Literature Review in your thesis

What is a Literature Review?

A literature review is a systematic analysis of the existing literature on a specific research area. It is not just about compiling existing theories and research results, but also critically evaluating them and examining their relevance to your own research question.

The purpose of a literature review is to present the current state of research on your topic, while also pointing out gaps and controversial viewpoints in the existing literature. This lays the foundation for your own research.

Steps to a successful Literature Review

A good literature review follows a clearly structured process. The following steps are essential to keep track of the available literature and ensure that you correctly evaluate relevant sources:

• Topic finding and defining keywords: Consider which terms are of central importance in your field of research. These terms form the basis for your research.
• Literature Research: Use various databases and platforms such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, or specialized databases to find relevant articles, books, and studies.
• Selection of relevant studies: Focus on the most influential and relevant works that are closely related to your topic. Pay attention to current and frequently cited sources.
• Critical analysis of the literature: Evaluate the sources not only based on their content, but also question the methods and assumptions of the respective studies. What is being investigated, and how well is it analyzed?

Linking and presentation of the literature

Once you have collected relevant literature, the task is to systematically organize and relate the sources to each other. You should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Create topic blocks: Arrange the literature according to thematic focuses. This will ensure that all relevant aspects of your research question are covered.
• Establish connections: Show how different studies are related to each other and complement or contradict each other. This will make it clear where possible research gaps are located.
• Critical engagement: Do not just provide a mere summary of the literature. Highlight which approaches and theories are particularly conclusive and which have gaps or weaknesses.
• Integration into your own work: Link the literature with your own research by making it clear how your work fits into the existing discourse and develops it further.

Aspects to consider

• Citation style: Always ensure a consistent and correct citation style to avoid plagiarism. Popular citation styles include APA or Harvard.
• Actuality of the literature: Try to use the most current literature possible. Scientific knowledge can develop rapidly, and older studies may already be outdated.
• Pay attention to tense: Write the literature review in the present tense when you are discussing existing theories. Past events, on the other hand, should be in the perfect or past tense.