How to Conduct a Literature Review for a Dissertation
How to Conduct a Literature Review for a Dissertation
A literature review surveys the existing research on your dissertation topic, helping to establish the context for your own study. It identifies key theories, models, and findings that support your research question.
Steps for Writing a Literature Review:
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Define the Scope: Determine the boundaries of your review—what topics, studies, and timeframes will you include?
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Search for Sources: Use academic databases (e.g., JSTOR, ProQuest, Google Scholar) to find peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and dissertations.
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Organize Your Review: You can organize the review thematically, chronologically, or methodologically, depending on what makes the most sense for your dissertation.
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Synthesize Findings: Don’t just summarize the studies; compare and contrast them to show trends, conflicts, or gaps in the literature.
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Link to Your Research: Connect the literature to your own research questions and highlight how your study will contribute to the field.
