This learning module will describe what a literature review is and how to find sources
for a literature review.
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A literature review is an important part of the research process.
It involves finding what has already been written on a particular topic, theory, issue or
problem.
It is a survey and discussion of previous research addressing the same or related
subject.
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A literature review can give you the necessary background to help you understand a
topic and put your ideas in the context of previous research.
It allows you to position your work with respect to other efforts addressing the same
or similar topic.
It can identify connections between researchers, provide insight into how the topic
evolved over time and it can uncover questions and issues that are still unresolved.
The literature review allows you to see where the topic started, where knowledge on
the topic stands today and where the topic could develop in the future.
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In an academic setting, a literature review typically includes all (or the most significant )
scholarly writings on a particular topic.
It can include
• books
• articles
• papers presented at conferences
• Master’s theses
• PhD. dissertations
• and other publications
relevant to that subject.
The variety of sources used can vary depending on the scope of the literature review,
but it is generally good practice to pull information from a combination of different
sources.
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Literature reviews can vary in size and complexity.
Some literature reviews can be quite lengthy and comprehensive like those found in
dissertations or as stand-alone documents. For example, the journal article on the role of
emotional intelligence in the workplace is a fifteen page literature review on the topic. In other
words, the entire article is a literature review.
Other literature reviews can be brief and selective, focusing on just a few key sources. These
reviews are often written as part of an introduction to an article, essay, report, or course
assignment. The journal article on national culture and home advantage in football is one such
example. The Introduction includes a review of sources related to the topic of home advantage
in various sports. This literature review comprises approximately three pages of this fifteen
page article.
Since the requirements for a literature review can vary, be sure to check with your instructor
regarding the scope and structure of your review.
Citations for example documents:
• Stand-alone document: Khalili, A. (2012). The role of emotional intelligence in the
workplace: A literature review. International Journal of Management, 29(3), 355-370.
• Part of a document: Gelade, G.A. (2015) National culture and home advantage in football.
Cross-Cultural Research 49(3), 281-296.
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Once you have a topic and some keyword(s) in mind, there are several search tools you can use
to find reputable sources for your literature review.
To start, you may want to try Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.ca/]. It includes many
types of academic literature in a variety of subject areas. It can identify books, articles and
dissertations on your topic. Many of the items you find using Google Scholar may be accessible
to you through the library.
Use a library catalogue [http://catalogue.mcmaster.ca/] to locate specific items that you’ve
discovered, or use it to find books and other publications on your topic.
Libraries also subscribe to hundreds of research databases [http://library.mcmaster.ca –
Articles/Databases tab] containing articles, reports and other documents. These multidisciplinary and subject specific research databases are one of the best resources for finding
scholarly literature on a topic.
Once you find a few good sources on your topic, review the bibliographies or reference lists in
the documents to determine if there are other relevant or significant publications on your
topic.
If you are not sure which research database to use, or if you are having difficulty with your
search strategy, please ask library staff for assistance and/or consult the video tutorials and
guides available on the Library’s website [http://library.mcamster.ca]
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Conducting a literature review is not usually a straight path.
You may find yourself going in different directions and repeating some steps as you
explore and define your topic.
You may discover new keywords to use in your searches or you may want to investigate
the works of a researcher that has been mentioned frequently.
Once you find the relevant literature, you’ll want to evaluate and interpret what you
discover and incorporate the findings into your work.
Allow yourself plenty of time, stay organized, take good notes, and enjoy the journey!
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