How to Write a Literature Review for a Dissertation

How to Write a Literature Review for a Dissertation

The literature review in a dissertation surveys existing research on your topic, providing a foundation for your study and helping to identify gaps in knowledge. It’s essential to critically analyze sources and synthesize findings.

Writing a Literature Review:

  1. Define Scope: Clarify the scope of your review. What areas of the literature will you cover?

  2. Organize Thematically: Group studies by themes, methodologies, or theoretical approaches to create a structured review.

  3. Critical Analysis: Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the studies, noting any conflicting findings or limitations.

  4. Link to Your Research: Highlight how the existing literature informs your research questions and demonstrates the need for your study.