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At Grad Mentor Network, led by Dr. Robinson and showcased on renowned platforms such as "Dissertation in 90 Days" and "Club 3E," we offer a comprehensive support system for graduate and doctoral students. Leveraging the expertise of WritersER, which helps master's and PhD candidates achieve approval in six months or less, and our Grad Bootcamps, designed to help students navigate the complexities of academia through bootcamps, our programs are meticulously crafted to support you through every stage of your academic journey. Subscribe today and unlock access to an extensive array of resources, expert guidance, and a supportive community tailored specifically to your academic needs.
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Writing a literature review is a crucial step in developing your dissertation. It serves as the foundation upon which your research is built. By reviewing the relevant literature, you ensure that your study is based on previous work while identifying gaps or areas where your research can contribute. This blog post will provide you with a structured approach to crafting a thorough and effective literature review for your dissertation.
Before diving into the literature, clarify your research focus. What is the primary question or objective of your dissertation? Identifying this focus will guide your literature review, helping you sift through countless articles and books.
Research Questions: Ensure your research question is clear and specific.
Scope: Determine the scope of your review. Are you looking at a specific time period, region, or theoretical framework?
Keywords: Develop a list of keywords related to your research topic, which will assist in searching for relevant literature.
Once you have gathered your sources, organize them in a way that makes sense for your review. Two common methods are thematic organization and chronological organization.
Group by Theme: Identify recurring themes in the literature and group sources accordingly. For example, if your research focuses on social mobility, you might group sources by economic factors, educational impacts, and cultural influences.
Trace Historical Developments: Sometimes, it's helpful to organize your review based on when the research was published. This approach is useful if your study is examining how a theory or phenomenon has evolved over time.
Your literature review shouldn't just be a summary of previous research; it should offer critical analysis. Show how the sources connect to one another and to your research.
Compare and Contrast: Highlight where studies agree or diverge in their findings or methodologies.
Identify Gaps: Point out areas where research is lacking or where further exploration is needed.
Highlight Contributions: Show how each piece of literature contributes to the understanding of your topic.
It's important to be fair and objective when reviewing the literature. Avoid cherry-picking sources that only support your argument; instead, acknowledge different perspectives.
Incorporate Diverse Sources: Include both foundational texts and recent studies to show a broad understanding of the topic.
Acknowledge Limitations: If certain studies have limitations or biases, point them out while maintaining an objective tone.
Your literature review should conclude with a summary that ties everything together. In this section, you'll restate the importance of your research focus and explain how your study will contribute to the existing literature.
Restate Purpose: Remind the reader of your research question and why it's significant.
Research Gaps: Highlight the gaps in the literature that your research aims to fill.
Connection to Your Study: Explain how the literature you've reviewed informs and supports your research.
Crafting a literature review requires careful planning and a structured approach. By starting with a clear research focus, organizing the literature thematically or chronologically, and critically analyzing the sources, you’ll build a strong foundation for your dissertation. Remember, the literature review is more than just a summary of existing research—it’s your chance to show how your work will contribute to the academic conversation.
Need help writing your literature review? WritersER is here to guide you through the process with expert coaching. Click here to get started!
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