8. Literature review as a thesis

Literature reviews are carried out for different purposes, so the ways in which they are conducted and the names they are given differ slightly. An integrative literature review is an alternative particularly for Master’s students, who have the academic skills and rigor needed to do systematical search of the databases, article analysis and synthesis. Literature review is a theoretical way of doing a thesis, hence it is not very suitable for Bachelor’s thesis.

A literature review is a survey of what knowledge exists in a particular area. It usually seeks to answer a question, such as a research problem. A literature review can be an article, a presentation or a part of a thesis, in which what is known about the phenomenon under study is analysed. A scoping review is needed, for example, at the beginning of a major project to formulate the research question. It also looks at the methods and success of research on the topic and whether there are any gaps in the knowledge that should be addressed. The mapping exercise will also clarify the scope of the project. Concepts are constantly evolving as different techniques are combined, such as scoping meta-review, which is situated between mapping and metareview. (See Ikonen, Isojärvi, & Malmivaara 2009, 3209).

The design of a literature review is aided by a concept analysis, resulting in a mind map or concept map. This concept map is useful in a systematic search for information where different keywords and combinations of keywords are needed. In a systematic literature search, the aim is to find as many publications as possible from databases and registers that are relevant to the research topic in an efficient and organised way. The search process is reported so that it is transparent and anyone can repeat the search and get the same results (Isojärvi 2011, Isojärvi 2017, Mäkelä & Punkari, 2017).

Types of literature review

1. Descriptive literature review: This type of review summarizes and synthesizes the literature on a particular topic. It is often used to identify gaps in the literature and to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic.

1. Systematic Review: This type of review uses a systematic and transparent method to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research. It aims to minimize bias and provide a reliable summary of the evidence.
2. Meta-Analysis: This type of review uses statistical techniques to combine the results of multiple studies. It aims to provide a more precise estimate of the effect of an intervention or exposure.

Descriptive literature reviews report or describe the scope, depth and quantity of previous research on a topic.

• narrative literature review
• traditional literature review
• critical review
• mapping review
• scoping review
• rapid review
• overview
• state-of-the-art review

Systematic reviews have evolved from one another, so the terminology is not yet well established. Classification is based on the level of detail and conciseness of the final result.

• Integrative integrative literature review: the broadest type of review, which can include either empirical or theoretical literature, or both. It has features of both narrative and systematic reviews. The key element is the synthesis of studies produced by different research designs, which is a demanding task.
• Systematic, systematic literature review is the best known type of review, in which the answer to a specific question, often based on a clinical PICO model, is sought as comprehensively as possible from the previous research literature. Cochrane reviews and the like focus on demonstrating the effectiveness of specific selected procedures.
• A systematic review, as a sub-type of the former, differs from a systematic review in that it is usually conducted by a single researcher, whereas a systematic review usually involves two or more researchers. A search of the research literature may be conducted from only one database and the evaluation, analysis and synthesis of the data may not be as systematic and comprehensive as in a systematic review.
• systematic search and review
• umbrella review is a review of systematic reviews, the genesis of which is linked to the evidence base of the systematic review.

Meta-analyses are divided into qualitative and quantitative meta-analyses

• Qualitative meta-analysis has two orientations: metasynthesis / qualitative evidence synthesis (more interpretative, descriptive) and meta-summary / qualitative metasummary (more mathematical, quantitative)
• Quantitative meta-analysis / meta-analysis is not a type of review but a technique for statistically combining the results or effects of quantitative original studies on a given topic. Analyses using this technique require a systematic review and that a sufficient number of original studies on the same subject, using the same methods and instruments, are available (see Literature review in nursing. 2016, 8-17).

Steps in Conducting a Literature Review:

1. Define the Research Question: Clearly define the research question or hypothesis that you want to address.
2. Search the Literature: Use databases and other sources to identify relevant studies. Be sure to use a comprehensive and systematic search strategy.
3. Select Studies: Use predefined criteria to select studies that are relevant to your research question.
4. Extract Data: Extract relevant data from the selected studies. This may include information on study design, sample size, outcomes, and other variables.
5. Synthesize the Evidence: Summarize and synthesize the evidence from the selected studies. This may involve qualitative or quantitative methods.
6. Write the Review: Write a clear and concise review that summarizes the evidence and provides a critical appraisal of the literature.

Common Pitfalls in Literature Reviews:

• Bias: Be aware of potential biases in the selection and interpretation of studies.
• Lack of Rigor: Ensure that your review is conducted in a systematic and rigorous manner.
• Overgeneralization: Avoid making broad generalizations based on limited evidence.

Conclusion: A well-conducted literature review is an essential component of any research project. It provides a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence and helps to identify gaps in the literature. By following a systematic and rigorous approach, you can ensure that your literature review is reliable and informative.