4 Questions to Mastering Your PhD Literature Review
The literature review chapter of your PhD thesis paves the way for your original research. It’s where you contextualise your study, demonstrate your understanding of the field, and highlight the need for your original research. Think of it as the backbone of your thesis – without a strong literature review, your research lacks the necessary support and direction.
Here's 4 simple questions to help you craft a strong literature review chapter.
1. What is the purpose of your literature review?
The first step in your literature review is to clearly state the goals of your review. Your aims and objectives should strike a balance between being broad enough to encompass significant aspects of the field and specific enough to maintain a clear focus. Here’s how to frame them:
Define the scope: Outline what you intend to cover in your review. This could range from a specific phenomenon, population, or method.
Formulate research questions: Develop questions that your review seeks to answer. These questions should guide your search and analysis, ensuring that you remain focused on your objectives.
Establish relevance: Ensure that your objectives align with the broader research context. Explain how your review will contribute to the PhD thesis and why it is necessary.
2. How did you find the papers?
The credibility of your literature review heavily depends on the robustness of your search strategy. Being transparent about how you sourced your papers ensures that your review can be replicated and trusted by readers.
Search terms: Specify the keywords and phrases you used to find relevant literature.
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Define the criteria for selecting papers. This might include publication date ranges, geographical focus, study design, or the relevance to your research questions.
Databases and tools: List the databases (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar) and AI tools you utilised. Mention any Boolean operators or filters applied during your search.
3. What are the key findings?
After collecting and reviewing the relevant literature, identify and discuss the main themes and trends. Here’s how to present your key findings effectively:
Themes and trends: Go beyond summarising individual studies. Synthesise the information to identify overarching themes, patterns, and trends in the literature. This could include common findings, contrasting results, and evolving theories.
Quality assessment: Evaluate the quality of the studies you reviewed. Discuss the methodologies used, the reliability of the results, and any biases present. Highlight studies that are particularly robust and those that have limitations.
4. What are the key gaps you identified?
A critical component of your literature review is identifying gaps in the current research. These gaps highlight areas where further studies are needed and can help justify the significance of your own research.
Research gaps: Clearly articulate where empirical research is lacking. This could be in terms of unstudied populations, untested theories, or under-explored methodologies.
Future research directions: Suggest potential studies that could address these gaps. Propose specific research questions or methods that future researchers might employ to fill these voids.
Take home message
Your literature review chapter is more than just a summary of existing research; it's your opportunity to synthesise knowledge, critique methodologies, and pave the way for your empirical research. By clearly stating your aims and objectives, detailing your search strategy, thoughtfully analysing key findings, and identifying research gaps, you build the foundation for your original PhD research.
