In person:at the Reference Desk
By phone: 416-978-1860
By email: askeloise@oise.utoronto.ca
Via live chat: askON
Or, book an in-depth reference
consultation…

27. Monique Flaccavento
416-978-1867
monique.flaccavento@utoronto.ca