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ECY 689: Advanced Topics in Special Education

This guide was originally created by Dana Hettich.

The Literature Review

A literature review assesses a body of research, published by accredited scholars and researchers, that is connected to your research question and can either be a part of a larger work (e.g. thesis or dissertation) or stand on its own. 

Purpose: A literature review

  • Identifies what is already known about an area of study
  • Includes all the facets that might touch the topic
  • Helps identify questions a body of research has yet to answer
  • Makes a case for why further study of research questions is important

Process:

It is a journey that is cyclical rather than linear.  Expect to return to and refine earlier efforts as your understanding of the research changes and grows.  

Literature Review as Process


 

How to Read a Scholarly Article