Literature Review Features Checklist

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Literature Review Features Checklist

Observe the way literature reviews are presented in theses. You may want to take note of the following.

CONTENT ANALYSIS

 Are aims, issues, debates, themes and ‘gaps’ identified?



Are results, methods, theories or techniques:

   described?

   analysed?

   interpreted?

   evaluated?

   compared and contrasted?

   ranked?

  

Others:

ORGANISATION OF MATERIAL:

 How is material ‘grouped’ or organised?

  

Chronologically 

  

According to method or technique

  

According to results or findings

  

Studies in ascending or descending order of importance

  

By issue or theme

   Other…



What headings and sub-headings are used?



Is the sequence of, and relation between, sections logical?

STYLE



What verb tense/s are used when reporting on other studies/findings?

 Is the author’s tone certain or cautious, engaging or didactic?



Does the author use active voice or passive voice?

   Active = actors identified: ‘Jones and Bloggs studied the effects of early childhood vaccination…’ 

   Passive voice = actors subordinated: ‘The effects of early childhood vaccination were studied…’ 

 Does the author use ‘I’? When and why?



Are technical terms explained?



Has the author used ‘signposts’ to aid the reader – for example:

  

Are topic sentences used to introduce or conclude paragraphs?

  

Does each section have a short, introductory sentence/s?

  

Is the organization of the chapter previewed in the introduction?

USE OF SOURCES



How many references are included in a standard paragraph?



How many sources are cited in total in the literature review?



What referencing style is used?

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