How To Write Literature Survey for Thesis
Blake Griffiths
Writing a literature survey for a thesis involves critically analyzing and summarizing existing research on the topic. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to write a literature survey for your thesis:
Define the scope and objective: Clearly define the research question or objective of your thesis. This will help you focus your literature survey on relevant studies.
Conduct a comprehensive search: Use academic databases, libraries, and online resources to search for relevant literature. Make sure to include both published and unpublished works, such as journal articles, conference papers, books, theses, and dissertations.
Select relevant sources: Evaluate the relevance and credibility of the sources you find. Choose studies that are recent, peer-reviewed, and directly related to your research question.
Read and take notes: Thoroughly read each selected source and take detailed notes. Identify the main arguments, methodologies, findings, and limitations of each study. Organize your notes based on themes or sub-topics to help you structure your literature survey.
Identify key themes and trends: Analyze the collected literature to identify common themes, trends, or controversies in the field. Look for gaps or inconsistencies in the existing research that your thesis can address.
Develop a coherent structure: Organize your literature survey in a logical and coherent manner. You can choose to organize it chronologically, thematically, or based on different theoretical perspectives. Ensure that there is a clear flow between paragraphs and sections.
Write an introduction: Start your literature survey with an introduction that provides background information on the topic and explains the importance of the research question. Clearly state the purpose of the literature survey and how it contributes to your thesis.
Summarize and analyze the literature: In the main body of your literature survey, summarize each study you have selected, highlighting its key findings, methodologies, and arguments. Critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each study and discuss how they contribute to the overall understanding of the topic.
Identify gaps and propose research questions: Discuss any gaps or limitations in the existing literature and propose research questions that your thesis aims to address. This will help establish the significance of your research.
Conclude the literature survey: In the conclusion, summarize the main findings of the literature survey and highlight the key contributions of your thesis. Emphasize the importance of your research and how it fills the gaps identified in the existing literature.
Cite your sources: Make sure to properly cite all the sources you have referenced in your literature survey using a consistent citation style, such as APA or MLA.
Revise and edit: Review your literature survey for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Check for any grammatical or spelling errors and ensure that your writing style is consistent throughout.
Remember, a literature survey should not be a mere summary of existing research but should demonstrate your understanding of the topic and your ability to critically analyze and synthesize the literature.
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Check our previous article: How To Write Literature Review on a Thesis