How to write a literature review – essay prep
Denney, A. S. and Tewksbury, R. (2012) ‘How to Write a Literature Review’,
Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 24(2), pp. 218–234. doi:
10.1080/10511253.2012.730617.
What is a literature review?
A comprehensive overview of prior research regarding a
specific topic, which both shows reader what’s known about a
topic & what’s not yet known – thus it sets up the rationale or
need for a new investigation – this is what the actual study to
which the literature review is attached seeks to do
What a literature review accomplishes, according to Creswell
1994, pp. 20,21:
- shares with the reader the results of other studies that are
closely related to the study being reported (Fraenkel &
Wallen, 1990)
- relates a study to the larger, ongoing dialog in the literature
about a topic, filling in gaps & extending prior studies
(Marshall & Rossman, 1989)
- provides a framework for establishing the importance of the
study
What a well done literature review includes:
All of the main themes and subthemes found within the
general topic chosen for the study à these themes and
subthemes are usually interwoven with the methods or
findings of the prior research.
A good review also sets the stage for & offers readers
justifications for the purpose and method of the original
research being reported in a manuscript.
“The literature review is where you identify the theories and
previous research which have influenced your choice of
research topic & the methodology you’re choosing to adopt”
(Ridley, 2008, p.2)
The most common and most appropriate sources to
draw upon and use as evidence in a review of a topic are
articles found in academic journals & books.
, Other commonly accepted resources to use = governmental
publications & newspaper articles, to name a few.
The review needs to identify and discuss/explain all of the main
points or findings of a specific topic.
Both classic (if available) and the most recent studies need to
be included to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the
topic at hand.
What does a literature review include?
A comprehensive overview of a general topic
E.g. if there was a study on whether alcohol abuse leads to
the tendency to commit violent crimes, then it would need
to have an overview of substance abuse issues (not just
alcohol abuse) & how such may influence all types of crime.
Steps (for example above):
1) The review should start with the general topic of
substance abuse & how it influences committing all types
of crime.
2) Then it should discuss different types of substance abuse
(i.e. prescription drug abuse, alcohol abuse, etc.)
3) Next, it would need to discuss the influence of substance
abuse of general types of crime (i.e. petty theft, property
crimes, violent crimes, etc.) & its direct influence on
committing violent crimes.
4) Thus, the literature review goes from a broad overview to
a specific focus by using subtopics of the general
research question to guide the focus to a specific
research question that the author wants to address
5) Whilst reports of individual studies almost always report
findings that show the existence of a relationship, a
literature review may conclude that there actually is not a
relationship between particular concepts, variables or
issues (Baumeister & Leary, 1997).
In this way, a literature review may be important for what it
tells readers we know is not present in the social world.
Denney, A. S. and Tewksbury, R. (2012) ‘How to Write a Literature Review’,
Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 24(2), pp. 218–234. doi:
10.1080/10511253.2012.730617.
What is a literature review?
A comprehensive overview of prior research regarding a
specific topic, which both shows reader what’s known about a
topic & what’s not yet known – thus it sets up the rationale or
need for a new investigation – this is what the actual study to
which the literature review is attached seeks to do
What a literature review accomplishes, according to Creswell
1994, pp. 20,21:
- shares with the reader the results of other studies that are
closely related to the study being reported (Fraenkel &
Wallen, 1990)
- relates a study to the larger, ongoing dialog in the literature
about a topic, filling in gaps & extending prior studies
(Marshall & Rossman, 1989)
- provides a framework for establishing the importance of the
study
What a well done literature review includes:
All of the main themes and subthemes found within the
general topic chosen for the study à these themes and
subthemes are usually interwoven with the methods or
findings of the prior research.
A good review also sets the stage for & offers readers
justifications for the purpose and method of the original
research being reported in a manuscript.
“The literature review is where you identify the theories and
previous research which have influenced your choice of
research topic & the methodology you’re choosing to adopt”
(Ridley, 2008, p.2)
The most common and most appropriate sources to
draw upon and use as evidence in a review of a topic are
articles found in academic journals & books.
, Other commonly accepted resources to use = governmental
publications & newspaper articles, to name a few.
The review needs to identify and discuss/explain all of the main
points or findings of a specific topic.
Both classic (if available) and the most recent studies need to
be included to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the
topic at hand.
What does a literature review include?
A comprehensive overview of a general topic
E.g. if there was a study on whether alcohol abuse leads to
the tendency to commit violent crimes, then it would need
to have an overview of substance abuse issues (not just
alcohol abuse) & how such may influence all types of crime.
Steps (for example above):
1) The review should start with the general topic of
substance abuse & how it influences committing all types
of crime.
2) Then it should discuss different types of substance abuse
(i.e. prescription drug abuse, alcohol abuse, etc.)
3) Next, it would need to discuss the influence of substance
abuse of general types of crime (i.e. petty theft, property
crimes, violent crimes, etc.) & its direct influence on
committing violent crimes.
4) Thus, the literature review goes from a broad overview to
a specific focus by using subtopics of the general
research question to guide the focus to a specific
research question that the author wants to address
5) Whilst reports of individual studies almost always report
findings that show the existence of a relationship, a
literature review may conclude that there actually is not a
relationship between particular concepts, variables or
issues (Baumeister & Leary, 1997).
In this way, a literature review may be important for what it
tells readers we know is not present in the social world.
