What is a literature Review?

A literature review is a review and discussion of the current published literature on a topic. It summarizes, synthesizes, and evaluates the literature in context to the research question at hand.

What should I do before I start writing my literature review?

• Choose a topic
• Decide which type of literature review you're going to write
• Refine your research question using the PICO format
• Select the best databases to find articles on your topic
• Choose keywords and subject headings to find the most relevant articles
• Use software to organize your articles (EndNote)
• Choose a journal to publish in

Our expert librarians can help you build a better search. Request a consultation with a librarian to learn more about navigating the databases, search methodologies, systematic reviews, or tracking and organizing search results.

Learn more about our literature search services.