Free Literature Review Checklist Template

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Free Literature Review Checklist Template

Literature Review Checklist


1. Preparation

  • Define the topic: Ensure that the literature review is focused on a clear, specific research question or topic.

  • Search strategy: Have you defined a strategy for selecting sources (e.g., keywords, databases, journals)?

  • Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Are the criteria for selecting studies clear (e.g., date range, relevance, quality of studies)?

2. Source Identification

  • Comprehensive search: Have you searched a variety of sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journals, books, conference proceedings, dissertations)?

  • Key databases: Have you used relevant academic databases (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Scopus)?

  • Document sources: Have you kept a record of all sources used (e.g., citations, abstracts)?

3. Source Evaluation

  • Quality and reliability: Are the sources from credible, peer-reviewed publications?

  • Relevance to topic: Are the sources directly related to your research question or topic?

  • Recent studies: Have you included recent studies and avoided outdated or irrelevant papers?

  • Theoretical or methodological quality: Have you evaluated the quality of studies in terms of their methodology and theoretical framework?

4. Organization and Structure

  • Introduction: Have you introduced the research question, the importance of the topic, and the purpose of the review?

  • Themes and categories: Is the literature grouped into relevant themes or categories?

  • Chronological or thematic structure: Have you organized the review in a logical structure, either chronologically or thematically?

  • Synthesis: Have you synthesized findings from various studies rather than just summarizing them?

  • Gap identification: Have you identified gaps or limitations in the current literature?

5. Critical Analysis

  • Comparisons: Have you compared and contrasted different authors' viewpoints and findings?

  • Strengths and weaknesses: Have you evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of different studies?

  • Bias and limitations: Have you addressed any potential biases or limitations in the studies reviewed?

  • Contradictions: Have you discussed any contradictory findings or debates in the literature?

6. Conclusion

  • Summary of findings: Have you summarized the key findings of the literature review?

  • Research gaps: Have you identified areas where further research is needed?

  • Contribution to the field: Have you discussed how the review contributes to the current understanding of the topic?

7. References and Citations

  • Correct citation style: Are all references cited correctly according to the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago)?

  • Complete reference list: Have you included all sources cited in the text in the reference list?

  • Consistency: Are the citations and references consistent and formatted correctly throughout?

8. Writing Quality

  • Clarity and coherence: Is the writing clear, logical, and easy to follow?

  • Conciseness: Have you avoided unnecessary repetition or excessive detail?

  • Grammar and style: Is the writing grammatically correct and consistent with academic writing standards?

9. Final Review

  • Check for gaps: Have you reviewed the literature to ensure you haven’t missed any important studies?

  • Review of relevance: Are all the included studies still relevant and up-to-date?

  • Peer review: Have you considered having a peer or supervisor review your literature review for feedback?


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