As a new PhD student, one of the first significant tasks you will undertake is the literature review. It typically forms the first chapter of your thesis (Taylor, n.d.). This is not a mere formality. A well-executed literature review demonstrates your grasp of the existing research in your field and sets the foundation for your own study (Boote & Beile, 2005).
In fact, writing a faulty literature review is one of the quickest ways to derail a dissertation (Randolph, 2009). Examiners often scrutinise the literature review closely, expecting it to be comprehensive and insightful. Therefore, you should approach this task methodically and critically right from the start.
Understanding the role of the literature review
A PhD literature review is more than just a summary of relevant publications. It is also a critical analysis and synthesis of the scholarly work related to your topic (University of Houston Libraries, n.d.). Through the literature review, you demonstrate to readers (and to yourself) that you have examined the breadth of knowledge in your research area. You also show that you can contextualise your project within that landscape. In other words, your review should show how existing studies relate to each other.
It should also indicate where consensus or controversies lie, and explain how your work will contribute new insight. It provides an opportunity to highlight the significance of your research. By identifying a gap or niche in the existing literature, you show what your PhD will address (Taylor, n.d.).
A strong literature review builds a case for why your study matters. It grounds your research in what is already known. At the same time, it clearly delineates what remains unexplored. Notably, the literature review often serves as the basis for refining your research questions.
As you read widely, you will become more fluent in the terminology, theories, and methodologies of your field. This process can help in honing the focus of your study. In fact, many PhD programmes incorporate the draft literature review into first-year progress reviews or upgrade exams. This underscores its importance in demonstrating that you are on track (Taylor, n.d.).
Moving beyond summary to critical analysis
A frequent mistake among new researchers is to treat the literature review as if it were an extended annotated bibliography – a catalogue of one source after another. However, simply summarising each paper without analysis will not suffice for a PhD-level review. Your literature review must move beyond summary and into critical engagement with the material.
In practice, this means you should compare studies and evaluate their methods and findings. You should also discuss each study’s strengths, weaknesses, and interrelationships. For example, if two major studies in your field arrived at conflicting conclusions, your review should highlight this discrepancy. It should also explore why that discrepancy exists (e.g. different methodologies or contexts). Likewise, if multiple studies support a similar theory or finding, you can synthesise those works. You can then distil what consensus has been reached.
Adopting a critical perspective involves questioning what you read. Ask yourself: Are the authors’ conclusions supported by their data? Do different scholars interpret key concepts in varying ways? Which theoretical frameworks or models underpin the research in this area, and do they clash or converge? By interrogating the literature with such questions, you develop an analytical narrative rather than a descriptive list.
Remember that the goal is to assess and interpret the state of research. It is not just to report it (University of Houston Libraries, n.d.). Writing in an analytical way also showcases your ability to discern quality and relevance in research. For instance, you might point out that much of the earlier work on your topic relied on small, homogeneous samples. This is a limitation. Noting this limitation helps justify why your own approach – perhaps using a larger or more diverse sample – is needed to advance understanding.
Crucially, you should connect the literature back to your own research aims. Instead of simply saying “Study X found Y”, discuss what that means for your project. Does Study X provide a methodology you can adopt or avoid? Does it reveal a gap or unanswered question that you can pursue? Keep linking the discussion to your thesis’s focus. This approach ensures that your review remains relevant and purposive, rather than a general overview.
Searching academic literature systematically
Conducting an effective literature search is a step-by-step process that should be approached systematically. Start by clearly defining your research scope or questions – this will guide your search strategy. Identify the key concepts and keywords related to your topic, including synonyms and related terms. For example, if your topic is sustainable agriculture in urban settings, you might use several related keywords. These could include terms like “urban farming”, “sustainability in agriculture” and “city agriculture practices”.
Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine keywords strategically. For instance, using OR for synonyms widens your search, while using AND to require multiple concepts narrows it.
Next, explore multiple scholarly databases and search engines to ensure comprehensive coverage of the literature. Relying on a single database or Google Scholar alone may cause you to miss important papers. Academic databases such as Scopus or Web of Science are invaluable.
You should also use discipline-specific databases. For example, use PubMed for biomedical topics, PsycINFO for psychology, or IEEE Xplore for engineering. Each database indexes different journals or conference proceedings. Therefore, searching several databases helps you retrieve a broad set of sources. Diversifying your search in this way brings in a variety of perspectives. It also reduces the risk of bias (University of Arizona Libraries, n.d.).
As you search, keep track of your strategies. Note which keywords and filters you used, and which sources or databases you consulted. This practice helps you stay organised. It can also be useful later if you need to replicate or update your search.
A systematic search also involves citation tracking. When you find a relevant article, check its reference list to uncover earlier works. This technique is known as backward reference tracing. Those cited sources often lead you to foundational studies or related research. They might reveal work you would not have found via keywords alone.
