• A comprehensive alphabetical list of every work referred to in your research, or a list of references cited
• A literary review describing and evaluating specific books, articles etc.
• An annotated bibliography listing references and adding brief notes about the significance of each source
Checkout some recent Masters or PhD theses related to your research in Research@THEA (the IoT’s digital repository). Read the literature review chapter - has the author been successful in providing a clear synthesis of past research?
The main purpose of the literature review is to demonstrate why the researcher’s study is necessary.
Looking for support for your Literature Review search? Contact the Library team on library@atu.ie with your topic and questions and you will be directed to a member of staff who can support with your query via email or a 1:1 session. Review our guide below to get started on planning your literature review searching.
Looking for support with a Systematic Review search? Library are working on expanding on current supports for systematic reviews. Get in touch to book a 1:1 session on your topic. Review the guide below but also see our Systematic Review Library Guide.
A literature review is a central part of any research project, as it sets your research in context and identifies how it fits with the research that has already been done. You may be asked to write a literature review as part of a thesis, dissertation, or longer project, or as a separate assignment to progress the research.
Essentially it is a "re" view or "look again" at what has already been written about your research topic.
► Communicate to your reader what information and ideas have been established on a topic
► Explain what the strengths and weaknesses of that information and those ideas might be
► Establish context for the argument explored in the rest of your research
► Keep up-to-date with current developments on a topic or discipline
Shows that:
► You have an in-depth grasp of your topic
► You understand where your own research fits into and adds to an existing body of knowledge
Demonstrates:
► Your literature searching abilities
► You can critical appraise information to judge its trustworthiness, value and relevance
► You have learnt from others
► Your research is a starting point for new ideas
