How to Write a Dissertation Literature Review

First, let’s clear up a common misconception. A literature review is not a descriptive list or summary of everything you’ve read. Instead, it’s a critical, analytical overview of the key literature relevant to your research topic.

Think of it as a structured conversation between different authors and you. Your job is to:

• Synthesise: Connect different ideas and studies to show the bigger picture.

• Analyse: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing research.

• Identify Gaps: Find the missing piece of the puzzle that your own dissertation will address.

In essence, your literature review justifies your research question. It answers the crucial questions: What is already known about this topic? What is still unknown? And why is my research necessary?

Before you write a single word, you need a solid plan.

1. Define Your Scope

Your topic might be broad, but your literature review must be focused. Create a clear research question or objective. This will be your compass, guiding which literature is relevant and which isn’t. Ask yourself: What are the key concepts, variables, and contexts I need to explore?

2. Conduct a Systematic Search

Don’t just rely on a quick Google Scholar search. Use your university’s online library database.

• Keywords: Brainstorm a list of keywords related to your topic. Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search (e.g., “social media AND body image NOT adolescents”).

• Academic Sources: Prioritise peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, and credible reports. Your marker will expect a foundation of high-quality, contemporary sources.

• Snowballing: Use the reference lists of key papers you find to discover other relevant sources. This is an incredibly effective way to build your bibliography.

3. Manage Your Sources

This is non-negotiable. Use a reference manager like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote. From day one, save every source you read with its full citation. This will save you countless hours and prevent referencing nightmares later.

Now you have a stack of literature, it’s time to engage with it critically.

1. Read with Purpose

Don’t just read to understand; read to critique. For each source, ask:

• What is the main argument?

• What methodology did the author use? Are there limitations?

• What evidence is presented? Is it convincing?

• How does this work relate to other studies I’ve read? Does it support or contradict them?

• When was it published? Is it still relevant, or is it a seminal (foundational) work?

2. Thematic Organisation is Key

This is the most important structural decision. Resist the urge to structure your review by simply describing one author after another (the “laundry list” approach). Instead, organise your review thematically.

• Identify Key Themes: From your reading, what are the recurring debates, concepts, or topics? For example, if your dissertation is on “The Impact of Remote Work on Employee Wellbeing,” your themes might be: *Theme 1: Autonomy and Productivity, Theme 2: Social Isolation and Loneliness, Theme 3: The Blurring of Work-Life Boundaries.*

• Structure Your Chapter Around Themes: Each theme becomes a sub-heading within your literature review chapter. Under each heading, you discuss the different authors who have contributed to that specific theme, comparing and contrasting their views.

This approach demonstrates synthesis and critical thinking, which is exactly what markers want to see.

A well-structured literature review has a clear narrative arc.

1. Introduction

• Briefly state the purpose of the review and your research question.

• Outline the scope – what you will and won’t cover (e.g., “This review will focus on literature from the UK published within the last decade…”).

• Provide a “roadmap” for the reader by briefly stating the key themes you will discuss.

2. The Body Paragraphs (The Thematic Discussion)

This is where you execute your thematic plan. For each theme:

• Start with a Topic Sentence: Clearly state the theme or debate you are about to discuss.

• Synthesise, Don’t List: Don’t say, “Smith (2020) found X. Then Jones (2021) found Y.” Instead, write: “While Smith (2020) argues that X is the primary factor, this is challenged by Jones (2021), who provides evidence for Y. This suggests a lack of consensus on…”

• Use Critical Language: Compare, contrast, and evaluate. Use phrases like:

  • “A key strength of this theory is…”

  • “However, this study is limited by its small sample size…”

  • “Building on this work, Brown (2022) demonstrates…”

  • “There is a general consensus that… however, a significant contradiction exists…”

3. Conclusion

• Summarise the main points of agreement and disagreement you have identified.

• Explicitly state the gap in the literature. This is your golden moment. Clearly explain what is missing from the existing research. For example: “While extensive research has explored X and Y, there is a notable lack of longitudinal studies focusing on Z population.”

• Directly link this gap to your research. State how your dissertation will address this gap. “Therefore, this study will investigate Z by using a longitudinal approach, thereby contributing to a clearer understanding of…”

• Being Too Descriptive: This is the number one mistake. Always analyse, don’t just describe.

• Failing to Synthesise: If your review is just a series of summaries, you haven’t synthesised. Weave the authors’ ideas together.

• Ignoring Landmark Studies: While recent sources are vital, make sure you acknowledge the seminal, foundational works in your field.

• Not Critiquing Methodology: Don’t just report findings; briefly comment on how those findings were generated.

• Letting Quotes Dominate: Use quotes sparingly. Your voice should be the dominant one, paraphrasing and interpreting the literature.

• Have I clearly justified my research question?

• Is my structure thematic, not just a list of authors?

• Is my writing critical and analytical throughout?

• Have I explicitly identified the gap my research will fill?

• Are all my in-text citations and final reference list perfectly formatted according to my university’s guidelines (e.g., Harvard, APA, OSCOLA)?

• Have I proofread for clarity, flow, and grammatical errors?

Writing a stellar literature review is a marathon, not a sprint. By following this structured approach—planning meticulously, reading critically, organising thematically, and writing analytically—you will create a chapter that not only reviews the literature but actively builds the case for your own original contribution. This is the hallmark of a first-class dissertation.

Dr. Eleanor Evans is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and the Director of Undergraduate Dissertations at a leading UK university. She has over 15 years of experience helping students turn their ideas into successful research projects.