Resources for literature assignments
- Literature reviews in humanities, social sciences and educational sciences
- How to do systematic searching (link to Search & Write)
These online resources provide an introduction to how to write a literature review. They take you through the steps of finding, evaluating, and documenting literature search for a literature review.
Many students choose to produce a type of literature study for their bachelor's or master's thesis. It can be a general literature study, or a more comprehensive scoping review or systematic review.
Different study programs have different interpretations of what a literature review is and how it should be designed, but the common thread is that you write a thesis where you formulate research questions, systematically search for literature, evaluate the literature according to given criteria, and compile the results of published research. Check the guidelines for what the requirements are for your thesis.
Do you need more help?
We recommend reviewing one of the online resources above before asking for help.
If you would like help from a librarian, you can book an appointment in TP. It is a good idea to state that you are carrying out a literature review, what the topic/ problem is and what you need help with.
Literature suggestions
Here is a selection of methodological literature on literature reviews in various subjects. Where available, the links go to all editions of the book in Oria. Also check what is on your own syllabus.
- Aveyard H. Doing a literature review in health and social care : a practical guide. Fifth edition. Maidenhead: Open University Press; 2023.
- Booth A. Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. Third edition. Los Angeles, California: SAGE; 2022.
- Cherry MG, Boland A, Dickson R. Doing a systematic review : a student’s guide. Third edition. London: Sage Publications; 2024.
- Galvan JL. Writing literature reviews : a guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences. Seventh edition. New York: Routledge; 2017.