Conversely, use tools like Google Scholar’s “cited by” feature or databases like Scopus to find newer papers citing that article. This is known as forward citation tracking. This can reveal more recent papers that build upon it.
Tracing citations is an efficient strategy for discovering additional relevant literature. It also helps map out the scholarly conversation on your topic (University of Arizona Libraries, n.d.). It can also help you identify particularly influential studies. For instance, if a particular paper is frequently cited, it’s likely a key contribution in the field.
Throughout the search process, be systematic but also discerning. Evaluate search results for quality and relevance. Prioritise peer-reviewed journal articles, books from academic publishers, and credible conference proceedings. Skim abstracts to judge whether a source truly pertains to your research questions.
If your initial searches yield an overwhelming amount of literature, refine your approach. Try focusing on more specific aspects or applying filters (for instance, limit by publication year or subject category). If you find only a few sources, consider expanding your scope or using broader terms. This iterative searching and refining will gradually give you a comprehensive collection of literature to work with.
Staying organised with references and notes
A thorough literature review can involve dozens or even hundreds of sources. Therefore, keeping your materials organised is essential.
One of the best habits to develop early is using reference management software. Tools such as EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley or RefWorks allow you to build a personalised library of references. With these tools, you can import citations directly from databases and store PDF files. Later, you can insert citations into your writing with ease.
Reference managers save time formatting citations and bibliographies. They also help prevent the nightmare of losing track of where a particular quote or idea came from. You can tag or group sources within these tools (for example, by theme or chapter). This organisation means you can quickly retrieve relevant studies whenever you need them. In short, a good reference manager acts like an organised digital filing cabinet. It stores all the papers and books you read.
Beyond managing citations, it’s equally important to take effective notes on each source. Reading a paper without capturing your thoughts is a missed opportunity. Develop a note-taking method that works for you and stick to it consistently. Many researchers use a literature review matrix or spreadsheet. In this approach, you list sources down one axis and key themes across the other. Then you fill in each cell with a concise note. Others prefer writing a short summary and critique for each source, perhaps in a dedicated notebook or a document.
Whichever method you choose, always record crucial details. These include the source’s main arguments or findings, its methodology, any limitations noted by the authors, and your own critical observations. (For example, you might jot down “Sample size is small” or “This theory could apply to my context”.) Also note how the source connects to your research questions, and whether it raises new questions.
Remember to keep a clear record of all bibliographic information for each work as you go. Include the author, title, journal, year, etc. This habit will save you from scrambling to find details later when writing up citations. Consistent organisation will make the writing stage much smoother. You will have all the details and insights at hand when you start writing.
As one guide advises,
“Keep a clear record of the sources you’ve read, along with your critical analysis of their key arguments and what makes them relevant to your project” (Taylor, n.d.).
By adopting this practice, you’ll have a well-structured pool of knowledge to draw from when you start writing the literature review. It prevents you from dealing with a chaotic pile of articles.
Identifying gaps: finding your research niche
One primary goal of a literature review is to find and articulate the “gap” in existing knowledge. This gap is what your PhD research will aim to fill. Identifying a gap means pinpointing what has not yet been studied, or where evidence is thin, contradictory, or incomplete. To do this effectively, immerse yourself in the literature and pay attention to the trends and patterns in research findings. As you survey the literature, ask: What still isn’t known about this issue?
For instance, you might notice that many studies have examined a phenomenon in Western countries, but very few have looked at it in an Asian context. That absence could indicate a contextual gap. Perhaps prior research on a technology has mostly been quantitative, lacking the human perspective that qualitative work could provide. This scenario suggests a potential methodological gap. Sometimes a gap is explicitly stated by other researchers. Authors often mention in their discussion or conclusion sections what “further research is needed”. Such statements are valuable clues highlighting open questions in the field.
In your literature review, after summarising the state of knowledge, make it clear what is missing or contested. A research gap is essentially an unanswered question or an unsolved problem in the literature (Southern New Hampshire University, n.d.). For example, you might write something like: “While numerous studies have examined X, researchers have not yet reached a consensus on Y.” Or: “Previous research has largely focused on A, leaving B relatively unexplored.” By formulating these gap statements, you justify how your forthcoming research will address a need.
It is important to ensure that the gap you identify is genuine. Double-check that you haven’t overlooked a key study that actually did address your research question. Make sure the gap is still unfilled by the latest research (Southern New Hampshire University, n.d.). This is where staying up-to-date with current publications is vital. The gaps you point out must be based on recent literature, not outdated studies.
Another aspect of finding your niche is framing it as a logical next step. After all, PhD research should build on what is already known while adding new knowledge. So, when you describe the gap in your literature review, also convey why filling that gap matters.
Perhaps it addresses a significant practical problem, or it tests a theory in a new way. It might also extend prior work to a new population. Tying the gap to both the literature and real-world implications makes your justification more compelling.
