Getting Started on your Literature Review

A General Guide for Postgraduate Research Students

What do I need to be able to do in order to write a Literature Review?

Please be aware that the following steps are not necessarily linear and you may have to revisit them at various points. Remember that undertaking your literature review is really an ongoing process throughout your thesis. However, there will be times when you focus more specifically on reviewing the literature.

Identify your research question

This is essential in helping you direct and frame your reading.

Identify and locate appropriate information

Consider searching library catalogues, data bases, CD Roms, media releases, research publications etc. - these will depend on your discipline. If you are a postgraduate and are unsure about how to use the library's print, electronic or internet resources effectively, then make an appointment for a Research Consultation with the UNSW library (this can be done online at http://info.library.unsw.edu.au/web/services/postgraduates.html). This service is available to postgraduate research students and academic staff. A PRAC consultation will help you to develop and refine your research skills in the area of print, electronic and/or internet resources.

Read and critically evaluate the information that you locate

Examine its strengths and weaknesses in relation to your research. Take notes of not only the information that you read, but also your thoughts about this information. This will help you draw your ideas together when you start writing your literature review section. (For effective note-making strategies, see the Learning Centres study resource on notetaking).

File and store your readings and notes

Use an effective method that lets you retrieve information quickly and easily. Remember that there is no one 'right' way of organising your materials. However, it is important to know the literature that you have found and where you have stored it, so that you can access it quickly and easily. Use a program like EndNote (http://www.endnote.com) to help you organise and store your notes relating to the readings that you have undertaken.

Plan, organise and write critically about the literature that you have located

You will need to establish which literature is most pertinent to your review and be able to synthesise and critique the relevant materials. Don't underestimate the planning stage. Having a sense of the overall organisation of your literature review may help expedite the process. Some people find that in the initial stages, drawing diagrams of how the literature fits together is very useful in providing a 'big picture' of the information to be incorporated.