Comprehensive Guide to Writing Effective Literature Reviews for Academic Publishing

Samuel A. AJAYI,PhD
Guidelines for writing an effective
literature review for journal publication

ORIGINAL RESEARCH
REVIEW ARTICLE
SHORT REPORT/ BRIEF
COMMUNICATION
TECHNICAL NOTE
OPINION OR PERSPECTIVE
REPORT

A literature review...
“A Literature Review Surveys scholarly articles, books,
and other sources (e.g., dissertations, conference
proceedings) relevant to a topic. . . . Its purpose is to
demonstrate that the writer has insightfully and critically
surveyed relevant literature on his or her topic to
convince an intended audience that the topic is worth
addressing”
A good literature review…
 is more than just a list of relevant literature.
 considers the range of literature available.
 is a critical summary of the literature.
 gives opinions and personal responses to the different
writings.
 relates different writings to each other, compares and
and values that
contrasts.
 does not take the literature at face value.
 shows an awareness of the theories
underpin the research.

Steps for Writing a Lit. Review

Planning
Focus
What is the specific thesis, problem, or research
question that my literature review helps to define?
Identifying a focus that allows you to:
Sort and categorize information
Eliminate irrelevant information
Type
What type of literature review am I conducting?
Theory; Methodology; Policy; Quantitative;
Qualitative
Time Frame:
Decide on the time period your review will cover (e.g.,
the last 10 years).
Topics/Subtopics
: Identify the main topics and subtopics that will be
included.

Reading and Researching
Collect and read the material.
Summarize sources.
 Who is the author?
 What is the author's main purpose?
 What is the author’s theoretical
perspective? Research methodology?
 Who is the intended audience?
 What is the principal point, conclusion,
thesis, contention, or question?
 How is the author’s position supported?
 How does this study relate to other studies
of the problem or topic?
 What does this study add to your project?
Select only relevant books and articles.
Conduct Comprehensive Research
including books, peer-reviewed
•Sources: Utilize a variety of sources,
journals,
conference papers, theses, and dissertations.
Also, consider grey literature like reports and
white papers.
•Databases: Access academic databases like
PubMed, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Scopus,
and Web of Science.
•Keywords: Use relevant keywords and
synonyms to search for literature. Employ
Boolean operators to refine your search.
•Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Establish
criteria for selecting literature. This might
include publication date, relevance, quality,
and type of study

Defining your research
problem
● Effects of social media
➠ Social media & body image
➠ Social media & body image among Gen Z
What is the impact of social media on body
image among Generation Z?
Identifying keywords
● Social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
Snapchat, TikTok
● Body image, self-perception,self-esteem, ment
health
● Generation Z, teenagers, adolescents, youth

• Reading for the big picture
Read the easier works first
Skim the document and identify
major concepts
After you have a broad
understanding of the
10 to 15 papers, you can start to
see patterns:
– Groups of scientists argue or disagree
with other groups. For example, Some
researchers think x causes y, others that
x is only a moderating variable
Read the Material Closer
Step 1: read the abstract
Decide whether to read the article in detail
Step 2: read introduction
It explains why the study is important
It provides review and evaluation of relevant literature
Step 3: read Method with a close, critical eye
Focus on participants, measures, procedures
Step 4: Evaluate results
Do the conclusions seem logical
Can you detect any bias on the part of the
researcher?
Step 5: Take discussion with a grain of salt
Edges are smoothed out
Pay attention to limitations

9
Summary table
 It is useful to prepare.
 Such a table provides a quick overview that allows
the reviewer to make sense of a large mass of
information.
 The tables could include columns with headings
such as
•Author(s): Lists the primary authors of the study.
•Year: Indicates the publication year of the study.
•Title: Provides the title of the study or paper.
•Methodology: Describes the research methodology
used in the study (e.g., theoretical, empirical, meta-
analysis).
•Key Findings: Summarizes the main findings or
contributions of the study.
•Gaps/Future Research: Identifies gaps in the literature
or suggests areas for future research.
Using the Table
•Comparison: Easily compare
methodologies, key findings, and identified
gaps across different studies.
•Synthesis: Use the information to
synthesize findings in your literature review,
identifying common themes and areas of
disagreement.
•Organization: Helps organize your literature
review by themes, trends, or other relevant
categories.

