Literature Review Help for Thesis, FYP and Dissertation

Literature review vs summary of sources

In short: a literature review is an argument about what is known, not a list of summaries. Every paragraph should make a point and use sources as evidence for it. The goal is to show where the gap is and why your study fills it.

A summary says what each author found. A review says what the sources together tell you, where they agree, where they disagree, and what is missing.

• Summary: "Ahmad (2020) studied X. Lee (2021) studied Y."
• Review: "Studies of X consistently find A, but they rely on small samples (Ahmad, 2020; Lee, 2021), and few examine B."

See how to write a literature review.

Search strategy and source selection

A good review starts with a clear search, not a pile of downloads.

1. List key terms from your research question, with synonyms.
2. Search more than one database. Use your university library's databases and Google Scholar. Combine terms with AND and OR.
3. Set inclusion rules for date range, language, peer review and relevance.
4. Keep a log of searches and results so you can describe your method.
5. Prefer recent, peer-reviewed sources, plus older foundational works for theory.

Use a reference manager such as Zotero or Mendeley from day one. See referencing help.

Synthesising themes, gaps and theory

Synthesis is where most students lose marks. To synthesise:

• Build a table of sources with columns for method, sample, key finding and limitation.
• Group sources into themes, not into one paragraph per author.
• Within each theme, compare and contrast sources.
• Show gaps: what is missing, contradictory or out of date.
• Link the gap to your research question and, where needed, to a theory or framework.

Systematic literature review support

A systematic literature review follows a documented, repeatable method. It is common in health, education and IT, and increasingly in business. We coach you on:

• Defining a focused review question.
• Writing search strings and eligibility criteria.
• Screening records and recording reasons for exclusion.
• Reporting the process, often with a PRISMA flow diagram.
• Extracting and synthesising data from included studies.

Check whether your programme expects a systematic review or a narrative one before you begin.

Reviewing your draft for structure and flow

Send your draft and we review it for:

• Whether it has a clear opening that states scope and purpose.
• Logical order of themes and clear transitions.
• Whether each paragraph makes a point.
• Balance between description and critique.
• A clear statement of the gap, linked to your objectives.
• Referencing consistency and similarity risk.

You get written comments on your own writing. We do not write the review for you.

Bantuan kajian literatur

Perlukan bantuan untuk kajian literatur anda? Kami membimbing anda membina strategi carian, memilih sumber, menyusun tema dan menulis sintesis yang menunjukkan jurang penyelidikan.

Kajian literatur yang baik bukan senarai ringkasan jurnal. Ia ialah hujah. Kami menyemak draf anda dan memberi maklum balas bertulis supaya struktur dan aliran lebih jelas.

Hubungi kami di WhatsApp +6012 4921 909.

Related guide: how to write a literature review

• How to write a literature review: purpose, organising by theme, synthesis vs summary and finding the gap.
• Referencing and citation help: APA 7, Harvard and IEEE.
• Thesis help for chapter-by-chapter support.

Frequently asked questions