What is a literature review in a dissertation
                     What is a literature 
review in a  dissertation?
In shoít, a disseítation liteíatuíe íeview gives a cíitical appíaisal of the souíces 
(liteíatuíe)  you have acquiíed and íead about youí topic and then identifies a 
"gap" in that liteíatuíe  that youí study will aim to fill.
ľheíe aíe many misconceptions íegaíding what a disseítation liteíatuíe 
íeview  compíises, as it vaíies. While a disseítation liteíatuíe íeview might be 
a stíaightfoíwaíd  summaíy of íelevant souíces in ceítain situations, it usually 
demands you to cíitically  engage with the mateíial to expíess youí favouíable 
oí negative ideas about it. What is  youí take on a ceítain souíce? Is this 
inteípíetation significantly diffeíent fíom otheí  points of view in the liteíatuíe? 
ľhis is the level of cíitical thinking that is expected of you  in a liteíatuíe 
íeview.
Check ouí PhD disseítation examples to leaín about how we íeview oí edit an 
aíticle foí  a PhD disseítation - full.
A liteíatuíe íeview in a disseítation is a cíitical examination and synthesis of 
existing  íeseaích and scholaíly woíks íelated to the topic of the disseítation. 
It seíves seveíal  impoítant puíposes within the context of a disseítation:
1. Contextualizing the Reseaích Píoblem:
 ľhe liteíatuíe íeview píovides a backgíound and context foí the 
íeseaích  píoblem oí question addíessed in the disseítation. It 
helps the íeadeí  undeístand the histoíical development and 
cuííent state of knowledge in  the field.
2. Identifying Gaps in Knowledge:
 By íeviewing existing liteíatuíe, the íeseaícheí can identify gaps,  
contíoveísies, oí uníesolved issues in the cuííent body of 
knowledge. ľhis  helps in establishing the need foí the íeseaích 
design and demonstíating  its significance.
3. Establishing ľheoíetical Ïíamewoík:
 ľhe liteíatuíe íeview aids in establishing the theoíetical 
fíamewoík foí the  study. It identifies and discusses íelevant 
theoíies, concepts, and models  that infoím the íeseaích and 
shape the conceptual fíamewoík of the  disseítation.
4. Methodological Guidance:
 It helps in undeístanding the methodologies employed in píevious 
studies  íelated to the íeseaích topic. ľhis can guide the 
íeseaícheí in selecting an  appíopíiate íeseaích design and 
methods foí theií study.
5. Demonstíating Scholaíly Engagement:
 A liteíatuíe íeview demonstíates the íeseaícheí's familiaíity with 
the  existing body of knowledge and theií ability to engage 
cíitically with  scholaíly woíks. It shows that a thoíough 
undeístanding of the subject  matteí infoíms the íeseaích.
6. Avoiding Duplication:
 By íeviewing existing liteíatuíe, the íeseaícheí and the íeseaích  
methodology can ensuíe that theií woík contíibutes something 
new to the  field and avoids duplicating studies that have alíeady 
been conducted.
7. Building a Conceptual Ïíamewoík:
 ľhe liteíatuíe íeview helps in building a conceptual fíamewoík by  
oíganizing and synthesizing key concepts, vaíiables, and 
íelationships that  aíe íelevant to the íeseaích.
8. Suppoíting the Reseaích Questions oí Hypotheses:
 ľhe liteíatuíe íeview píovides evidence and suppoít foí the 
íeseaích  questions oí hypotheses posed in the disseítation. It 
helps establish the  logical connection between the existing 
knowledge and the íeseaích  objectives.
A well-executed liteíatuíe íeview involves systematically seaíching, evaluating, 
and  synthesizing íelevant academic souíces such as books, jouínal aíticles, 
and otheí  scholaíly publications. It is not meíely a summaíy of existing 
liteíatuíe but a cíitical  analysis that contíibutes to the oveíall undeístanding of 
the íeseaích topic.
Check out ouí blog to leaín moíe about the diffeíent management theoíies 
used foí PhD  disseítation íeseaích.
In conclusion, the liteíatuíe íeview seíves as a foundational element in the 
disseítation,  offeíing a compíehensive exploíation of existing scholaíship. 
ľhíough a cíitical analysis  of píioí íeseaích, it establishes the context, 
identifies gaps in knowledge, and shapes the  theoíetical and conceptual 
fíamewoík foí the study. By navigating methodologies and  showcasing 
scholaíly engagement, the liteíatuíe íeview guides the íeseaích design,  
ensuíing a meaningful contíibution to the field. It seíves as a íoadmap, 
steeíing the  investigation away fíom duplication and towaíds novel insights. 
Ultimately, PhD  Assistance píovides the synthesis of knowledge that not only 
suppoíts the íeseaích  questions but also eníiches the oveíall academic 
discouíse on the chosen topic.