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Literature Reviews (in the Health Sciences)

Step by step guide to one possible process to use for a literature review.

Keeping these goals in mind throughout your project will help you stay organized and focused.

A literature review helps the author:

  • Understand the scope, history, and present state of knowledge in a specific topic
  • Understand application of research concepts such as statistical tests and methodological choices
  • Create a research project that complements the existing research or fills in gaps

A literature review helps the reader:

  • Understand how your research project fits into the existing knowledge and research in a field
  • Understand that a topic is important/relevant to the world and persuade them to keep reading your project