The Science of Literature Reviews: Searching, Identifying, Selecting, and Synthesising

Uchendu Eugene Chigbu (), Sulaiman Olusegun Atiku and Cherley C. Du Plessis
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Uchendu Eugene Chigbu: Department of Land and Spatial Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek 9000, Namibia
Sulaiman Olusegun Atiku: Department of Economic and Business Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha 5100, South Africa
Cherley C. Du Plessis: Department of Marketing, Logistics and Sport Management, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek 9000, Namibia

Publications, 2023, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: The ability to conduct an explicit and robust literature review by students, scholars or scientists is critical in producing excellent journal articles, academic theses, academic dissertations or working papers. A literature review is an evaluation of existing research works on a specific academic topic, theme or subject to identify gaps and propose future research agenda. Many postgraduate students in higher education institutions lack the necessary skills and understanding to conduct in-depth literature reviews. This may lead to the presentation of incorrect, false or biased inferences in their theses or dissertations. This study offers scientific knowledge on how literature reviews in different fields of study could be conducted to mitigate against biased inferences such as unscientific analogies and baseless recommendations. The literature review is presented as a process that involves several activities including searching, identifying, reading, summarising, compiling, analysing, interpreting and referencing. We hope this article serves as reference material to improve the academic rigour in the literature review chapters of postgraduate students’ theses or dissertations. This article prompts established scholars to explore more innovative ways through which scientific literature reviews can be conducted to identify gaps (empirical, knowledge, theoretical, methodological, application and population gap) and propose a future research agenda.

Keywords: higher education; literature review; literature search; literature survey; postgraduate students; publication; research design; research method; research process; scientific paper writing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A2 D83 L82 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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