10
Summary
table
of
literature
Author(s) Year Title Methodology Key Findings Gaps/Future
Research
Burns, J. M. 1978 Leadership Theoretical Introduced
transformational
leadership, focusing on
moral aspects
Further empirical
validation needed
Bass, B. M. 1985 Leadership and
Performance Beyond
Expectations
Theoretical and
Empirical
Expanded
transformational
leadership model with
specific behaviors
Long-term effects not
fully explored
Judge, T. A., &
Piccolo, R. F.
2004 Transformational and
Transactional
Leadership: A Meta-
Analytic Test of Their
Relative Validity
Meta-analysis Transformational
leadership positively
correlated with job
satisfaction
Further research on
industry-specific
impacts
Avolio, B. J., &
Yammarino, F. J.
2002 Transformational and
Charismatic
Leadership: The Road
Ahead
Theoretical Review Integrates
transformational and
charismatic leadership
theories
Need for longitudinal
studies
Wang, H., Oh, I.,
Courtright, S. H., &
Colbert, A. E.
2011 Transformational
Leadership and
Performance Across
Criteria and Levels: A
Meta-Analytic Review
of 25 Years of
Research
Meta-analysis Found positive impact
on performance and
innovation
More research needed
on cross-cultural
applicability
Yukl, G. 2013 Leadership in
Organizations
Theoretical Review Comprehensive
overview of leadership
theories, including
transformational
Need for integration
with emerging digital
leadership trends
Walumbwa,F. O.,
Avolio, B. J., Gardner,
W. L., Wernsing, T. S.,
& Peterson, S. J.
2008 Authentic Leadership:
Development and
Validation of a Theory-
Based Measure
Empirical Developed and
validated a measure
for authentic leadership
Exploration of
interactions between
authentic and
transformational
leadership

Analyzing
11
Four Analysis Tasks of the Literature Review

It is important to have a good introduction that clearly
tells the reader what the literature will beabout. An
introduction must tell the reader the following:
 what you are going to cover in the review
 the scope of your research
 how the review ties in with your own research
topic. (If it is part of a larger researchproject)
Introduction example (on the topic of self-motivation)
Many theories have been proposed to explain what motivates human behaviour.
Although the literature covers a wide variety of such theories, this review will
focus on five major themes which emerge repeatedly throughout the literature
reviewed. These themes are: incorporation of the self-concept into traditional
theories of motivation, the influence of rewards on motivation, the increasing
importance of internal forces of motivation, autonomy and self-control as
sources of motivation, and narcissism as an essential component of motivation.
Although the literature represents these themes in a variety of contexts,12this
paper will primarily focus on their application to self-motivation
Practical examples
The Introduction

14
The Body and conclusion
This is where you put together all the parts of your jigsaw along with
your own analysis of the literature and how it relates to your topic or
question. Remember, it is a good idea to start by introducing the broad
issues first before getting more specific. It is here that you must develop
an integrated argument from all the sources that you have gathered.
linking many arguments together is what makes a good literature
review. Look at the following paragraph.
Most early theories of motivation were concerned with need
satisfaction. Robbins, Millett, Cacioppe and Waters-Marsh
(1998) argued that motivation relies on what a person
needs and wants. Similarly the early theories of Maslow and
McGregor (Robbins et al., 1998) focused on personal needs
and satisfaction as the basis for motivational behaviour.
However, recent studies outlined by leonard, Beauvais, and
Scholl (1999) suggest that personality and disposition play
an equally important role in motivation. Current thinking
does not discount these theories, but builds on them to
include a self-concept.
This is a good example of a body
paragraph because it starts with a
topic sentence that introduces the
main idea of the paragraph
(which hopefully follows logically
the preceding
It then presents
on from`
paragraph).
arguments
literature, both supporting
gathered from the
and
contrasting. Finally ending with a
concluding sentence.
Note - Not all paragraphs need to
have contrasting arguments but to
include some when appropriate
shows you have read widely.
Look how the example paragraph is
broken up into its parts.
Practical examples

Most early theories of motivation
were concerned with need
satisfaction. Robbins, Millett,
Cacioppe and Waters-Marsh
(1998) argued that motivation
relies on what a person needs
and wants. Similarly the early
theories of Maslow and
McGregor (Robbins et al., 1998)
focused on personal needs and
satisfaction as the
motivational
basis for
behaviour.
However, recent studies outlined
by leonard, Beauvais, and
Scholl (1999) suggest that
personality and disposition play
an equally
motivation.
does not
important
Current
discount
role in
thinking
these
th
1e
5ories, but builds on them to
include a self-concept.
Practical examples

