Literature Review Example: The Correct Way to Write and Structure The Literature Review for Your PhD Thesis

A literature review is a critical evaluation of the existing research on a specific topic. It provides an overview of the current state of knowledge and identifies gaps in the existing research that your study aims to fill. A well-structured literature review is a crucial component of a PhD thesis and serves as a foundation for your research. This article will show you a literature review example to help you learn the correct way to write and structure the literature review for your PhD thesis. Take a look at our article on Literary Review: A Comprehensive Guide with Easy Examples for more insights or explore how to do a literature search to support your research. Checking out this extremely useful guide on Structuring a Literature Review for a PhD Thesis is also highly recommended.

Structure of a Literature Review

A typical structure for a literature review includes the following sections:

Introduction: This section sets the context for the review and provides background information on the topic.
Research question: This section defines the research question that the literature review aims to address.
Search methods: This section describes the methods used to search for relevant literature, such as academic databases, journals, books, and reports.
Analysis and categorization: This section involves analyzing and categorizing the literature found in the search, grouping similar studies together based on their findings, methods, and contributions to the field.
Synthesis: This section summarizes and synthesizes the key findings and contributions of the studies that you have grouped together, highlighting any patterns or themes that emerge.
Evaluation of the literature: This section evaluates the quality of the literature reviewed, considering factors such as methodology, sample size, and validity of results.
Conclusions: This section summarizes the key findings of the literature review and highlights any gaps in the existing research that your study aims to fill.

Example of a Good Literature Review

Let’s consider the topic ‘Sustainable Energy Practices in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK’.

Introduction Section of The Literature Review

The introduction section provides context and background information on the topic of sustainable energy practices in SMEs in the UK. It describes the increasing importance of sustainable energy practices in addressing global environmental challenges and the need for SMEs to adopt such practices to reduce their carbon footprint. The introduction sets the stage for the review by highlighting the significance of the topic and providing a clear research question.

Research Question Section of The Literature Review

The research question for this literature review is: “What are the key challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting sustainable energy practices in the UK?”

Search Methods Section of The Literature Review

The search methods section describes the steps taken to search for relevant literature. This includes searching academic databases such as JSTOR and Scopus, reading journals and conference proceedings in the field of sustainability and energy, and reviewing relevant books and reports. The search methods section also includes a discussion of the criteria used to select relevant studies, such as their relevance to the research question, their publication date, and their quality.

Analysis and Categorisation Section of The Literature Review

The analysis and categorization section involves reading each source carefully, taking notes, and grouping similar studies together based on their findings, methods, and contributions to the field. In this case, studies on sustainable energy practices in SMEs in the UK could be grouped into categories based on the type of energy practice being studied (e.g. solar, wind, or geothermal), the size of the enterprise, or the region of the UK.

Synthesis Section of The Literature Review

The synthesis section summarises and synthesises the key findings and contributions of the studies that have been grouped together. It highlights any patterns or themes that emerge from the literature, such as a general lack of understanding of the benefits of sustainable energy practices and the challenges faced by SMEs in accessing funding and support for such initiatives. The synthesis section provides a clear and concise overview of the current state of knowledge on the topic.

Evaluation of the Literature Section of The Literature Review

The evaluation of the literature section evaluates the quality of the studies reviewed, considering factors such as methodology, sample size, and validity of results. It is important to assess the quality of the studies as this will determine their reliability and usefulness for your own research. The evaluation section may also discuss any limitations or biases in the literature that could impact the validity of the findings.

Conclusions Section of The Literature Review

The conclusions section summarizes the key findings of the literature review and highlights any gaps in the existing research that your study aims to fill. In this case, the literature review may conclude that there is a need for further research on sustainable energy practices in SMEs in the UK, particularly in terms of understanding the challenges faced by these enterprises in adopting such practices. The conclusion also suggests potential directions for future research in this field.

In conclusion, writing a literature review is an important step in the research process, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on a specific topic and identifies gaps in the existing research that can be filled by your own study. By following the structure outlined in this tutorial, you can ensure that your literature review is well-organized, comprehensive, and provides a strong foundation for your research.

Also explore our other guides like Dissertation Methodology Writing Decoded, Dissertation Methodology Examples for PhD and 9 Easy Examples of Qualitative Data in Research.

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