This document defines and discusses the importance and process of literature review. It provides definitions of literature review from various sources that describe it as an analysis and synthesis of existing scholarly publications and materials on a research topic. The purposes of literature review are to convey previous knowledge on a topic, identify research problems and questions, and prevent duplication of efforts. It identifies primary sources as original research and secondary sources as summaries of multiple studies. The steps of literature review involve understanding the research problem, identifying relevant sources, searching and analyzing literature, writing the review, and referencing.

1. UNIT – II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2. INTRODUCTION
Review of literature is one of the most important step in the research
process. It is an account of what is already known about a particular
phenomenon.
MEANING
It is a description and analysis of the literature relevant to a particular
field or topic.

3. DEFINITION
ANA, 2000 – A literature review is a body of text that aims to review the
critical point of knowledge on a particular topic of research
S.K. Sharma, 2005 –Literature review is defined as a broad , comprehensive
, in depth , systematic critique and synthesis of scholarly publications ,
unpublished print and online materials, audiovisual materials and personal
communications
University of Toronto, 2001: A literature review is an account of what has
already established or published on a particular research topic by accredited
scholars and researchers.

4. • PURPOSE
 Convey to the readers previous knowledge and facts established on a topic and their
strengths and weakness
Identify research problem and develop or refine research questions
Describe the relationship of each study to other research studies under consideration
Identify new ways to interpret and shed lights on any gaps in previous research
Helps to develop theoretical framework for study
Helps to prevent duplication of effort
See what has and what has not been investigated
Identify potential relationships between concepts and identify researchable
hypothesis

5. • Develop alternative research projects
• To provide clues to methodology and instrumentation
IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
• Practical guide to a particular topic
• Identification of a research problem
• Generation of useful research questions or projects
• Determination of any gaps
• Provides evidence that a selected research problem is of importance
• Planning of methodology

6. • Helps in development of research instrument
• Identification of relevant theoretical or conceptual framework
• Identification of suitable design and data collection methods
SOURCES OF REVIEW OF LITERATURE
PRIMARY
SOURCE
SECONDARY
SOURCE

7. • PRIMARY SOURCE
 Written by the person who originated or is responsible for generating the
ideas
First hand source
Original , peer-reviewed and published research articles reported by
original researchers
Description of the studies written by the researchers who conducted them
Eg. Nursing research article

8. SECONDARY SOURCE
A secondary source summarizes or quotes content from primary
sources. The authors of secondary sources paraphrase the works of
researchers and theories.
They are the description of studies prepared by someone other than
the original research.
Secondary source include the comments and summaries of
multiple research studies on one topic. Eg. Systemic reviews, meta
- analysis

10. RESOURCES/ SOURCES OF REVIEW OF
LITERATURE
PRINTED SOURCE
1. Books
2. Monograph
3. Journals
4. Specific materials such as
periodicals
5. Encyclopedia, dictionary
ELECTRONIC SOURCE
1. Search engines such as
Yahoo, Google
2. Database source such as
CINAHL , PubMed,
MEDLINE

11. STEPS OF LITERATURE REVIEW
STEP 1: Understanding the
concepts of research
problem and identifying the
key search terms
 Examine the concept of research
problem
 Search terms may be the elements
that are included in the problem
statement
STEP 2: Identifying the
relevant source
 Locate the relevant source
for literature review
 E.g. Nursing journals

12. STEP 3: Searching
the literature
 Identify in a structured way
the appropriate and related
information
 Generally 3 to 5 years old
literature is ideally included
STEP 4: Analyzing and
synthesizing the literature
 Includes preview/ overview
and question , read and
summarize

13. STEP 5: Writing the
literature review
STEP 6: Referencing and
reviewing final draft of
literature
 Avoid long and confusing words
and jargon and keep the sentences
short with one clear message
 An introduction , body and
conclusion should be included
• The final draft of
literature is reviewed for
the completeness,
accuracy and relevance of
the content

14. THANK YOU