Literature Review Template for MSN

Before diving into the specifics of our literature review template, it’s essential to ensure we understand what a literature review is and why it is significant.

Purpose of a Literature Review

The main purpose of a literature review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing knowledge on a specific topic. By doing so, you’re able to identify any gaps in the current understanding and establish the need for further research in the field.

In the context of nursing, this could involve reviewing studies and articles related to a particular medical condition, treatment approach, or healthcare policy. These reviews allow us to consolidate what is already known, clarify the implications of a problem, link theory and practice, and highlight areas where more research is needed.

To put it simply, a literature review provides a clear picture of the ‘state of play’ in your area of interest. For more information on the purpose and role of a literature review, you can refer to our guide on literature review definition.

Structure of a Literature Review

A well-structured literature review is crucial to effectively present and analyze the existing research. While the specific structure may vary depending on your topic and field, a typical literature review should include an introduction, body, and conclusion (Grad Coach):

• The Introduction should introduce the purpose and layout of the chapter.
• The Body should present, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize the existing research.
• The Conclusion should present the key findings of the literature review and highlight gaps in the literature.

It’s important to note that your initial structure might not be perfect, and that’s okay. As you delve deeper into the literature and develop a richer understanding of the topic, it’s often necessary to adjust the structure (Grad Coach).

Here’s a simple table to illustrate the basic structure:

Section	Purpose
Introduction	Introduce the purpose and layout
Body	Present, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize research
Conclusion	Present key findings and highlight gaps

For more guidance on structuring your literature review, check out our article on literature review format.

Now that we’ve covered the purpose and structure of a literature review, we can move on to the specifics of organizing and writing your review. Remember, writing a literature review can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and resources, it’s definitely manageable (NCBI).

Organizing a Literature Review

After understanding the purpose of a literature review and conducting a comprehensive search of relevant scholarly articles, the next step in our literature review template is organizing your findings. The body of your literature review can be organized in three primary ways: the chronological approach, the thematic approach, and the methodological approach (Grad Coach).

Chronological Approach

The chronological approach to organizing a literature review involves arranging your sources by publication date, starting with the earliest. This approach enables the reader to follow the progression of research and thought on your topic over time. It is especially useful when the changes in the field over time are important to your study.

However, avoid merely listing your sources in chronological order. Instead, aim to highlight the key developments, debates, or shifts in understanding that occurred over time. This approach will help you illustrate the progress and evolution of research in your chosen topic.

Thematic Approach

The thematic approach is one of the most commonly used methods for organizing a literature review. This approach involves grouping your sources based on themes, topics, or categories that emerge from your reading and analysis.

With a thematic approach, you can highlight the various angles from which researchers have approached the topic. Each theme should have its own subsection within the body of your literature review, and the themes should be organized in a way that makes logical sense for your topic.

This approach is particularly useful when there are several major themes or trends within the literature on your topic. It allows you to provide a detailed overview of each theme, emphasizing the breadth and depth of the research.

Methodological Approach

The methodological approach involves organizing your literature review based on the research methods used in your sources. This approach is particularly useful when the methodology used in the studies is the focus of your review.

In this approach, you can critique the different methodologies used, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and explain how they have influenced the findings of the studies. This can help you highlight the most effective research methods for your topic and identify any gaps or biases in the current research.

As you organize your literature review, remember that your goal is to present a clear and comprehensive overview of the existing research on your topic. The organization method you choose should help you achieve this goal by making your review easy to navigate and understand. For more guidance on how to write a literature review, see our article on how to write a literature review.

Writing a Literature Review

After organizing your thoughts and understanding the best approach for your literature review, the next step is to actually write it. This process involves developing a rich understanding of your topic, conducting a comprehensive search of existing literature, and evaluating your sources.

Developing a Rich Understanding

The first step to writing a literature review is to develop a rich understanding of the literature related to your topic. This involves reading and understanding each source, making notes, and identifying key patterns, themes, and gaps. It is important to remember that the structure of your literature review can be adjusted as the writing process progresses.

