A literature review provides a comprehensive overview of key theories and existing research on a specific topic. The various types of reviews differ less in their structure and more in their approach, objectives, analyses and scope. The primary goal of a literature review is to critically discuss the most relevant ideas and information within the context of the writer’s own theoretical framework.

 

Support from the University Library

We support ZHAW employees in writing literature reviews, covering the following topics:

• Developing a search strategy
  We provide support in creating effective search strategies. This includes selecting the relevant search terms and identifying keywords, taking account of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. 
• Peer review of search strategies
  We review your search strategy to ensure that no relevant studies are overlooked. 
• Selection of search tools
  We assist you in selecting appropriate databases and other resources. 

Request support for your literature review (in German - ZHAW login required)

Structure of a literature review

A well-structured literature review is divided into the following key sections:

1. Introduction

• Research topic: what is the topic of the review?
• Research question: what questions are being addressed?
• Objective and research question: what is the aim of the review and what is the central research question?
• Structure and scope: how is the review to be structured and what is its scope?

2. Method

• Literature selection: which literature will be reviewed?
• Search criteria: according to which criteria has the literature been selected?
• Scope of material: how much material is available and was any material excluded? If so, why?
• Critical review: according to which specific criteria will the literature be reviewed?

3. Results and discussion

• Overview and comparison: what are the key results and how do they compare with respect to previous research work?

4. Conclusion

• Connection to the research question: how do the results relate to the original research question and the research objective? The goals and the research question should be revisited and clearly connected to the results.
• Findings: what are the key insights gained from the review and comparison of the literature?
• Transferability and limitations: how transferable are the findings and what are the limitations of the research work? 

Research gaps: what gaps were identified in the existing research? How could future research build on the findings to date?

Types of literature reviews

The various types of reviews differ less in their structure and more in their approach, objectives, analyses and scope. The primary goal of a literature review is to critically discuss the most relevant ideas and information within the context of the writer’s own theoretical framework.

1. Systematic review

Systematic reviews aim to identify, evaluate and summarise all relevant studies on a clearly defined research question. The objective of a systematic review is to answer a clearly formulated research question.

2. Meta-analysis

A meta-analysis is a method that summarises primary studies using quantitative and statistical methods. 

3. Scoping review

A scoping review is a specific type of literature review designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of existing research literature on a specific topic. It is used to identify research gaps or to clarify whether a full systematic review is feasible. 

4. Mixed methods review

This type of review combines various methodological approaches, usually integrating both quantitative and qualitative research methods, in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of a research area. 

5. Rapid review

A rapid review is a time-limited but methodologically transparent review of the available evidence. It uses systematic methods but is conducted within a shorter time frame and with simplified procedures to facilitate quick decision-making.

6. Umbrella review

An umbrella review summarises the results of multiple systematic reviews on a broad topic. It is used when there are many systematic reviews available on an extensive topic in order to provide a general overview.