literature review unimelb

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Literature review

Literature reviews are a way of identifying what is already known about a research area and what the gaps are. To do a literature review, you will need to identify relevant literature, often through searching academic databases, and then review existing literature. Most often, you will do the literature review at the beginning of your research project, but it is iterative, so you may choose to change the literature review as you move through your project.

Searching the literature

The University of Melbourne Library has some resources about searching the literature. Leonie spoke about how she met with a librarian about searching the literature. You may also want to meet face-to-face with a librarian or attend a class at the library to learn more about literature searching. When you search the literature, you may find journal articles, reports, books and other materials.

Filing, categorising and managing literature

In order to manage the literature you have identified through searches, you may choose to use a reference manager. The University of Melbourne has access to RefWorks and Endnote. Further information about accessing this software is available through the University of Melbourne Library .

Writing a literature review

The purpose of the literature review is to identify what is already known about a particular research area and critically analyse prior studies. It will also help you to identify any gaps in the research and situate your research in what is already known about a particular topic.

• Aveyard, H. (2010). Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide . London, UK: McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from Proquest https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unimelb/detail.action?docID=771406
• Reeves, S., Koppel, I., Barr, H., Freeth, D., Hammick, M. (2002). Twelve tips for undertaking a systematic review. Medical Teacher . 24(4), 358-363 .
• Grant, M.J. and Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal .
• Jesson, J., & Lacey, F. (2006). How to do (or not to do) a critical literature review. Pharmacy Education , 6(2), 139-148 .
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Which review is that? A guide to review types

• Which review is that?
• Review Comparison Chart
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Critical Review

• Integrative Review
• Narrative Review
• State of the Art Review
• Narrative Summary
• Systematic Review
• Meta-analysis
• Comparative Effectiveness Review
• Diagnostic Systematic Review
• Network Meta-analysis
• Prognostic Review
• Psychometric Review
• Review of Economic Evaluations
• Systematic Review of Epidemiology Studies
• Living Systematic Reviews
• Umbrella Review
• Review of Reviews
• Rapid Review
• Rapid Evidence Assessment
• Rapid Realist Review
• Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
• Qualitative Interpretive Meta-synthesis
• Qualitative Meta-synthesis
• Qualitative Research Synthesis
• Framework Synthesis - Best-fit Framework Synthesis
• Meta-aggregation
• Meta-ethnography
• Meta-interpretation
• Meta-narrative Review
• Meta-summary
• Thematic Synthesis
• Mixed Methods Synthesis
• Narrative Synthesis
• Bayesian Meta-analysis
• EPPI-Centre Review
• Critical Interpretive Synthesis
• Realist Synthesis - Realist Review
• Scoping Review
• Mapping Review
• Systematised Review
• Concept Synthesis
• Expert Opinion - Policy Review
• Technology Assessment Review
• Methodological Review
• Systematic Search and Review

"A critical review aims to demonstrate that the writer has extensively researched the literature and critically evaluated its quality. It goes beyond mere description of identified articles and includes a degree of analysis and conceptual innovation" and "an effective critical review presents, analyses and synthesizes material from diverse sources". "There is no formal requirement to present methods of the search, synthesis and analysis explicitly" (Grant & Booth 2009).

Further Reading/Resources  

Cooper, Harris M & Cooper, Harris M. Synthesizing research (2017). Research synthesis and meta-analysis : a step-by-step approach (Fifth edition). SAGE Publications, Los Angeles Catalogue Link  

Renate Kahlke , Mark Lee , Kevin W. Eva; Building Blocks for Critical Reviews in Health Professions Education. J Grad Med Educ 1 April 2023; 15 (2): 186–189. doi: https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-23-00155.1

Paré G, Kitsiou S. Chapter 9 Methods for Literature Reviews. In: Lau F, Kuziemsky C, editors. Handbook of eHealth Evaluation: An Evidence-based Approach [Internet]. Victoria (BC): University of Victoria; 2017 Feb 27.  Full text

Younas, A., & Maddigan, J. (2019). Proposing a policy framework for nursing education for fostering compassion in nursing students: A critical review.  Journal of advanced nursing ,  75 (8), 1621–1636. Full Text Rew, L., Young, C. C., Monge, M., & Bogucka, R. (2021). Review: Puberty blockers for transgender and gender diverse youth-a critical review of the literature.  Child and adolescent mental health ,  26 (1), 3–14. Full Text  

References Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health information & libraries journal , 26 (2), 91-108. Full Text

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• Last Updated: Oct 23, 2024 12:19 PM
• URL: https://unimelb.libguides.com/whichreview

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• Writing a Literature Review

Writing a Literature Review (EDUC90867)

Graduate coursework Points: 25 On Campus (Parkville)

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About this subject

Contact information.

[email protected]

Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.

This subject teaches doctoral students how to identify, analyse and synthesise published research findings that are of a high quality and relevant to their own research. Building upon this, it teaches students how to locate their own proposed research projects and questions within the broader research literature. This subject will include practical classes on specific literature research and management strategies as well as classes focusing on the composition and writing of literature reviews.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, it is expected that the participating doctoral students will:

• Be capable of identifying, analysing and synthesising published research findings that are of a high quality and relevant to their own research.
• Have gained a better understanding of how their proposed research projects and questions relate to and fit in with the broader research literature.
• Have a better understanding of the appropriate focus and direction of their dissertation projects.

Generic skills

On completion of the subject, it is expected that the participating doctoral students will have developed the following generic skills:

• Developed literature research and management skills.
• The capacity to analyse and synthesise considerable amounts of written information.
• Developed report writing skills, particularly as concerns the discussion and summary of available research evidence.

Last updated: 10 February 2024

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Writing your first literature review

PAR-166-L2-202-Lectorial Learning Space, Old Metallurgy

Reviewing literature is a key academic skill used in many disciplines. This workshop introduces you to the basics of writing a lit review, focusing on the elements of a lit review, the language needed and the key aspects of criticality and interpretation.