How to Ace the Literature Review? Don’t Be Overwhelmed. Be Organised, by Ruth Oji

The literature review stands as a cornerstone of academic writing, serving as the foundation upon which robust research is built. Yet, for many scholars, particularly those in the early stages of their academic journey, the process of conducting a comprehensive literature review can seem daunting.

The sheer volume of available information, coupled with the need for critical analysis and synthesis, often leaves researchers feeling overwhelmed. In this article, I aim to transform the literature review from a source of anxiety into a manageable, even enjoyable, part of the research process.

Let me begin by sharing with you some strategies for efficient reading and note-taking. First is the SQ3R method. Developed by Francis Pleasant Robinson, this method involves Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review. Survey means that you quickly skim the material to get an overview. Question means formulating questions based on the title, headings, and summary. Read means to actively read the text, seeking answers to your questions.

Recite implies summarising key points in your own words, and review means to reflect on the material and its relevance to your research. After following these steps, you may then proceed to colour-code.The colour-coding system requires you to assign colours to different themes or aspects of your research.

Subsequently, you could deploy digital tools for note-taking. Indeed, leveraging technology to organise your notes effectively is a no-brainer. Wondering what some of them are? One is Evernote. It allows for easy categorisation and searching of notes. Another is Notion. It offers flexible organisation with databases and linked notes. And Zotero combines reference management with note-taking capabilities.

Sometimes, though, there is the challenge of synthesising information across multiple sources. That

notwithstanding, remember that the true value of a literature review lies not in summarising individual sources, but in synthesising information to identify patterns, gaps, and contradictions in the existing research. It is not enough to simply say, ‘Oji (2024) argues that … and Lagbaja (2023) proposes that …’ You have to move beyond such basic identification to stating how the studies overlap, agree, conflict, or do something else. Why have you chosen to review those works? How are they related to your work, and what bearing does such review have on your work? Why should we be interested?

Here are ways to help you with synthesising valuable information gathered from various sources. To begin, you could do what we call concept mapping. This means to create visual representations of how different ideas and sources connect. Next, you could do a comparison matrix. It might be okay to develop a table to compare different studies across key variables. Also, consider undertaking a thematic analysis. To do this, identify recurring themes across the literature, and organise your review around these. I could share an excerpt of how I did this in one of my works:

“…As has been shown, the discourse of protest is not new in Nigeria. Studies have engaged these protests from several lens (Labinjoh, 1982; Mason, 1973; Osuagwu, 2019; Onanuga and Akingbe, 2020). However, the #End- SARS protest is unique in Nigeria because that was the first time Nigerian youth moved out in their numbers to protest police brutality.

Studies from the academic mainstream have investigated the #EndSARS protest from musicological discourse perspective (Iliya, 2022), social media perspectives (Bodunrin and Matsilele, 2023; Iwuoha et al., 2021; Dambo et al., 2021; Akerele-Popoola et al., 2022; Uwalaka et al., 2022), negotiation management perspective (Etim et al., 2022), femininst perspectives (Nwabunnia, 2021), and a right to protest perspective (Ekeke, 2023).

These studies are revealing and insightful about the protests. However, studies on hip-hop music have not sufficiently engaged the #EndSARS protest.” (Oji, R. K. B. (2024). “Of Protests and Satire: Representations of #EndSARS Brutality in Selected Nigerian Hip-hop Music”. In Eds. Lungile, Tshuma., and Shepherd, Mpofu. Media, Social Movements, and Protest Cultures in Africa, pp. 139-158. Rowman & Littlefield: Massachusetts.)

I believe you noticed how I organised the literature in terms of similar themes. Much more than that though is the need to identify gaps in your current research. A crucial aspect of the literature review is identifying areas where further research is needed. This not only justifies your own study but also contributes to the advancement of knowledge in your field. How can you do this? On one hand, you could try do a systematic gap analysis.

This means that you create a checklist of aspects of your topic and systematically note which areas are well-covered and which are under-researched. On the other hand, you could examine methodological gaps. This requires that you look for limitations in the methodologies used in existing studies. Another approach is to look for temporal and geographical gaps. Simply consider whether existing research is up-to-date and geographically diverse.

Will there be challenges as you do a literature review? Certainly! Common challenges include the following: information overload: to overcome this, set clear boundaries for your search. Use specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to filter sources; maintaining objectivity: be aware of your own biases and actively seek out diverse perspectives; staying current: set up alerts for new publications in your field (you can do this on ResearchGate).

This article has shown how you can move from chaos to clarity in your literature review. Conducting a literature review involves transitioning from managing a large volume of information to effectively understanding the existing research. By employing efficient reading and note-taking strategies, developing skills in synthesis and gap identification, and addressing common challenges head-on, you can transform the literature review from a daunting task into a powerful tool for advancing your research.

As you embark on your next literature review, consider: How can you adapt these strategies to suit your personal working style? What new approaches might you try to enhance your efficiency and effectiveness? Remember, the goal is not just to summarise what has been done, but to engage critically with the existing body of knowledge, positioning your own research within the broader academic conversation.

With practice and persistence, the literature review becomes not just a necessary step in the research

With practice and persistence, the literature review becomes not just a necessary step in the research process, but an opportunity for intellectual growth and discovery. Embrace the challenge, and watch as the overwhelming transforms into the organised, paving the way for your own meaningful contribution to your field of study.