RADT: Radiologic Technology and Imaging Science: Literature Reviews

Consult this LibGuide from University Libraries to learn more about the process of creating a literature review. 

Topics covered include:

• Getting Started
• Literature Searching
• Managing the Review
• Writing Your Review

Many academic research assignments require a literature review.  A literature review is usually a process that gathers information on a particular topic or subject area from numerous information sources related to that topic, and sometimes information on a topic from within a certain time period.

Creating a literature review involves reading, analyzing, summarizing, and reviewing or evaluating scholarly materials about a specific topic.

Generally, the literature found during this process is used to build a foundation that helps to support further research in the form of a research paper, a thesis, or a dissertation, though literature reviews can also be stand-alone reviews of the writings on a particular subject.

Avoiding Plagiarism: Quoting vs Paraphrasing

This resource from the University of Wisconsin - Madison Writing Center offers very useful tips and suggestions on proper paraphrasing and citing of sources.

As you begin your search, make sure you are saving articles and bibliographic information.  Additionally, organize the notes you are taking and the information you are collecting to ensure you are providing proper credit to your sources.  Saving and organizing source information along the way makes citing those sources much easier once you begin writing your paper and compiling your references or works cited page!

To better understand the purpose of literature reviews and how they differ from research papers, watch this short video from the Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons at Seattle University.

Understanding Literature Reviews