Literature review example

Review of the literature: features of writing, practical recommendations

Literature review examples from the duly written dissertations contain structured scientific data on the selected topic, obtained as a result of the analysis of the relevant sources. The purpose of this part of a research is to eliminate duplication of the scientific works.

If a theme was studied in the most detailed manner before, an author may spend an enormous effort to write a voluminous work, but such a paper will not be accepted, because it is deprived of the most important element - an innovation in the field of science.

A good review shows a student's ability to systematize, structure the available data, to perceive it critically, and, most importantly, to assess whether there is a need for scientific research on a chosen topic.

It is important: a bad literature review paper example is a text in which an author details the provisions of all sources used. It is enough to mention those works that are directly relevant to a topic being disclosed.

As a basis of a study, a student may use monographs, abstracts, articles from scientific publications that reveal the theoretical aspects of a problem under study. Materials posted on the Internet, popular media carry the function of auxiliary sources.

A tip: it is worth not only making references to the opinions of local scientists but also revealing a degree of elaboration of the dissertation topic abroad. Also, a student should briefly highlight the stages of scientific research in the chosen area.

A correctly compiled example of a literature review logically leads a reader of a master's or a doctoral project to the hypothesis of the research, confirms the relevance of the chosen topic, as well as practical and scientific significance of the work.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the citation rules. Whatever quotations are given, they should take no more than 5-10% of the total volume of the text. A good example of a literature review can't fully consist of the words of other people, whose works are mentioned in the text.

A prerequisite for writing any thesis is the presence of references to the sources used, thanks to which it is possible to verify the authenticity of the quotations. Without the references to the authors, the study is equated with plagiarism, and the work can be easily rejected by the committee.

Here is the classical literature review outline example:

1. Title page.
2. Table of contents.
3. List of abbreviations.
4. Main part.
5. List of quoted literature.

However, the structure and volume may vary, based on requirements of a scientific supervisor. For example, such a study can be presented as one of the chapters in a more voluminous work.

Sources of literature

The used sources of literature should belong to different scientific schools. It will be correct to highlight, at least briefly, the opinions of various scientists on a problem under study.

The main task that the author is facing is to push to the forefront the questions that were not subject to research earlier. A good literature review introduction example is able to draw the attention of a reader from the very first lines, promising him a new, exclusive information.

It is important: if there are few sources on the chosen topic, this indicates an insufficient degree of elaboration of the research area, and therefore, a high level of novelty of work. Thus, a wide field of activity (theoretical reflections and practical experiments) opens in front of you.

The author has to lead a reader to some important thought. In the end, all examples of a literature review have conclusions stemming from an analysis of the sources cited.

The necessary elements of the study are:

• comparison of various scientific paradigms concerning the problem under consideration with references to recognized theories;
• division of scientific formation of the chosen problematics into the time stages;
• personal opinion of the author about the various judgments of scientists - it is necessary to disclose the merits and demerits of previous investigations.

It must be remembered that the correct and respectful attitude to the judgments of other authors is of great importance.

How to compile a list of literature correctly?

The order of compilation of the list of literature in the thesis deserves individual attention.

• First lines are allocated for the regulatory documents, if they were used. The list of normative acts is compiled in decreasing order according to their legal force. First, it is necessary to indicate the current federal legislation, then - subordinate regulations, acts of ministries and departments. It is very important not to allow references to the obsolete regulations in the text.
• Works of scientists are listed in alphabetical order based on the first letter of the author's surname. Domestic studies are placed before the foreign works.
• Electronic sources of information are placed in the end.
• The list of references should be numbered.

Without a qualitative review of the works of recognized scientific figures, the author can mistakenly consider the positions and facts studied earlier as an innovation. Therefore, it is extremely important to compile a detailed analysis of the sources used during a work on a dissertation.

Now you know how to write a literature review. An example of such a work will allow you to dot the i’s and cross the t’s in your paper. By reading the texts of other authors, you will not only learn a lot of useful information on the chosen topic but also see how the abovementioned rules are implemented in practice. Very soon, you will begin to notice how your analytical talents unfold, and it will not be difficult for you to compile an academic paper of high scientific value. Good luck!