SPL 2320 Research Methods in Exercise Science and Sports Leadership

"Literature review articles (or narrative literature review articles) provide narrative summaries and evaluations of the findings or theories within a literature base.  The literature base may include qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed methods research. Literature reviews capture trends in the  literature; they do not engage in a systematic quantitative or qualitative meta-analysis of the findings from the initial studies.

In literature review articles, authors should

• define and clarify the problem;
• summarize previous investigations to inform readers of the state of the research;
• identify relations, contradictions, gaps, and inconsistencies in the literature; and
• suggest next steps in solving the problem.

The components of literature review articles can be arranged in various ways -- for example, by grouping research on the basis of similarity in the concepts or theories of interest, methodological similarities among the studies reviewed, or the historical development of the field."

Source: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 7th Edition. p. 8 section 1.6 Literature Review Articles.