1. WHAT IS A LITERATURE
REVIEW?
• A place to make connections between what you are
investigating and what has already been investigated in your
subject area
• A place to engage in a type of conversation with other
researchers in your subject area
• A place to identify previous research on the topic
• A place to show there is a gap in the literature which your study
can fill
• A place from which to begin your own investigation
Ridley, D. (2008). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students. London: Sage
Publications, p. 2.

2. SIMPLY PUT…
Helps you and your readers
understand:
• What you know about your topic
• What other people know about your
topic
• What research has been done
• How research was done
• Where are the gaps?
• Jumping off point for your study

4. HOW TO BEGIN?
FINDING APPROPRIATE SOURCES
OF INFORMATION
• Know what is appropriate:
– Scholarly, academic, peer-reviewed material
– Material that presents empirical data/evidence to back up
claims, not just opinions
– Material that presents an introduction, purpose,
background literature, method, procedures, findings,
discussion, implications, conclusion
• Know where to begin searching:
– Book catalogues
– Library databases – Education Research Complete, ERIC,
Academic Search Complete, Sage Journals Online

5. WHERE TO START?
BOOKS JOURNAL ARTICLES
• They gather a lot of information • Journal articles discuss one
on one topic in one place. perspective.
• They can provide a good • Each article makes a
overview or good background
information on a topic. unique contribution.
• They often offer extensive • Articles can supplement
bibliographies. information found first in
• Look for encyclopedias or books.
handbooks for info on key
theories and researchers • Articles can offer more up-
• E.g. to-date information.
Encyclopedia of the social and cultural foundations of
education
•E-books

6. FINDING
JOURNAL
ARTICLES
• Use library databases
• Try Google Scholar
For finding info
about research
methodology

7. SEARCH TIPS
Recommended databases: Education Research Complete;
ERIC, Academic Search Complete
Tips:
• Limit to scholarly (peer reviewed) journals
• Look for descriptors (or subject headings) for more
focused results
• Use research methodology in your search terms
• “Get it” button looks for the full text throughout all of
the Library’s databases

8. SEARCH TERMS
Try adding “literature review”
• you will see examples of lit reviews, plus get an overview of
some aspect of your topic
Or “narrative” or “quantitative” etc.

9. FOR MORE HELP…
Visit the Graduate Education Research Guide
See the Help pages
Contact the Library Help Desk
• 905-688-5550 x. 3233 or use email form
Contact your liaison librarian:
• Jennifer Thiessen (phone, chat, email)