Types of Literature Review
Sometimes it can be useful to pick a 'type' of literature review to help you structure your work. Your choice of review type will depend upon a number of different factors including the purpose of the review, subject area, and the research question.
Below is a brief overview of some popular types of literature review.
- Argumentative Reviews involve using selective information to support one side of an argument. This type of review can also be used to refute an argument or an established point of view. It is worth noting that bias can be a feature of this type of review.
- Historical Reviews identify and trace how things were done in the past, mapping changes in theory, processes, etc. It also places research within historical context.
- Integrative Reviews bring new perspective to an existing body of literature. This involves critically evaluating and synthesising secondary data to create new perspectives. This type of review can be used when the researcher is not collecting or analysing their own data (primary data).
- Mapping Reviews are similar to a scoping review (see below) but focus on a specific question not a topic.
- Methodological Reviews examine how research was conducted. This type of review often involves reviewing the entire research design process, from philosophy to methodology, data collection methods and data analysis.
- Narrative Reviews involve summarising and critically evaluating information within a body of knowledge. It allows researchers to draw conclusions and to identify gaps within the literature. You will need to have a clearly defined research question in order to undertake a narrative review.
- Scoping Reviews provide a "preliminary assessment of potential size and scope of available research literature. [The] aim is to identify the nature and extent of research evidence (usually including ongoing research).” Grant & Booth “A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies”. Health Information & Libraries Journal. May, 2009.
- Systematic Reviews involve doing an exhaustive review of a topic with the purpose of answering a question or solving a problem. Systematic reviews are conducted according to a strict selection and evaluation criteria. These reviews seek to identify relationships and patterns from which conclusions can be drawn.
- Theoretical Reviews attempt to identify existing theories or highlight a lack of adequate theory within a subject area. This type of review can also examine how well a particular theory has been tested.
