WRITING A LITERATURE

REVIEW
Purposeful Writing in the Disciplines and for Professions, Reading and Writing
Skills
 LITERATURE REVIEW
A literature review is an integrated analysis and synthesis of scholarly articles
related to the topics or issues included in your written thesis, dissertation or
journal article. It is used to describe critically, summarize, and evaluate the
updated information from sources like academic books, journal articles,
research resources, and government articles.

The purpose of writing a literature review is to let your reader have a full grasp
of understanding on the background of your research, problem, experiment or
investigation. It is also used to analyze critically and synthesize other published
writings to your work or research.
 BEFORE WRITING
Before writing your literature review, you must identify the issue to be discussed
on the paper. It is also important to determine the problem statement, main
statement questions, research/problem findings and scope and delimitation of
the paper. After doing so, collect the materials from credible sources. Then
evaluate and categorize the information gathered. Make sure that the
information contributes to the understanding of the topic and is supported by
evidence such as case study, statistics or scientific finding. The information
gathered can be either the same or against your proposed statement.
 STRUCTURE OF A LITERATURE
REVIEW
After collecting the information from different sources, decide on the structure of the
literature review. It can either be chronological or thematic literature review.

Chronological Literature Review is a type of review where the information is arranged

sequentially in the progression of time. It is best used for historiographical paper and
research methodology that focuses more on how the ideas have developed over
time.

Thematic Literature Review is a type of review that defines or describes theory or

categories significant to your research. It can be compared to an inverted pyramid
that focuses on broad to specific topics and ends with a synthesis. It is considered
more essential as compared to the Chronological Literature Review.
 WRITING A THEMATIC LITERATURE
REVIEW
The focus of the lesson is on how to write a literature review specifically a
thematic literature review. This type of literature review can be compared to
an inverted triangle mounted to a support base.
WRITING A THEMATIC LITERATURE
REVIEW
 BROAD TOPIC
THE BROAD TOPIC DISCUSSES A CLEAR BACKGROUND ON WHAT THE
RESEARCH IS. IT GIVES THE READER AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE GENERAL
TOPIC IS ALL ABOUT.

Example:
Cyberbullying is described as an act of embarrassing or communicating false information using the technology. It is
now the new prevalent social phenomenon.

Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire are conducting the Youth Internet
Safety Survey done thrice, each after every five years. The result shows that there is an increase in cyberbullying
behavior rate from the year 2000 with 6% rate, 2005 with 9% and 2010 with 11% rate.

The data on the increase in the prevalence of cyberbullying can also be counter checked based on the School
Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). NCVS gathered data on the population of
students - ages twelve to eighteen enrolled in grades six and twelve - stating that there is an increase of
cyberbullying from 6.2% in 2009 to 9% in 2011.

Explanation:
In this lesson, the research question to answer is "Effects of Cyberbullying and its Gender-Related Issue." The first part
of the literature review discussed the broad topic which is cyberbullying. The author also states that cyberbullying is
new social phenomenon and is attested by two surveys indicated after.
 INFORMATION PARTLY RELATED TO THE PAPER
WRITING NEXT AFTER THE BROAD TOPIC IS THE INFORMATION SOMEWHAT
RELATED TO THE RESEARCH. PARTLY RELATED INFORMATION REFERS TO DATA
FROM STUDIES NOT DIRECTLY RELATED BUT SOMEHOW CAN INFLUENCE THE
RESEARCH.

Example:
The people who are cyber bullies. An important factor in understanding
cyberbullying is the aggressor doing the act. The aggressor often reported as
cyberbully are mostly girls (38%) compared to boys (26%). It is also reported
that 20% of these cyberbully girls that are ‘mostly unkind’ on online social
networks1 are from ages twelve to seventeen.

Explanation:
In this example, the information partly related to the paper is the
demographics of a cyberbully aggressor. Other suggested topics for this part
are demographics of cyberbully victims, the relationship between the
perpetrator and the victim and the theories of cyberbullying.
 INFORMATION DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PAPER
THE INFORMATION DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PAPER REFERS TO DATA FROM OTHER AUTHORS WITH
THE SAME PROBLEM STATEMENT. IT CAN EITHER AGREE OR DISAGREE TO THE PROBLEM STATED.

Example:
Effects of Cyberbullying

The first part of the literature review focused on the demographics of the cyberbullied aggressor and
victim. On this part, we will focus more on the long term effects of cyberbullying to both the aggressor
and the victim.

Statistics by Nominet Trust showed that 20% those who are cyberbullied made them hesitant to
attend to school, 5% reported self-harm and 3% attempted suicide.

Explanation:
This example shows the transition from the second to the third part of the literature review. It also
includes statistics on the general effect of cyberbullying. Other suggested topic for this part is the
effect of cyberbullying to both the aggressor and the victim, types of cyberbullying and coping
techniques for cyberbullied victims.
 SYNTHESIS OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW
THE LAST PART OF WRITING LITERATURE REVIEW IS TO SYNTHESIZE ALL OF THE INFORMATION
GATHERED. SYNTHESIS, IN SIMPLEST DEFINITION, MEANS TO PUT TOGETHER MULTIPLE IDEAS FROM
DIFFERENT SOURCES TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF EACH PART OR ELEMENT OF THE PAPER. IT IS
ALSO SUGGESTED TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST WORKS DONE BY OTHER AUTHORS.

Example:
Cyberbullying has now evolved and now in a different form- text message,
phone call, e-mail, chat room, instant messaging, and website bullying. As
indicated in the previous part of this literature review, it is clearly stated the
direct relationship between the gender and the incidence of cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is now prevalent with a continuous increase as years passed by.
It also shows that the aggressor is more likely teenage girls than boys.

Explanation:
The example shows consolidation of relevant information that leads to the
resolution of the research problem or question.
 TIPS
In choosing print and non print materials, always search for the author’s
credential and qualification. Check if the credential is related to his
research/finding. For online materials, use reputable organization websites and
scholarly search engines.
Writing a literature review is used to critically analyze and synthesize
information from different authors to relate it to your research.
Remember that the literary review is a part of a research paper or scholarly
paper, thesis, dissertation and journal articles