What is a Literature (Lit) Review?
A Literature Review is Not:
So, what is it then?
A literature review is an integrated analysis-- not just a summary-- of scholarly writings that are related directly to your research question. That is, it represents the literature that provides background information on your topic and shows a correspondence between those writings and your research question.
A literature review may be a stand alone work or the introduction to a larger research paper, depending on the assignment. Rely heavily on the guidelines your instructor has given you.
Why is it important?
A literature review is important because it:
Adapted from: https://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=215270&p=4439026 by Hillary Fox, University of West Florida, hfox@uwf.edu.
Creating a Literature Review using the Matrix Method:
A matrix review allows you to quickly compare and contrast articles in an easy to read format. It can help you to easily spot differences and similarities between journal articles and your nursing research topic. Review matrices are especially helpful for health sciences literature reviews that cover the scope of research over a given amount of time.
Most literature reviews are set up in this format:
| Source(citation) | Research Question (Purpose) | Methods | Major findings | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin, JE et al. (2006) A DNA vaccine for ebola virus is safe and immunogenic in phase I clinical trial. Clinical Vaccine and Immunology, 13(11), 1267-1277. https://cvi.asm.org/content/13/11/1267.long | Determine the safety and immuogenicity of ebola vaccine in healthy adults | Dependent variables were reactogenicity (recorded by participants)/antibody response. Independent variables were dose placebo or vaccine. 27 = n, 21 = vaccine, 6 = placebo, male and female, 18- 44. Phase I, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, dose escalation |
-safe and well tolerated in 21 adults, -induced ebola specific antibodies and T-cell response |
|
| Ledgerwood, J.E. et al. (2010). A replication defective recombinant Ad5 vaccine expressing Ebola virus GP is safe and immunogenic ain healthy adults. Vaccine, 29(2), 304-13. doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.10.037 | Determine safety and immunogenicity of ebola cavvine in healthy adults | Dependent variables were reactogenicity (recorded by participants)/ antibody response. Independent variables were dose- placebo or vaccine. 31 = n, 23 vaccine, 8 placebo, male and female, 15-50 (originally 32, one dropped out). Phase I, double-blinded, randomized placebo-controlled, dose escalation. | -3 adverse events in course of study, -was immunogenic and produced humoral and T cell responses |
Chart adapted from the book below:
Health Sciences Literature Review Made Easy by Judith Garrard. 4th edition, ©2014. Steps for Conducting a Literature Review
1. Choose Your Topic
2. Decide on the scope of your review
3. Select the databases you want to use to conduct your searches (See the Databases Tab Above!)
4. Conduct your searches and find the literature. (Keep track of your searches, try using the Search Strategy Lab Notebook!)
5. Review the Literature (This will probably be the most time consuming part)
Adapted from: https://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=215270&p=4439026 by Hillary Fox, University of West Florida, hfox@uwf.edu.
Literature Review Examples
Remember, a lit review provides an intelligent overview of the topic. There may or may not be a method for how studies are collected or interpreted. Lit reviews aren't always labeled specifically as "literature reviews," they may often be embedded with other sections such as an introduction or background.
Adapted from: https://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=215270&p=4439026 by Hillary Fox, University of West Florida, hfox@uwf.edu.