16
As well
information
as presenting
that you have
the
found
from the literature you also need to
include your own analysis and
interpretation of it. Read the
following paragraph and see how
the arguments have been
integrated into the paragraph along
with student analysis.
The analysis is not just student
opinion; it needs to be supported by
the literature.
supported by Shaw, Shapard and Waugaman
(2000) who contend that this narcissistic drive is
based upon the human effort to find personal
significance in life. It can be argued that the desire
to improve one’s status is a highly motivating
force, and is central to the idea of narcissistic
motivation. The narcissistic motivational strategies
put forward by Shaw et al. (2000) are concerned
with motivation for life in general, but may also
have applications in the context of work. These
strategies, with their focus on personal needs,
demonstrate that narcissism is an essential
component of motivation.
Practical examples
By its very nature, motivation requires a degree of
individual satisfaction or narcissism. Robbins et al.
(1998) suggest that motivation has as its basis the
need to focus on, and please the self. This is

By its very nature, motivation requires a
degree of individual satisfaction or
narcissism. Robbins et al. (1998) suggest
that motivation has as its basis the need
to focus on, and please the self. This is
supported by Shaw, Shapard and
Waugaman (2000) who contend that this
narcissistic drive is based upon the
human effort to find personal significance
in life. It can be argued that the desire to
improve one’s status is a highly
motivating force, and is central to the
idea of narcissistic
narcissistic motivational
forward by Shaw et
strategies
al. (2000)
motivation. The
put
are
concerned with motivation for life in
general, but may also have applications in
the context of work. These strategies,
with their
demonstrate
focus on personal needs,
that narcissism is an
essential component of motivation.
17
Practical examples

18
BEING CRITICAL: Your literature review must
critically evaluate the research it covers; it shouldn’t
simply describe other people’s work. It is therefore
necessary to think critically about the literature as
you read and make analytical rather than descriptive
notes. Consider:
Who is saying this?
Why are they saying it?
What is the basis on which they are saying it?
Is this basis sound?
What is the particular perspective from which the
subject is approached?
What have others said about this work? How
does what it says relate to your research question or
problem? (Brewer, 2009, p. 138).
Remember that
“critical” does
being
not mean
you are
“criticizing” –
evaluating the literature,
and should aim to act as a
‘dispassionate investigator’
rather than trying to
identify faults in everything
you read
CRITIQUE

19
Suggest (that) Recent studies outlined by Leonard et al (1999)suggest that personality and
disposition play an equally important role in motivation.
Argue (that) Leonard et al (1999) argue that there are three elements of self perception.
Contend(s) Mullens (1994) contends that motivation to work well is usually related to job
satisfaction.
Outline Recent studies outlined by Mullins (1994) suggest that personality and
dispo-sition play an equally important role in motivation.
Focus on The early theories of Maslow and McGregor (Robbins et al, 1998)focused on
personal needs and wants as the basis for motivation.
Define(s) Eunson (1987,p. 67) defines motivation as 'what is important to you'.
Conclude(s) (that) Reviewing the results of the case study, Taylor (1980) concludes that the the-
ories of job enrichment and employee motivation do work.
State He further states that there is an increasing importance on the role of autono-
my and self regulation of tasks in increasing motivation.
Maintains (that) Mullins (1994) maintains that job enrichmentcame from Herzber's two factor
theory.
Found (that) Mullins (1994) found that there is an increasing importance on the role of au-
tonomy and self regulation of tasks in improving motivation.
Promote(s) This promotes the idea that tension and stress are important external
sourcesof motivation, which can be eliminated by completing certain tasks.
Establish(ed) (by) As established by Csikszentmihalyi (Yair 2000, p. 2) 'the more students feel in
command of their learning, the more they fulfil their learning potential'.
Asserts (that) Locke's Goal Setting Theory asserts that setting specific goals tends to
en-courage work motivation (Robbins et al, 1998).
Show(s) Various theories of motivation show employers that there are many factors
that influence employees work performance.
Claim(s) (that) Hackman and Oldham (1975) claim that people with enriched jobs, and high
scores on the Job Diagnostic Survey, experienced more satisfaction and
moti-vation.
Report(s) Mullins (1994)reports on four content theories of motivation.
Mention(s) Mullins (1994) mentions two common generalcriticisms of Herzberg's theory.
Address Redesigning jobs so that responsibility moved from supervisors to the work-
ers, was an attempt to address the issues of job satisfaction (Mullins, 1994).
Reporting verbs
A well written literature review
contains many verbs that are
to introduce
are called
references.
reporting
used
These
verbs.
indicate
Reporting
either
verbs can
the author’s
viewpoint,
personal
viewpoint regarding
your
what the
author says, and/or the author’s
viewpoint regarding other
literature.
Try to vary your use of these verbs
as using the same one too often is
boring for the reader. The following
are just some examples of
reporting verbs used in literature
reviews.

