Purpose of the Literature Review:
To provide the researcher with substantial knowledge on a topic of interest so that future
investigations are well informed and appropriately designed.
To highlight key arguments and gaps in the field, study limitations, pertinent variables, and
relevant research methods.
To refine the research question or hypothesis.
To identify potential contributions to the existing body of knowledge in a field of study.
Assignment Requirements:
Abstract
Body Minimum of 3 text pages (not including title and reference pages)
Maximum of 7 text pages
12 font, double spaced, 1” margins
APA style (including a running head and page numbers)
Approximately ten references (peer-reviewed journals, gray literature, other credible sources)
Cite as needed (in-text)
Must have a title page and a reference page
Must be edited and free of spelling and grammatical errors
Outline for getting started (Source: OWL at Purdue):
I. Introduction
a. What is the topic under review? What is the problem?
i. Provide supporting data and conclusions from credible sources
b. Why is this topic important? Why study it? (significance)
i. Provide supporting data and conclusions from credible sources
c. What will the literature review cover/address? (objectives)
II. Body (literature under review)
a. Integrate the summaries/descriptions of prior studies (your literature sources)
i. Use themes, if appropriate
ii. Minimize the detail, highlight commonalities
b. Show how the prior studies are related to each other and the problem
i. Significance of these studies
ii. Key arguments and main results
iii. Strengths
iv. Weaknesses – design limitations, especially those affecting reliability and validity
Note: The literature review is not an annotated bibliography. It is an analysis and synthesis of the
studies, drawing connections between them. The paragraphs in the literature review should be continuous so the review has a coherent flow. Your references serve as the evidence that supports
your research problem (Wesleyan University Library).
III. Conclusion
a. Summarize the main findings of the literature review, i.e. what is your conclusion after
critically reviewing the literature?
b. Identify two to three gaps in this area of research
c. State which gap you would focus on
i. Why are you choosing this particular gap?
ii. What is the research question you would like to answer?
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