How To Do Secondary Research or a Literature Review

Abstract: This paper discusses the question about how to write a literature review paper (LRP). It stresses the primary importance of adding value, rather than only providing an overview, and it then discusses some of the reasons for (or not) actually writing an LRP, including issues relating to the nature and scope of the paper. It also presents different types of LRPs, advises on reporting the methodology used for the selection of papers for review, and the structure of an LRP. An important conclusion is that the heterogeneity in LRPs is very large. This paper also presents some of the aspects that the authors feel are important structural and contextual considerations that help produce high-quality review papers.

The CARS approach has been adopted by many universities worldwide as a model or framework for crafting introductions to research papers and proposals, including the literature review.

Although written for students in the health sciences, this how-to article is useful for students in all subject areas who want to learn how to do effective secondary research.