Introduction
Background Information:
The study of organizational leadership has grown considerably over the past few decades, with
numerous models being proposed to explain the dynamics between leaders and their followers. One
of the most prominent models is transformational leadership, which emphasizes inspiring and
motivating employees to achieve beyond expectations (Bass, 1985).
Purpose and Scope:
This literature review aims to critically evaluate the evolution of transformational leadership theories,
examine their impact on organizational outcomes, and identify gaps for future research. The review
covers key studies from the past 30 years, focusing on both theoretical advancements and empirical
findings.
Structure Overview:
The review is organized into four main sections: historical development of transformational
leadership, current trends, methodological approaches, and theoretical perspectives. Each section
synthesizes key studies, compares and contrasts findings, and discusses implications.
25
REVIEW ARTICLES

Body
Theme 1-4: Historical Development Key Studies:
Early work by Burns (1978) introduced the concept of transformational leadership, distinguishing it from
transactional leadership. Bass (1985) expanded on this by developing a comprehensive model that has been
widely adopted and validated in various organizational settings.
Analysis and Synthesis:
Burns (1978) emphasized the moral and motivational aspects of transformational leadership, while Bass (1985)
provided a more structured framework, including factors such as idealized influence and inspirational
motivation. Subsequent studies have built on these foundational concepts, confirming their relevance across
different industries and cultures (Avolio & Yammarino, 2002).
Compare and Contrast:
While Burns (1978) focused more on the ethical dimension, Bass (1985) incorporated a broader range of
behavioral attributes. Later studies, such as those by Avolio and Yammarino (2002), have integrated both
perspectives, offering a more holistic view of transformational leadership.
Conclusion
Summary of Key Findings:
The literature consistently supports the positive impact of transformational leadership on organizational
outcomes. Key findings include enhanced job satisfaction, improved performance, and increased innovation.
Gaps and Future Directions:
Despite extensive research, gaps remain regarding the long-term effects of transformational leadership and its
applicability in non-Western cultures. Future studies should address these ga2
p
6
s through longitudinal research
and cross-cultural comparisons.
REVIEW ARTICLES

In-text citations
Single Author
Example:
As Smith (2020) discusses, the psychology of learning is a complex field.
Recent research indicates a significant correlation between motivation and academic performance (Smith,
2020).
Two Authors
Example:
According to Brown and Taylor (2018), collaborative learning environments enhance student engagement.
The study highlighted the impact of digital tools in education (Brown & Taylor, 2018).
Three or More Authors
Example:
Johnson et al. (2019) found that early childhood education significantly improves later academic achievements.
Recent findings suggest a growing trend in online learning (Johnson et al., 2019).
Corporate Author
Example:
The World Health Organization (2021) outlines various strategies for managing public health crises.
Climate change poses a significant risk to global health (World Health Organiz
3a
0tion, 2021).

31
In-text citations
researched the effects of
Multiple Works by the Same Author
Example:
Smith (2017, 2020) has extensively
technology on learning.
Previous studies (Smith, 2017, 2020) have shown a clear trend in
the adoption of digital tools in education.
Multiple Authors Cited Together
Example:
Several studies have confirmed the benefits of early childhood
education (Johnson et al., 2019; Brown & Taylor, 2018; Smith,
2020).
Research has shown varied results on the impact of social media
on youth (Williams, 2016; Johnson et al., 2019; Smith, 2020).
Quoting Directly
Example:
According to Smith (2020, p. 45), “The integration of technology in
the classroom has revolutionized teaching methods.”
“Early interventions are crucial for long-term success” (Brown &
Taylor, 2018, p. 23).
Example of a Paragraph with In-text Citations
Paragraph:
Research in the field of educational technology has
shown promising results. Smith (2020) argues that
the integration of digital tools in the classroom can
enhance student engagement and motivation. This
is supported by Brown and Taylor (2018), who
found that collaborative learning environments,
augmented by technology, improve student
outcomes. Furthermore, Johnson et al. (2019)
highlight the long-term benefits of early childhood
education on academic performance. The World
Health Organization (2021) also emphasizes the
importance of technology in improving public health
education. These findings collectively suggest a
significant positive impact of technology on various
aspects of education.