By the end of your literature review, the reader should clearly understand the trajectory of your research. In other words, they should see how you moved from established knowledge to the unknown territory your project will explore.
Updating your literature review throughout your PhD
Conducting the literature review is not a one-off task that you finish in the first year and then forget. On the contrary, it’s a continuous process that will accompany you throughout your doctoral journey. Research is ever-evolving, and new studies relevant to your topic may emerge while you are working on your project. Therefore, make a habit of regularly updating your literature review. Schedule periodic literature checks. For example, set aside time every month or two to search for newly published papers or data.
Setting up alerts can greatly assist you in this. Tools like Google Scholar allow you to create email alerts for specific keywords. They can also notify you when key authors in your field publish new work. Many academic journals offer free table-of-contents alerts. Subscribing to these for the top journals in your area ensures you rarely miss important articles. By keeping your finger on the pulse of the latest research, you can incorporate new insights promptly. This practice helps you avoid your thesis falling behind the state of the art (Harzing, 2018).
Staying up-to-date is not only about adding new citations. It also means being ready to adjust your perspective if the field shifts. For instance, suppose a groundbreaking study appears halfway through your PhD and challenges your research assumptions. You will need to address it. This might involve refining your research questions or acknowledging the new findings in your thesis discussion. It is far better to integrate such developments than to ignore them and be caught out by your examiners later.
Continually updating the literature review also makes the final writing process easier. You won’t face a massive backlog of three years’ worth of research to review right before submission. After all, you’ve been doing it progressively. As you approach the end of your PhD, take time to thoroughly revisit and revise your literature review chapter. Ensure that it aligns with any changes in your research focus and reflects all the significant literature up to the point of submission.
Often, the act of conducting your research provides new understanding of the literature itself. For example, you might interpret certain studies differently after doing your own experiments or fieldwork. Use that insight to strengthen your review’s analysis. The literature review at submission should read as a cohesive, up-to-date narrative that naturally leads into your research chapters.
In practice, this may mean rewriting portions of your initial draft to better match what you ultimately did and found. This continuous refinement underscores that the literature review is a living document in your PhD. It is a section that evolves alongside your research.
Wrapping up:
An effective literature review is the cornerstone of a successful PhD. It requires diligent effort, from systematic searching and careful reading to critical analysis and continuous updating. However, the payoff is immense. By mastering the literature, you not only bolster your own research with a solid scholarly foundation, but you also transform yourself into an expert. You will then be able to confidently contribute to your academic community.
This journey through the literature can be challenging and at times overwhelming. That is especially true when you are juggling it with other responsibilities as a new PhD student. However, stay organised and maintain focus on your objectives. Approach the task with curiosity and critical thinking. If you do so, you will find the process becomes much more manageable. It can even turn into an enlightening experience that shapes your perspective as a researcher.
If you find yourself struggling to structure or articulate your literature review, remember that resources are available. Seek guidance from your supervisor or peers. They might offer fresh insights or recommend pivotal readings you missed. Additionally, for those who need extra help, our Literature Review Writing Service is available as a support tool. Such a service can provide expert assistance in organising your review or polishing your writing.
Nevertheless, make sure to use it as a supplement rather than a substitute for your own engagement with the literature. Ultimately, you must understand the literature deeply. This is a crucial skill for any PhD student, and it will serve you throughout your research career. If you tackle your literature review with a strategic and critical approach, you set a strong foundation. Everything that follows in your doctoral journey will build on this foundation.
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References and further reading:
- University of Houston Libraries (n.d.) ‘What is a literature review?’. Available at: https://guides.lib.uh.edu/litreview (Accessed: 20 August 2025).
- Boote, D. N. and Beile, P. (2005) ‘Scholars before researchers: On the centrality of the dissertation literature review in research preparation’, Educational Researcher, 34(6), pp. 3–15.
- Harzing, A-W. (2018) ‘How to keep up to date with the literature but avoid information overload’, LSE Impact Blog, 18 May. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2018/05/18/how-to-keep-up-to-date-with-the-literature-but-avoid-information-overload/ (Accessed: 20 August 2025).
- Randolph, J. J. (2009) ‘A guide to writing the dissertation literature review’, Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14(13), pp. 1–13.
- Southern New Hampshire University Library (n.d.) ‘FAQ: What is a research gap and how do I find one?’. Available at: https://libanswers.snhu.edu/faq/215178 (Accessed: 20 August 2025).
- Taylor, B. (n.d.) A guide to writing a PhD literature review. FindAPhD. Available at: https://www.findaphd.com/guides/phd-literature-review (Accessed: 20 August 2025).
- University of Arizona Libraries (n.d.) ‘Conduct a literature review’. Available at: https://lib.arizona.edu/research/sources/lit-review (Accessed: 20 August 2025).