Narrative Literature Review: Process & Product

Literature Review Template: A Narrative Approach

Introduction

Introduction Purpose: Orienting the ReaderIntroduce the significance of literature review in research.

Outline the purpose, scope, and layout of the chapter.

Body Section

Structural Flexibility

Divisions: 

Theoretical Framework, Empirical Research, Research Gap

Adaptation to Research Context

Theoretical Framework

Define Key Concepts, Propositions, Theories

Relevance to Research Topic

Empirical Research

Discussion of Existing Studies

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

Logical Structure Based on Research Context

Research Gap

Articulate Gap and Significance

Addressing Limitations

Conclusion

Recap and TransitionSummary of Key Points

Smooth Transition to Methodology Chapter

Additional Resource

Avoid Common MistakesBonus Video on Pitfalls

Narrative Literature Review Writing 

Guidelines

Organize Your Sources

Logical Grouping Based on Themes or Concepts

Develop a Clear Structure

Chronological or Thematic Progression

Begin with a Strong 

Introduction

Overview of Topic Importance

Introduction of Key Themes

Tell the StoryTopic Sentence for Each Section

Introduction of Key Studies and Findings

Provide Critical Analysis

Strengths, Weaknesses, Limitations of Studies

Identification of Trends, Conflicts, Gaps

Connect the Dots

Relating Each Study to Overall Narrative

Emphasis on Knowledge Progression

Maintain Consistency

Tone and Writing Style

Clarity and Conciseness

Conclude Effectively

Summary of Key Findings and Insights

Highlighting Research Gaps

Cite Your Sources

Proper Citation Following Institution's Style

Revise and Edit

Clarity, Coherence, Flow

Grammar and Spelling

Seek Feedback

Peer, Advisor, Colleague Review

Remember, a narrative literature review should engage the reader and present insights into the development of ideas and knowledge in the field.

Forming a Team:

Establish a team with diverse expertise to ensure comprehensive coverage of the literature.


Choosing a Relevant Topic:

Select a topic aligned with the author's research or teaching interests.
Ensure the topic addresses a well-defined issue to provide clarity and focus.


Developing a Comprehensive Search Strategy:

Utilize a variety of relevant keywords and databases for a thorough literature search.
Explore papers cited in and citing the retrieved material to expand the search scope.


Efficient Reading and Note-taking:

Begin taking notes alongside the literature search process to capture key findings and insights.
Adopt efficient reading strategies to manage large volumes of literature effectively.


Deciding on Review Scope:

Decide whether to write a mini-review or a full review based on the depth and breadth of available literature.


Maintaining Focus and Engagement:

During revision, ensure the review remains focused while also making it engaging for a broad audience.


Critical and Objective Analysis:

Avoid merely listing achievements; critically evaluate the literature with consistency and objectivity.


Logical Structure:

Link review sections logically to provide a clear flow of information and argumentation.


Seeking Peer Feedback:

Obtain feedback from peers to refine the manuscript before submitting it for formal peer review.


Dissemination Strategies:

Increase the review's audience by sharing it on social media and online repositories for wider visibility and impact.

Narrative reviews are usually organized as follows:

Introduction that establishes the context of the field of research and the topic of the review

The body is normally used for describing the different themes under the main topic by dividing them into different subheadings. This section compares and contrasts published studies and identifies gaps that have not been addressed or have been unsuccessfully addressed.

Conclusions. This section differs slightly between reviews which are part of research articles and narrative reviews. The section describes the main conclusions from the analysis of all the current studies and puts forth further avenues for research. This section requires critical interpretation by the author such that the review adds value to existing literature. It should bring out ideas/hypotheses that can explain any discrepancies and provide solutions to existing problems.

https://www.editage.com/insights/how-to-write-the-literature-review-of-your-research-paper

Writing a Narrative Literature Review

Identify Topic and Research Problem:

Determine the specific topic of interest within your field of study.

Formulate research questions or identify the research problem that your literature review will address.

Conduct Literature Search:

Use academic databases, library catalogs, and other scholarly sources to gather relevant literature.

Employ search terms and keywords related to your topic to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Take Detailed Notes:

Capture key information from each source, including main research findings, methodology, scope, limitations, and your personal responses.

Group your notes according to themes or topics to facilitate organization and synthesis.

Create Literature Matrix:

Use a structured format, such as Google Sheets, to organize key information from each source, including title, author names, year of publication, methodology, main findings, limitations, and research questions.

Annotated Bibliography:

Write annotations for each source, summarizing key aspects and evaluating relevance to the review.

Organize annotations in a clear and structured format for easy reference.

Write the Review:

Introduction:

Provide an overview of the topic's significance and define key terms.

Outline the purpose, scope, and structure of the literature review.

Body:

Organize paragraphs or sections to cover different themes or sub-topics identified during your literature search.

Synthesize findings from multiple sources to identify patterns and trends.

Conclusion:

Summarize the main themes identified in the review.

Discuss gaps in the literature and propose future research directions.

Provide critical interpretation and insights to add value to existing literature.

Revise and Edit:

Review your review for clarity, coherence, and accuracy.

Check for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors.

Ensure proper citation and referencing.

Critical Appraisal and Reflection:

Reflect on the strengths, weaknesses, and relevance of individual studies.

Evaluate the overall usefulness and appropriateness of the review to the intended audience.

Finalize and Publish:

Make revisions based on feedback.

Finalize the review for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or academic publication.

a sample matrix:

Source Title	Author(s)	Year of Publication	Methodology	Main Findings	Limitations	Research Questions/Hypotheses	Notes
Example 1	Smith, J.	2020	Qualitative	Found X and Y	Small sample size	How does X influence Y?	Useful for Theme 1
Example 2	Johnson, A.	2018	Quantitative	No significant findings	Limited to one geographical area	What are the factors affecting Z?	Contradicts Theme 2
Example 3	Lee, K.	2019	Mixed methods	Identified three main themes	Self-reported data may be biased	What are the implications of the findings?

This sample matrix provides a structured way to organize key information from each source, including title, author(s), year of publication, methodology, main findings, limitations, research questions/hypotheses, and any additional notes. You can customize this matrix based on the specific requirements of your literature review and the types of sources you're analyzing.