32
Referencing styles for academic manuscripts
1. APA (American Psychological Association) Style
•Commonly used in social sciences, education, and psychology.
•Emphasizes the date of publication, which is important for fields
where information can quickly become outdated
In-text citation:
(Author, Year)
Example: (Smith, 2020)
Reference list:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle.
Publisher.
Example: Smith, J. (2020). Understanding psychology: A
comprehensive guide. Wiley.
2. MLA (Modern Language Association) Style
•Commonly used in humanities, especially in writing on language
and literature.
•Emphasizes authorship and the location of the cited information.
In-text citation:
(Author Page number)
Example: (Smith 23)
Works Cited:
Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
3. Chicago Style
•Used widely in humanities and social sciences.
•Has two systems: Notes and Bibliography (used in
literature, history, and the arts) and Author-Date (used in
the sciences).
Notes and Bibliography:
In-text: Superscript numbers that correspond to footnotes
or endnotes.
Example: Smith argues that...¹
Footnote/Endnote:Author's First and Last Name, Title of
Book (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), page
number.
Example: John Smith, The History of Literature (New
York: Penguin, 2020), 45

Referencing styles for academic manuscripts
4. Harvard Style
Commonly used in the social and natural sciences.
Similar to APAbut with differences in formatting.
In-text citation:
(Author, Year)
Reference List:
Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year) Title of Book. Place of
Publication: Publisher.
Example: Smith, J. (2020) The Science of Psychology. London:
Routledge.
Australian Harvard Style
Commonly used in Australian institutions, this version includes slight
variations in formatting.
In-text citation:
(Author, Year)
Reference List:
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Year. Title of Book. Place of
Publication: Publisher.
Example: Smith, J. 2020. The Science of Psychology. London:
Routledge.
5. Vancouver Style
Commonly used in medical and scientific papers.
Uses numbers in-text that correspond to numbered references in
the bibliography.
In-text citation:
Superscript numbers or parentheses.
Example: Smith found that...¹ or (1)
Reference List:
Author's Initials, Last Name. Title of Book. Place of Publication:
Publisher; Year.
Example: Smith J. Medical Research Methods. New York: Wiley;
2020
6. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Style
Commonly used in technical fields, particularly in engineering.
In-text citation:
Uses bracketed numbers.
Example: [1]
Reference List:
[Number] Author's First Initial. Last Name, "Title of Article," Title of
Journal, vol. Volume, no. Number, pp. Page numbers, Month
Year.
Example: [1] J. Smith, "Innovations in Engineering," Journal of
Engineering, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 45-50,Apr. 2020.
33

34
Finishing Touches: Revising and Editing Your Work
 Read your work out loud. That way you will be better able to identify where you need
punctuation marks to signal pauses or divisions within sentences, where you have made
grammatical errors, or where your sentences are unclear.
 Since the purpose of a literature review is to demonstrate that the writer is familiar with the
important professional literature on the chosen subject, check to make certain that you
have covered all of the important, up-to-date, and pertinent texts. In the sciences and
some of the social sciences it is important that your literature be quite recent; this is not so
important in the humanities.
 Make certain that all of the citations and references are correct and that you are
referencing in the appropriate style for your discipline. If you are uncertain which style to
use, ask your professor.
 Check to make sure that you have not plagiarized either by failing to cite a source of
information or by using words quoted directly from a source. (Usually if you take three or
more words directly from another source, you should put those words within quotation
marks, and cite the page.)
 Text should be written in a clear and concise academic style; it should not be descriptive in
nature or use the language of everyday speech.
 There should be no grammatical or spelling errors. Sentences should flow smoothly and
logically

Key Differences Between Good and Poor Literature Reviews
Introduction
Good Review: Provides clear background information, defines the purpose and scope, and outlines the
structure of the review.
Poor Review: Lacks detailed background information, has an unclear purpose and scope, and does not
provide a structured overview.
Body
Good Review: Organized into well-defined themes, provides critical analysis and synthesis of the
literature, and effectively compares and contrasts studies.
Poor Review: Lacks organization, provides superficial summaries without critical analysis, and fails to
compare and contrast studies meaningfully.
Conclusion
Good Review: Summarizes key findings, identifies gaps in the literature, suggests future research
directions, and emphasizes the significance of the review.
Poor Review: Provides a vague summary, does not clearly identify gaps or suggest future research
directions, and offers a superficial statement of significance.
35

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Thank you
samopresident16@gmail.com

Comprehensive Guide to Writing Effective Literature Reviews for Academic Publishing

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