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Planning a Literature Review

Formatting Your Work

Literature reviews should comprise the following elements:

  • Introduction: Overview of the subject, issue or theory under consideration, with the objectives of the literature review
  • Literature Review: Review of the literature relating to your topic. Should be divided into themes or categories. 
  • Methodology: Factors, variables, themes, search strategies, databases used, selection or elimination process, etc. What methods did you use to find the literature and dissemination the information?
  • Results: Close quantitative evaluation of searches and process of elimination. Usually used in a systematic review.
  • Conclusion: Re-introduction of topic and summary of findings. Conclusions are considered in the argument, convincing opinions, or the greatest contribution to the understanding and development of the research area.
  • Bibliography: Choose the citation style most appropriate for your field or subject area

Core Citation Style Handbooks