Main Article Content
Abstract
Literature reviews are integral to academic research, providing synthesised insights into existing knowledge while identifying gaps for future exploration. This paper explores various types of literature reviews, including narrative, systematic, meta-analyses, scoping, critical, and integrative reviews. Each type is characterised by distinct methodologies and purposes, ranging from providing broad overviews to rigorous synthesis of evidence and quantitative data analysis. Understanding these methodologies aids researchers in selecting appropriate review methods tailored to their research questions, thereby enhancing the quality and impact of their work across disciplines.
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References
- Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
- Christmals, C. D., & Gross, J. J. (2017). An integrative literature review framework for postgraduate nursing research reviews. European Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 5(1), 7. Retrieved from https://www.idpublications.org
- Dodgson, J. E. (2021). Critical Analysis: The Often-Missing Step in Conducting Literature Review Research. Journal of Human Lactation. https://doi.org/10.1177_0890334420977815
- Fink, A. (2014). Conducting research literature reviews: From the internet to paper (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
- Haidich, A. B. (2010). Meta-analysis in medical research. Hippokratia, 14(Suppl 1), 29-37. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3049418/
- Hansen, C., Steinmetz, H., & Block, J. (2022). How to conduct a meta-analysis in eight steps: A practical guide. Management Review Quarterly, 72, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-021-00247-4
- Johnson, B. T., & Hennessy, E. A. (2019). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the health sciences: Best practice methods for research syntheses. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 233, 237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.05.035
- Laher, S., Fynn, A., & Kramer, S. (2019). Trends in social science research in Africa: Rigour, relevance and responsibility. In A. Boonzaier, C. Sharp, & S. van der Merwe (Eds.), Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences: Case Studies from South Africa (pp. 393-412). Wits University Press. https://doi.org/10.18772/22019032750.29
- Moosapour, H., Saeidifard, F., Aalaa, M., Soltani, A., & Larijani, B. (2021). The rationale behind systematic reviews in clinical medicine: A conceptual framework. Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, 20(1), 919-929. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00773-8
- Munn, Z., Peters, M.D.J., Stern, C. et al. (2018). Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. BMC Med Res Methodol, 18, 143. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x
- Paré, G., & Kitsiou, S. (2017). Chapter 9 Methods for literature reviews. In F. Lau & C. Kuziemsky (Eds.), Handbook of eHealth Evaluation: An Evidence-based Approach. Victoria (BC): University of Victoria. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481583/
- Pigott, T. D., & Polanin, J. R. (2019). Methodological Guidance Paper: High-Quality Meta-Analysis in a Systematic Review. Review of Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654319877153
- Post, C., Sarala, R., Gatrell, C., & Prescott, J. (2020). Advancing Theory with Review Articles. Journal of Management Studies, 57(2), 351-376. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12549
- Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333-339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
- Torraco, R. J. (2016). Writing integrative literature reviews: Using the past and present to explore the future. Human Resource Development Review, 15(4), 404-428. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484316671606
- Toronto, C. (2020). Overview of the Integrative Review. In A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting an Integrative Review (pp. 1-15). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37504-1_1
- Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2017). Guidance on Conducting a Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971
References
Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
Christmals, C. D., & Gross, J. J. (2017). An integrative literature review framework for postgraduate nursing research reviews. European Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 5(1), 7. Retrieved from https://www.idpublications.org
Dodgson, J. E. (2021). Critical Analysis: The Often-Missing Step in Conducting Literature Review Research. Journal of Human Lactation. https://doi.org/10.1177_0890334420977815
Fink, A. (2014). Conducting research literature reviews: From the internet to paper (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Haidich, A. B. (2010). Meta-analysis in medical research. Hippokratia, 14(Suppl 1), 29-37. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3049418/
Hansen, C., Steinmetz, H., & Block, J. (2022). How to conduct a meta-analysis in eight steps: A practical guide. Management Review Quarterly, 72, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-021-00247-4
Johnson, B. T., & Hennessy, E. A. (2019). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the health sciences: Best practice methods for research syntheses. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 233, 237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.05.035
Laher, S., Fynn, A., & Kramer, S. (2019). Trends in social science research in Africa: Rigour, relevance and responsibility. In A. Boonzaier, C. Sharp, & S. van der Merwe (Eds.), Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences: Case Studies from South Africa (pp. 393-412). Wits University Press. https://doi.org/10.18772/22019032750.29
Moosapour, H., Saeidifard, F., Aalaa, M., Soltani, A., & Larijani, B. (2021). The rationale behind systematic reviews in clinical medicine: A conceptual framework. Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, 20(1), 919-929. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00773-8
Munn, Z., Peters, M.D.J., Stern, C. et al. (2018). Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. BMC Med Res Methodol, 18, 143. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x
Paré, G., & Kitsiou, S. (2017). Chapter 9 Methods for literature reviews. In F. Lau & C. Kuziemsky (Eds.), Handbook of eHealth Evaluation: An Evidence-based Approach. Victoria (BC): University of Victoria. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481583/
Pigott, T. D., & Polanin, J. R. (2019). Methodological Guidance Paper: High-Quality Meta-Analysis in a Systematic Review. Review of Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654319877153
Post, C., Sarala, R., Gatrell, C., & Prescott, J. (2020). Advancing Theory with Review Articles. Journal of Management Studies, 57(2), 351-376. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12549
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333-339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Torraco, R. J. (2016). Writing integrative literature reviews: Using the past and present to explore the future. Human Resource Development Review, 15(4), 404-428. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484316671606
Toronto, C. (2020). Overview of the Integrative Review. In A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting an Integrative Review (pp. 1-15). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37504-1_1
Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2017). Guidance on Conducting a Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971