To develop a comprehensive understanding of your topic, consider the following:

1. Familiarize yourself with the terminology and key concepts related to your topic.
2. Understand the historical context and the key debates in your field.
3. Identify the key authors and studies that have significantly contributed to your field.
4. Spot the gaps in the literature that your research aims to fill.

For more tips on developing a rich understanding of your topic, consider checking out our guide on how to write a literature review.

Conducting a Comprehensive Search

The next step is conducting a comprehensive search of the literature. This involves searching for all relevant sources related to your topic. Unlike a systematic review, conducting a comprehensive search for a literature review involves different methods (University of Waterloo). Some of the key steps include:

1. Identifying the databases and search engines relevant to your field of study.
2. Designing a search strategy using keywords related to your topic.
3. Using citation tracking to identify additional sources.
4. Keeping a record of your search strategy and the sources you have found.

Remember, a comprehensive search helps ensure that your literature review covers the breadth of knowledge related to your topic. Check out our guide on literature review format for more detailed guidance.

Evaluating Information Sources

Evaluating your sources is a critical step in the literature review process. This involves assessing the credibility and reliability of your sources. According to the CityU Library, accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage are the five basic criteria for evaluating information sources.

As you evaluate your sources, consider the following:

1. Accuracy: Is the information reliable and error-free?
2. Authority: Is the source published by a reputable author or organization?
3. Objectivity: Is the source free from bias?
4. Currency: Is the information up-to-date and relevant?
5. Coverage: Does the source provide a comprehensive view of the topic?

Remember, scholarly journal articles, dissertations, and theses are important sources to be incorporated into a literature review (CityU Library).

By carefully evaluating your sources, you can ensure that the information you include in your literature review is credible and relevant. For examples of well-written literature reviews, consider checking out our literature review examples.

Tips for a Successful Literature Review

A well-executed literature review doesn’t just happen by chance. It requires careful planning, rigorous analysis, and a clear understanding of the topic at hand. Here are some key strategies to ensure the success of your literature review.

Critical Reading Skills

Critical reading is not just about absorbing information; it’s about engaging with the material, questioning assumptions, and evaluating arguments. Critical reading is essential in conducting a literature review; it should be approached from a critical standpoint rather than being merely descriptive.

Developing these skills will enhance the quality of your literature review. Here are some steps to help you read critically:

1. Understand the author’s argument and perspective.
2. Identify the main points and evidence used to support them.
3. Assess the validity of the evidence and arguments presented.
4. Identify any biases or assumptions in the author’s approach.
5. Consider how this source contributes to your understanding of the topic.

By actively engaging with the text, you’ll be better equipped to analyze the material and incorporate it into your literature review. For more guidance on this process, check out our article on how to write a literature review.

Incorporating Scholarly Sources

Your literature review should evaluate a wide variety of sources, including academic articles, scholarly books, and government/NGO reports (source). By incorporating these sources, you’re not just providing a summary of the existing literature. You’re also demonstrating your understanding of the breadth and depth of research on your topic.

Remember, not all sources are created equal. Scholarly sources, which are often peer-reviewed, tend to be more reliable than non-scholarly sources. These sources provide evidence-based information and are typically written by experts in the field.

When incorporating sources, be sure to:

1. Clearly state the source’s main argument.
2. Explain how this argument contributes to your own research.
3. Discuss any limitations or criticisms of the source.

By critically evaluating your sources, you add credibility to your literature review and demonstrate your understanding of the topic.

Maintaining Rigour in Reviewing

Rigour in a literature review refers to the thoroughness and accuracy with which you conduct your review. The literature review should be intelligently structured to enable the reader to grasp the key arguments of the study (Source).

You should also demonstrate how your study utilizes and builds upon past studies, and consider what methods have not been employed but could be (Source).

Here are a few tips to maintain rigour:

1. Be systematic: Follow a consistent method for searching, selecting, and reviewing literature.
2. Be comprehensive: Ensure that your review includes all relevant literature on the topic.
3. Be critical: Evaluate the quality, relevance, and credibility of each source.

Following these tips will help you maintain rigour in your literature review, strengthening your arguments and enhancing the overall quality of your work. For more advice on structuring your review, see our literature review template.