Why is a literature review so important in academic research?
Let’s tackle the question of why literature reviews are so important in academic research.
Okay, tell me why you’re doing a literature review? Like, what’s it for? Why do one? Why not just go out right now, today and start collecting your data? Just sack off the literature review? Why not just do that?
There are four reasons why that’s a terrible idea, and that’s what we’re looking at in this blogpost. Most people know a couple of them when they start out, but not many people know all of them. The ones you don’t know might trip you up later.
If we’ve not met, hi, I’m Dr Elizabeth Yardley and I’ve got two decades experience in supporting graduate students through their dissertations. Literature reviews are what I get asked about the most, they are what PhD candidates struggle with the most.
Let’s take a look at why we need to do one.
(1) To demonstrate your understanding of what’s out there
Imagine you're the new kid at school, stepping into the cafeteria filled with different cliques and groups. Each group represents a body of literature or a specific research community.
There are the cool kids who are the established researchers in your field, the ones who have published groundbreaking studies and are widely cited. Then there are the niche groups, the ones focused on specific subtopics or methodologies.
As the new kid, you need to stand back to observe and understand these dynamics before you decide where you fit in.
For example, let's say you're interested in criminal psychopaths. You'll need to know who the prominent researchers are in this area, like Dr. Robert Hare, whose work on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) has been instrumental in defining psychopathy. Also, you’ll want to know about the research about how to manage criminal psychopaths in the prison system.
Understanding this landscape is crucial because it helps you demonstrate your understanding of what’s already out there.
Just like the new kid at school walks into the cafeteria and gets a feel for who’s who, as a researcher, you need to do the same - take a look at the existing literature as an outsider and notice what’s there.
(2) To identify the gaps in the literature
The second reason we do a literature review is to identify gaps in the literature. In this cafeteria, which represents the academic landscape, there are a multitude of conversations going on, each focused on a specific topic or research area.
Yet, amidst the cacophony of voices, there are gaps waiting to be filled, questions waiting to be answered, empty seats in that cafeteria.
As the new kid at school, you strive to find a table to sit at, a seat to occupy. You’re not just observing from the outside anymore, you’re wanting to identify a table to sit at. That’s what researchers are doing when they conduct a literature review, meticulously scrutinising existing areas to pinpoint areas where knowledge is lacking, where there are seats still empty.
Just as the new kid identifies the empty seat at the cafeteria table, researchers identify gaps in the literature, signalling opportunities for further exploration.
(3) To build theoretical frameworks
Another reason we do a literature review is because it helps us build a theoretical framework for our research.
Think of this as the new kid at school discovering different clubs and interests to shape their identity and find their place.
How the new kid explores various extracurricular activities is how the researcher explores different bodies of theory. Each one is like a club, offering its own unique principles and approaches.
As researchers immerse themselves in the literature, they begin to discern patterns and connections between different theories. It's like the new kid recognising common interests and values shared among different clubs – so kids who value creativity might be interested not just in art but in drama and music too.
Building theoretical frameworks isn't just about exploring theories—it's about synthesising them into cohesive structures that guide researchers on their scholarly journey.
Just as the new kid discovers their place in the school community by joining the art club and the drama club, researchers find their intellectual footing through the construction of theoretical frameworks.
Now, this one’s a bit tricky to explain in the abstract, so we need a better example than that!
Imagine you're a researcher interested in exploring how child-free women craft identities within their extended families.
In the existing literature, you’d encounter various theoretical perspectives that offer insights into identity formation, family dynamics, and gender roles.
You might start by immersing yourself in literature related to identity construction, examining theories such as symbolic interactionism, social constructionism, and feminist theory. These theories provide valuable frameworks for understanding how individuals negotiate and construct their identities within social contexts.
Next, you might explore the literature on family dynamics. You might explore theories like family systems, role theory, and the sociology of the family. These theories offer insights into the complexities of familial relationships and the influence of societal norms on family structures.
As you navigate through this literature, you begin to discern patterns and connections between different theoretical perspectives. You might notice how concepts from symbolic interactionism, such as the "looking-glass self," intersect with feminist theories of gender identity and societal expectations.
Drawing on these insights, you start to craft a theoretical framework that integrates elements from various theoretical perspectives. Just as the new kid blends interests from different clubs to form their identity, you synthesise concepts from symbolic interactionism, feminist theory, and family systems theory to create a cohesive framework for understanding identity formation among child-free women within the family.
This theoretical framework serves as your compass, guiding your research design and analysis. It informs the selection of research methods, the interpretation of data, and the exploration of key themes and concepts.
Ultimately, by building a robust theoretical framework grounded in existing literature, you're better equipped to navigate the complexities of your research topic and contribute valuable insights to the field of family studies and gender identity research.
(4) To identify methodological options
Imagine you're the new kid at school one more time, stepping into the vast and unfamiliar hallways for the first time. Your goal: to navigate your way around, find your classrooms, and make it to each lesson on time. Just as the new kid relies on maps, signs, and advice from peers to find their way around, researchers rely on established methodologies to guide their studies.
These methodologies act as the maps and signposts, helping researchers navigate the complex terrain of the research landscape. By consulting the literature, researchers gain insights into the methodological approaches employed by predecessors in similar domains of inquiry.
So, to take our previous example, where the researcher was exploring the literature around how child-free women negotiate identity within extended families, during the course of reviewing that literature, they would have encountered a range of different methods and approaches to gathering and analysing data around this topic. For example, in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus groups, narrative analysis.
By exploring these methodological approaches within existing literature, researchers gain insights into the strengths, limitations, and ethical considerations associated with each method. This knowledge equips them to make informed decisions about the most appropriate methods to employ in their own research endeavours.
It's like the new kid learning from older students about the most efficient routes through the school. By interrogating the methodological underpinnings of existing scholarship, researchers are empowered to make informed decisions regarding the selection and implementation of methodological strategies best suited to their research objectives. Just as the new kid gradually becomes more confident and familiar with the school layout, researchers become adept at selecting and implementing methodologies that lead them to their research destination.
What next?
I hope you enjoyed this blogpost. If you’re interested in hearing about some insider secrets about literature reviews, you might want to check out this one next!
If you want to see what I sell to help you with your literature review, check out my shop. My Complete Literature Review guide might be of interest - details below!
Feeling stuck on your literature review? You’re not alone. Many PhD students struggle to make sense of thematic literature reviews, wondering:
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“How many themes should I include?”
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This 60-page guide simplifies the entire process of writing your thematic literature review, from identifying themes to analysing the literature and structuring your review. You’ll go from confused and overwhelmed to confident and in control of your writing.
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8 fillable worksheets to help you organise your thoughts, track your themes, and keep your literature review on track.
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Stop second-guessing your work and start feeling proud of what you’ve written!
Want to try before you buy? CLICK HERE to preview the first section for FREE and see if this guide is right for you
Looking for Parts 3-6 of my PhD Survival Guide series? These are individual guides that allow you to work on specific sections and stages of your literature review as needed. Links below!
Part 3 - Literature Strategy
Part 4 - Literature Search
Part 5 - Starting your Literature Review
Part 6 - Developing your Literature Review
Please bear in mind that this is a digital product; no physical items will be sent to you. The download will be available once you have gone through the checkout.
Also, my advice is intended to supplement the guidance of your supervisor or academic advisor, not replace it. They should always be your first port of call when you’re stuck. Okay? Good!
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