How to write a literature review introduction? Step by step
Writing a literature review introduction involves several key steps. Each step ensures that your introduction is coherent, engaging, and informative.
1. Start with a broad context
Begin your literature review introduction by presenting a broad overview of the specific topic. This sets the stage for your research and places it within a wider context. For example, if you are reviewing literature on climate change, start by discussing its global impact and relevance. Explain how climate change affects the environment, economy, and society. This broad context helps frame the specific research question within a larger perspective, making it more understandable and relevant to the reader.
2. Narrow it down
Once the broad context is established, narrow down to the specific aspects of the topic that your literature review will address. This helps focus the review and guide the reader through the key themes and ideas you will talk about. For instance, within the topic of climate change, you might focus on its impact on coastal ecosystems or agricultural productivity. By narrowing it down, you clarify the scope of your review and ensure that your analysis is precise and targeted.
3. Highlight the importance of the study
Write why your literature review is important. Discuss the gaps in existing literature and how your review will address these gaps. Emphasize the significance of your study in contributing to the field. Highlighting the importance of your study justifies your research and shows how your work advances understanding in the field. For example, if other studies on climate change have primarily focused on physical impacts, your review might explore socio-economic effects, thereby filling a crucial gap.
4. State the research question
Clearly state your research question. It provides a clear direction for your review and helps in organizing the literature reviewed. It also makes it easier for researchers to follow your argument. A well-defined question or thesis statement is the backbone for your literature review and guides the selection and evaluation of journal articles. It ensures that your review remains focused and relevant throughout.
5. Outline the structure of the review
Provide a brief overview of the structure of your literature review. Mention the main sections and key themes you will cover. This helps set expectations for the reader and provides a clear roadmap for the review. Outlining the structure at the outset helps to organize your thoughts and present them logically. It allows the reader to anticipate the flow of the review and understand how different sections are interconnected.
6. Discuss the methodology
If you are writing a literature review as a full paper, briefly discuss the methodology you used to select and evaluate the literature review. Explain how you identified relevant literature, the criteria for inclusion and exclusion, and the approach you took in reviewing the literature. This helps readers understand the rigour of your research process. Discussing the methodology introduces your approach to reviewing the literature and enhances trustworthiness.
7. Provide a summary of key findings
Summarize the key findings from the literature reviewed. Highlight the main theories, models, and concepts relevant to your research question. This contextualizes your research and demonstrates your understanding of the existing literature to other researchers. A summary of key findings provides a snapshot of what has been done in the field.
