Starting your Literature Review
Diving into a literature review can feel overwhelming,
but breaking it into clear steps makes it manageable.
Follow this roadmap to organize existing research,
identify gaps, and set the stage for your own contribution.
Most PhD students would appreciate the value of writing a dissertation using a specific known process that helps them in the long run. Following our advice will minimize hardship and aggravation.
Clarify Purpose & Scope
You may have already done this if depending on whether you followed our method on clarifying your Topic. If you haven't you may wish to revisit our page on Topic Development. To clarify your purpose and scope, you must:
- Frame the central question your review will address.
- Define boundaries: time frame, geographic focus, methodologies, or theoretical lenses.
- Write a two-sentence summary: “I’m reviewing how [X] influences [Y] in [Z context], focusing on studies from [year] to [year] using [methods].”
Conduct a Systematic Search
Identify key databases and search engines (e.g., Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, JSTOR, ProQuest).
Consider ProQuest to determine what others have written to ensure you have a gap.
Compile a list of 10–15 core keywords and phrases that will be used in your search. Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine searches. Put all your search results into a spreadsheet.
Also, record search strings and the number of hits for each search—this audit trail prevents duplication later.When you find one “golden” paper, mine its reference list and check who cited it in Scopus or Web of Science. This is often how one uncovers a relevant cluster of relevant literature.
Evaluate and Annotate Sources
Skim abstracts first: tag each as “must read,” “maybe,” or “exclude.”
For "must read" papers, create annotated bibliographies that capture:
- Research questions
- Methods
- Key findings
- Limitations
Track these annotations in your spreadsheet.
There are also reference managers (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote) for those who like tools for everything. We find spreadsheets simple enough and Google Sheets can be used anywhere.
Write Section by Section
- Start each section with a mini-intro that states the section’s main theme or idea.
- Make sure to synthesize, don’t summarize—explain how studies relate, contrast, or build on each other.
- Highlight gaps or contested findings to justify your own research.
- Use in-text or parenthetical citations to support your claims.
- End each section with a brief transition into the next theme.
Hire a coach or Dissertation Strategist
Given the inadequate support level of many online PhD programs - having another person on your side to support you when needed is invaluable. Your Literature Review is the most time-consuming chapter of your dissertation, requiring a lot of love and labor. Getting it correct is crucial for your dissertation's credibility.
Develop an Organizing Framework
Choose the structure that best tells the story of your field:
- Thematic: group studies by core themes or concepts.
- Methodological: compare approaches (quantitative vs. qualitative).
- Chronological: trace how understanding has evolved over time.
Draft an outline with section headers and include 3-5 bullet points of the main studies or debates to discuss under each.
