UBC Library Research Commons
Research Commons
Contact:
Walter C. Koerner Library
Level 4 and 5
1958 Main Mall Vancouver, BC
Website
Level 4 and 5
1958 Main Mall Vancouver, BC
The Literature Review
One of the key elements of any thesis or dissertation is the literature review. In this section - which may be part of your introduction, a chapter on its own, or distributed through chapters that you'd like to publish as papers - you will demonstrate your ability to critically analyze the existing literature in the field in which you're conducting your research.
Literature Review Resources at UBC
Before you start your literature review, you'll likely want to visit UBC Library's guide to the literature review search process. There are also two workshops on doing literature reviews: Part 1 is called "Great Research Starts Here!", and Part 2 is called "Great Writing Starts Here!". Both workshops are offered regularly; you can find upcoming sessions on UBC Library's workshops and events page.
Online Literature Review Resources
Once you're ready to write, here are some resources you might find useful.
- The University of Toronto Writing Centre's "The Literature Review: A Few Tips on Conducting It".
- The Doctoral Writing SIG blog has a four-part series by Arnold Wentzel from 2016 on creating the literature review. Go to the search box in the top right corner of the page and search for "Wentzel".
- The PLoS Computational Biology journal has an article on "Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review". While it's aimed more at lit reviews which could be published, it also applies well to lit reviews for theses and dissertations.
- The University of North Carolina's Writing Center has a detailed page on literature reviews.
Books and E-Books in UBC Library
The Literature Review by Call Number: LB2369 .R525 2012Publication Date: 2012This second edition of Diana Ridley's book provides a step-by-step guide to conducting a literature search and literature review, using cases and examples throughout to demonstrate best practice. Ridley outlines practical strategies for conducting a systematic search of the available literature, reading and note taking and writing up your literature review as part of an undergraduate research project, Masters dissertation or PhD thesis.
Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review by Call Number: Q180.55.M4 B66 2012Publication Date: 2012Reviewing the literature is an essential part of every research project. This book takes you step-by-step through the process of approaching your literature review systematically, applying systematic principles to a wide range of literature review types.
Literature Reviews Made Easy by Call Number: PN98.B7 D37 2010Publication Date: 2010This book is designed specifically to instruct you in the practicalities of the writing process used to create strong, thorough, and potentially bulletproof literature reviews. It has been created for everyone from academics to new business entrepreneurs with good ideas who are trying to write their first reviews to support the new idea they're proposing.
Health Sciences Literature Review Made Easy by Call Number: WZ345 .G238 2014Publication Date: 2013Health Sciences Literature Review Made Easy: The Matrix Method, Fourth Edition helps students and practitioners better understand scientific literature by instilling the essential skills (via the matrix method) needed to evaluate article findings critically. Covered at the most basic level are the fundamental principles of searching, organizing, reviewing, and synthesizing.
Doing a Literature Review in Nursing, Health and Social Care by Call Number: WY20.5 .C854d 2013Publication Date: 2013-05-17How do I start my literature review? What sources can I go to for information? How do I analyse the work of others? This clear, practical book guides readers undertaking their own literature review through the process, giving them the skills and knowledge they need for success.
Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care by Call Number: WZ345 .A955 2010Publication Date: 2010This book is a step-by-step guide to doing a literature review in health and social care for all those undertaking their undergraduate or graduate dissertation, or any research module which involves a literature review. The new edition has been fully updated and provides a practical guide to the different types of literature that you may come across when undertaking a literature review.
Doing a Literature Review by Call Number: H62 .H2566 1998Publication Date: 1999Reviewing the literature for a research project can seem a daunting, even overwhelming task. New researchers, in particular, wonder: Where do I start? What do I do? How do I do it? This text offers students across the social sciences and humanities a practical and comprehensive guide to writing a literature review.
Literature Reviews in Social Work by Call Number: HV11 .K58 2014Publication Date: 2013This book will provide you with a clear and accessible guide to the process of conducting a literature review, giving you the skills, confidence and knowledge required to produce your own successful review. Trying to complete a literature review, research project or dissertation as part of your social work degree? This book will prove the perfect companion.
