How to conduct a literature review: selected resources
You may be required to include a literature review in your senior thesis, capstone project, or other major research paper. Listed below are pointers to guides and tutorials, from other academic institutions, that offer insight on preparing a literature review. These will help you understand the general requirements for preparing a thorough literature review. [Some of the tutorials are focused on specific subject areas, but the general theory behind a literature review is applicable to all subjects. In some cases, these guides might also include specific instructions for accessing resources at the institution where the guide was created; ask a librarian for assistance if it is unclear to you how to find similar resources at TCNJ.] If you need additional assistance with your literature review, be sure to contact the library reference desk.
The Literature Review: A Few Tips on Conducting It [University of Toronto]
Text only; a good, brief overview of the definition and purpose of a literature review.
Literature Review Tutorial [CQ University (Australia) Library tutorial]
A multimedia tutorial. See “Resources” tab for links to other useful websites.
Literature Review Tutorial [American University Library]
A good text-based tutorial. Includes a checklist to get started, a sample literature review, and a discussion of what a literature review is not.
Literature Reviews [UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center]
Text only; a good overview that “…offer insights into the form and construction of a literature review in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.”
Conducting a Literature Review in Education and the Behavioral Sciences [Libraries of Adelphi University tutorial]
An interactive tutorial (with audio and video).
Literature Review Online Tutorial [University of Southern Maine]
A text-based tutorial, with pre-test, and assessment after each of four modules.
Literature Reviews: an overview for graduate students [NCSU Libraries tutorial]
A brief video, with audio. From the tutorial description: "... a high-level overview of the literature review process. It covers concepts such as what is a literature review? What purpose do literature reviews serve in research? What should a student expect as part of the process of conducting a literature review?"
How to Write a Literature Review [UC Santa Cruz Library]:
A brief overview; text only.
