The literature review is a very important part of a paper, but it can be difficult to know where or how to start.
In fact, the easiest starting point is the title of your paper and your research objective.
We will guide you step by step on how to write an effective literature review based on your research title and goals.
The first thing you need to do is find and list the major topics included in your research title and goals.
List Related Concepts
Based on your research title and objectives, list all relevant topics.
The order doesn't matterājust jot them down as they come to mind.
Find the Core Topic
Among the listed topics, determine the main idea that your paper aims to address.
For example, if your topic is about "native speakerism" in English education, then that would be your core topic.
Once youāve organized the topics, decide in what order to introduce them in your literature review.
From General to Specific
The most common approach is to start with broad concepts and gradually narrow down to your specific research topic.
Introduce the Core Topic in Depth
If one of the topics is the core of your research, focus on that part in detail and explain it thoroughly with concrete examples or past case studies.
Plan what content to include under each major topic.
Provide Definitions:
Most topics should begin with a clear definition of the concept.
Summarize Previous Research:
Organize how past studies have addressed the topic.
Present Effects or Causes:
Include things like what phenomenon occurred, what impact it had, etc.
Discuss Controversial Concepts:
If the topic involves multiple viewpoints or debates, consider introducing them to connect directly with your research question.
The ultimate goal of the literature review is to explain why the research is needed, i.e., to identify the research gap, and to clearly state the research aim that your paper intends to address.
Present the Research Gap:
If there is a lack of research on the topic, that itself serves as a reason to justify your study.
You can also refer to studies on similar but not identical topics and expand upon them.
State the Research Aim:
Based on the discussion so far, clearly state what specific research question your study will answer or what gap it will fill.
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Start by using the research goal or title as a natural entry point,
Then examine broad concepts (general background),
Gradually narrow the focus and clarify the research gap,
Finally, clearly state your own research aim.
By following this sequence, readers can naturally understand the direction of your paper.
When a research topic is very unique or new, there are often very few or even no prior studies directly related to the topic.
In fact, many studies begin with this kind of research gap.
So how can you write a literature review when prior research is lacking?
And how should you effectively fill that gap?
If there are no directly related studies, the key is to explore broader, related issues.
Include Related Issues
For example, if there is a lack of research specifically on the perception of native speakers in English education,
you can look at broader issues like discrimination, bias, and general representation issues (e.g., race, gender-based bias).
Use Indirectly Related Examples
If thereās no research on female speakers in a specific context,
you could reference research on āgender inequality in workplace settingsā or other broader studies in related contexts.
If your specific field lacks research, you can often find relevant studies in other disciplines.
Use Literature from Other Fields
If your topic is in English education but thereās no related research,
you can explore findings from fields like sociology, psychology, or medicineāmany of which are presented at conferences.
For example, issues like gender or identity bias might be studied in sociology or public health and provide a helpful structure.
Emphasize Research Gaps
You can then argue: āThis topic is heavily discussed in other fields but missing in oursāthis shows its urgency and importance here.ā
This helps form a strong rationale for your study and clearly positions the need for your research.
This strategy should align with how your literature review is organized. A basic structure might look like this:
Identify Key Topics ā Extract the core topics based on your research title or objective.
Define Concepts ā Define each topic and introduce foundational concepts.
Introduce Relevant Studies ā Present prior studies related to each topic.
Highlight Research Gaps ā Clearly explain where there is a lack of direct research on your topic.
Broaden the Scope ā Expand to broader or cross-disciplinary research to supplement any gaps.
Link to Research Aim ā Conclude by connecting the review to your research aim and showing why your study is necessary.
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If there is no direct prior research, donāt just say it ādoesnāt exist.ā
Instead, strategically connect and justify your topic using other studies to clearly position the research gap.
This will help demonstrate the direction and significance of your paper more effectively.
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