The literature review is an analytical section of a dissertation in which academic works on the research topic are systematised and evaluated. A superficial or outdated literature review calls into question the validity of the entire work's scientific novelty, even where the main chapters are prepared to a high standard.
What is a literature review in a dissertation?
A literature review is a systematic analysis of previously published academic works, monographs, dissertations and articles on the subject of the research. Rather than simply listing sources, this section involves comparing viewpoints, identifying contradictions between approaches and formulating gaps in the existing body of knowledge. The purpose of the review is to show how far the problem has already been studied and to justify the place of the candidate's own research within the existing academic tradition.
The place of the literature review in the structure of a dissertation
The literature review is usually presented as the first chapter of the dissertation or incorporated into the introduction – the format depends on the requirements of the institution where the defence takes place. No strict regulatory requirements govern its length, but as a rough guide, the review runs to around 30-40 pages within a candidate dissertation of 120-150 pages overall, and around 70-90 pages within a doctoral dissertation of 300-350 pages. A significant departure from these proportions in either direction usually attracts comments at the pre-defence stage.
How should a literature review in a dissertation be structured?
The logic of the review moves from the general to the specific: it begins with the broader context of the problem and then narrows to the aspects most closely tied to the dissertation topic. Sources are grouped into thematic blocks – either by subject or, less commonly, in chronological order. The review should draw on up-to-date sources and involves critical analysis rather than summary – comparing arguments and assessing the methodological soundness of their conclusions.
A literature review in a dissertation typically includes the following elements:
- an analysis of the key theoretical approaches to the problem
- a comparison of viewpoints from different academic schools
- an assessment of the methods used in previous studies
- an identification of contradictions and unresolved questions
- a formulation of the gap that the dissertation research fills
Each thematic block of the review ends with an interim conclusion, and the section as a whole closes with a summary that establishes the relevance and scientific novelty of the work. The gap identified should logically lead into the statement of the aim and objectives of the research.
Typical mistakes when preparing a literature review
An analysis of dissertations reveals a number of typical shortcomings in the literature review:
- The review amounts to a summary of sources without any comparison of viewpoints.
- Predominantly outdated publications are used, without regard to the current state of the problem.
- Sources are not clearly grouped into thematic blocks or arranged chronologically.
- No specific gap in the existing knowledge is identified.
- The literature review is not logically connected to the aim and objectives stated in the introduction.
The literature review is not a formal, box-ticking section of a dissertation but the part that determines the scientific soundness of the whole work. A well-thought-out structure, critical analysis of sources and a clearly formulated gap in existing knowledge all strengthen the case for the dissertation at both the pre-defence and the defence itself.
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