What is a Literature Review?
A literature review is a body of text that aims to review the critical points of current knowledge on a particular topic. Most often associated with science-oriented literature, such as a thesis, the literature review usually proceeds a research proposal, methodology and results section. Its ultimate goals is to bring the reader up to date with current literature on a topic and forms that basis for another goal, such as the justification for future research in the area. (retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature_review)
Print Resources
Many resources on research methodology include a chapter on literature review. Try these titles:
Handbook of Research Methods in Work and Organizational Psychology by Call Number: HF5548.8 .H2653 2002ISBN: 0631222596Publication Date: 2002-02-11Handbook of Research Methods in Industrial and Organizational Psychology is a comprehensive and contemporary treatment of research philosophies, approaches, tools, and techniques indigenous to industrial and organizational psychology.
- SAGE Research Methods"SAGE Research Methods (SRM) is a research tool supported by a newly devised taxonomy that links content and methods terms. It provides the most comprehensive picture available today of research methods (quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods)across the social and behavioural sciences."
Welcome!
There are many resources available on the internet and in print to help you conduct a literature review. For graduate students working on a thesis, the most important resource is your graduate committee chair. Also, if you are an ILR student, don't forget to speak with one of Catherwood's reference librarians. They have subject matter expertise and can help you find research materials, as well as show you relevant databases and resources, including Zotero, an online bibliographic management system. Cornell students can also take advantage of the John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines, which offers a walk-in tutoring Service.
Additional Resources for Writing Literature Reviews
- The Literature Review: A Few Tips on ConductingWriting Advice from the University of Toronto Health Sciences Writing Centre.
- Write a Literature ReviewResearch guide from the University Library, UC Santa Cruz
- Learn How to Write a Review of LiteratureFrom the Writing Center at University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Searching the Library Catalog
Conducting a guided keyword search from the Cornell University Library Catalog, using the terms "research methodology" or "qualitative research" will provide additional results, and adding the term "social sciences" to the search will help narrow the results. You can also use this list of the classification numbers for theses by department. We also offer a finding guide to dissertations and theses that you may find useful!
We also recommend you look through other theses - often your graduate chair will have copies.
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