Differences Between Literature Search and Literature Review

Differences between literature search and literature review

You’ve just found out you need to do a literature review. You know the term literature search, but you’re not sure what the difference is between a literature search and a literature review. This can be confusing if you’re just starting out in academia. Although literature search and review are related terms, they refer to different processes and functions. In general, a literature search is the process of seeking out and identifying the existing literature related to a topic or question of interest, while a literature review is the organized synthesis of the information found in the existing literature.

In research applications, a literature search is typically the first step of a literature review. The search identifies relevant existing studies and articles, and the review is the end result of analyzing, synthesizing, and organizing the information found in the search. The following summarizes the literature search and review concepts as researchers typically practice them.

Literature search

A literature search is a systematic search for existing information on your question or topic¹. The purpose of a literature search is to aid in the formulation of a research question and study design. When you are planning to conduct a study on a specific topic, the literature search helps narrow the focus of your study by identifying areas in which knowledge gaps exist. The search of existing studies can also guide the research design by suggesting appropriate methodologies and important variables. Research studies are never done in a vacuum – they are built on previous knowledge. A comprehensive literature search and review will provide you the base on which to build your study.

An effective search needs to be planned. Here are some tips for conducting a literature search⁴.

• Identify key words to use when searching through library and internet resources.
• Search multiple databases for relevant articles, books, and other scholarly writings.
• Use articles similar to your proposed study to find additional keywords.
• Start with the most recent articles and work backward in time if necessary.
• Include conference papers in your search as they generally represent the latest research.
• Cast a wide net by searching in databases that might be unrelated to your topic.
• Keep in mind that literature searches are iterative processes. Find new key words and articles through the references and citations in other relevant sources.
• Make sure to document all of the articles you identify as relevant to your topic. This will save you time and frustration later when you want to find them again and when you need to write references for your literature review.

Literature review

In a literature review, the results of a literature search are used to produce an organized and coherent presentation of the relevant knowledge about a specific topic. This is accomplished through reviewing, evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing the information found through a search. An effective literature review clearly places the proposed study in the context of previous research studies and identifies a gap in the knowledge that will be addressed by the proposed study.

A good literature review serves to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge and understanding of the topic; it is not simply a summary or description of those studies². Here are some tips in conducting an effective literature review process.

• Identify a wide range of articles using a literature search.
• Evaluate those articles to determine which are relevant to your review². When evaluating the research, include considerations such as the significance of the study, the methodology, the value of the analysis, the structure of the article, and the overall effectiveness of the study.
• Analyze the articles you’ve chosen to include. Critically and objectively review the study’s methods, results, and conclusions. Look for strengths and weaknesses. What can you learn from this study as it relates to your work?
• Synthesize the information from all of the included sources. Look for patterns in the articles. What do they agree on? What do they disagree on? What is missing from the information?
• Organize your literature review based on chronology, methodology, or themes. Again, this should not be merely a listing of the literature but a carefully structured whole.
• Write your literature review using the format of an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Additional tips for researchers

• Always strive for objectivity when conducting a literature search or review. Include all viewpoints and do not begin the process expecting a specific result. Avoid opinions.
• Make sure your selected sources and your literature review work to place your study in the context of the existing literature.
• The literature should reveal a knowledge gap that will be addressed by your study.
• As with all writing, keep your audience in mind.

References

1. Grewal A, Kataria H, Dhawan I. Literature search for research planning and identification of research problem. Indian J Anaesth. 2016, 60, 635-639. doi: 10.4103/0019-5049.190618.
2. Niagara University Library Research Guide. Literature Review. https://niagara.libguides.com/litreview/sixsteps [Accessed August 31, 2022]

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