Literature Review Guide
This guide explains how to conduct a literature review for your research paper.
1. What is a Literature Review?
A literature review summarizes and synthesizes existing research on your topic. It serves to:
- Establish the theoretical foundation for your study
- Identify gaps in existing research
- Justify why your research is needed
- Support your hypotheses with prior findings
2. Finding Academic Sources
Step 1: Search on Google Scholar
- Go to Google Scholar
- Enter keywords related to your research topic
- Use quotation marks for exact phrases (e.g., “work-life balance”)
- Use AND/OR to combine terms (e.g., leadership AND burnout)
Search Tips:
- Start broad, then narrow down
- Look at highly cited papers first
- Check the references of relevant papers to find more sources
- Use “Cited by” to find newer papers that cite a classic study
Step 2: Download PDFs from CSUB Library
Google Scholar shows article information, but many PDFs require library access.
- Go to CSUB Library Website
- Search for the paper title in the search box
- Log in with your CSUB credentials if prompted
- Download the PDF
3. Organizing Your Sources
Create a Reference List
Keep track of all sources you find:
| Author(s) | Year | Title | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith et al. | 2020 | Title here | JAP | Finding 1, Finding 2 |
Use Reference Management Tools (Optional)
- Zotero - Free
4. Reading Academic Papers
What to Focus On
- Abstract - Quick overview of the study
- Introduction - Why the research matters, hypotheses
- Discussion - What the findings mean
- Results - Key statistics (if needed)
Taking Notes
For each paper, note:
- Main argument/theory
- Key findings
- How it relates to YOUR research
- Useful quotes (with page numbers)
5. Writing the Literature Review
Structure
- Opening - Introduce the broad topic
- Theoretical Background - Explain key concepts and theories
- Review of Prior Research - Summarize relevant studies
- Research Gap - What hasn’t been studied yet?
- Hypotheses - Your predictions based on the literature
Writing Tips
- Synthesize, don’t summarize - Group studies by theme, not one-by-one
- Be critical - Note limitations of prior research
- Build an argument - Each paragraph should lead to the next
- Connect to your study - Explain how each source relates to your research
Example Flow
Paragraph 1: Define the main concept (e.g., workaholism)
Paragraph 2: Discuss consequences of workaholism (cite 3-4 studies)
Paragraph 3: Introduce the mediating variable (e.g., work-life conflict)
Paragraph 4: Explain why this relationship exists (theory)
Paragraph 5: Identify the gap and state your hypothesis
6. How Many Sources?
For a research paper:
- Minimum: 15-20 sources
- Ideal: 25-30 sources
- Focus on peer-reviewed journal articles
- Prioritize recent publications (last 10 years)
- Include seminal/classic papers when relevant
7. Avoiding Plagiarism
- Always paraphrase in your own words
- Use direct quotes sparingly (and cite with page numbers)
- Cite every idea that isn’t your own
- When in doubt, cite it
Resources
- Google Scholar
- CSUB Library
- Purdue OWL - APA Citations
- Quantitative Research Paper Guide - For paper formatting