As a student pursuing a PhD degree in London, you need to submit your dissertation in your last academic year. A dissertation is a rigorous piece of academic research writing that requires extensive research and analysis. One of the most important components of a dissertation is the literature review.
A literature review is an in-depth analysis of existing research materials on a particular topic. It involves reviewing and synthesising the literature to identify key themes, theories, and gaps in the research. It plays a significant role in developing a research question, identifying appropriate research methods, and establishing the significance of your research.
There are several types of literature reviews that you can use in your dissertation. In this blog, we will discuss the most common types of literature review used in dissertation writing services in London.
Narrative Literature Review
A narrative literature review involves a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on a particular topic. It is usually conducted in the early stages of the research process to identify key themes, theories, and gaps in the literature. The narrative literature review does not involve statistical analysis and is not limited to a specific methodology.
Systematic Literature Review
A systematic literature review is a comprehensive review of the literature on a particular topic that is conducted in a systematic manner. It involves a rigorous search for relevant literature, the use of predefined criteria for inclusion and exclusion, and a structured analysis of the literature. The aim of a systematic literature review is to provide an objective and comprehensive summary of the existing literature.
Meta-Analysis
A meta-analysis is a statistical analysis of a collection of studies on a particular topic. It involves the aggregation of data from multiple studies and the use of statistical methods to identify patterns and relationships in the data. A meta-analysis can be used to identify the strength of the relationship between variables, the effect size of a particular intervention, and the generalisability of the findings.
Meta-Synthesis
A meta-analysis is a non-statistical analysis that combines, assesses, and analyses the findings of many qualitative studies and investigations. A meta-synthesis literature review is frequently carried out when an inductive analysis is being used.
Scoping Review
A scoping review is a type of literature review that aims to identify the breadth and depth of existing literature on a particular topic. It involves a comprehensive search for literature, but unlike a systematic review, it does not involve a structured analysis of the literature. The aim of a scoping review is to provide an overview of the existing literature and to identify key themes and gaps in the literature.
In conclusion, the literature review is an essential component of your dissertation. It allows you to establish the significance of your research, identify key themes and theories, and develop appropriate research methods. There are several types of literature review that you can use in your dissertation writing, including narrative literature review, systematic literature review, meta-analysis, and scoping review. Each type of literature review has its own strengths and weaknesses, and you should choose the type that is most appropriate for your research question and methodology.
