The literature review is an essential step in the research process. A successful literature review will offer a coherent presentation and analysis of the existing research in your field, demonstrating:
There are different approaches and methods to literature reviews, and you may have heard of terms like systematic, structured, scoping or meta-analysis. This is when the literature review becomes the research methodology in its own right, instead of forming part of the research process.
This guide will explain the differences between a traditional literature review and a structured or systematic literature review.
For guidance on writing your thesis or dissertation refer to our guide on Writing your thesis.