Literature Review – Guidelines
Overview: What is a Lit Review?
A literature review is an overview of previous research on your question or on an important aspect of your research question. It identifies and describes and sometimes analyzes related research that has already been done and summarizes the state of knowledge about the research question. To best understand the role of a literature review, consider its place in the research process and in the research paper. The research process often begins with a question that the researcher would like to answer. In order to identify what other research has addressed this question and to find out what is already known about it, the researcher will conduct a literature review. This entails examining scholarly books and journal articles, and sometimes additional resources such as conference proceedings and dissertations, to learn about previous research related to the question. Researchers want to be able to identify what is already known about the question and to build upon existing knowledge. Familiarity with previous research also helps researchers design their own study.
Objectives: What are you trying to accomplish?
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Comprehensive: Provide a comprehensive overview of previous research on the topic. This should be a helpful review for readers who are already familiar with the topic and an essential background for readers who are new to the topic. The review should provide a clear sense about how your current research fits into the broader understanding of the topic, which may mean including literatures that are related to your question but do not exactly overlap with your question. When the reader completes reading of the literature review, she or he should be able to say, “I now know what previous research has learned about this topic.”
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Scholarly: Contain references to important previous studies related to the research question that are found in high quality sources such as scholarly books and journals. A good literature review conveys to readers that you have been conscientious in examining previous research and that the your research builds on what is already known. In this process, highly interested readers are also provided with a set of references that they may wish to read themselves.
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Thorough: Focus on both your dependent and independent variables. You want to convey to the reader both how others have attempted to explain what you are trying to explain (DV), what their arguments are (IVs), and their findings. What are the alternative explanations (IVs) that you want to explore? The literature review is the place to develop these and document them with citations to exiting literature. Is there a “conventional wisdom” when it comes to explaining what you seek to explain? The reader should also be aware of this after reading your review.
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Succinct and well-organized: This can be accomplished by focusing on what is actually relevant to the topic of your research paper and not providing long summaries of articles or extraneous details. This has to be balanced with the goal of comprehensiveness.
Specific Requirements:
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You must include your research question (RQ). This can be stated in an opening summary paragraph or written at the top of the page. We cannot judge the lit review without knowing your RQ.
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You must include at least five sources, one of which should be a book (if available).
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Your lit review should be approx. 2500 words, not including the bibliography/work cited at the end of the lit review. It must be double spaced, and please use 12-point font.
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In addition to your name, you must write your section number on your submission.
The main point is that a large number of articles fail to make meaningful contributions—some even present flawed arguments. Therefore, we follow a general guideline of assessing the quality of the journal in which an article is published before deciding to read it.
Many of you are working on very specific topics, which can make it challenging to find high-quality articles that address your subject area in depth.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that the quality of a journal alone determines the quality of an article. However, well-regarded journals tend to publish stronger articles, making it easier to find reliable sources there.
The Impact of Immigration on England
In recent years, a rise in immigration in England has changed how people preserve national identity, affecting what it means to be “English.”. This research asks: In what ways has the rise in immigration reshaped perceptions of national identity in England, and how has this shift influenced identity politics and public policy? England’s growing popularity as an immigrant destination has sparked debates over British identity, with some embracing multiculturalism and others fearing a loss of unity. Immigration is now a central topic in political discussions, affecting border control and public services. Right-wing groups appeal to those who feel their identity is threatened, while others promote inclusivity, making this debate central to England’s identity politics today. This research explores how immigration is reshaping English national identity and influencing politics and policies, connecting to the broader topic of “What is Identity? Why does it become Politicized? Identity Politics & Populism.” Immigration challenges traditional ideas of English identity, which creates feelings of both inclusion and threat, leading to some citizens defending traditional values and others advocating for inclusivity. The core concepts of immigration, national identity, identity politics, public policy, and populism all show how changing views on identity shape public debates and policies in England. An increase in immigration in England has changed views on national identity, bringing these issues into public debate and policy. The findings of this research may guide policymakers in fostering social unity and addressing concerns that drive populism. This investigation provides valuable information for both England and other countries facing similar changes.
Citations
Gower, Melanie. “Immigration and Asylum Policy: A Basic Overview.” House of Commons Library, 10 July 2019, commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06077/. “Inside Britain: Without Realising It, Britain Has Become a Nation of Immigrants.” The Economist, 18 Mar. 2024, www.economist.com/britain/2024/03/18/without-realising-it-britain-has-become-a-nation-of-im migrants. “Record Number of Migrants Cross English Channel to Reach UK.” The New York Times, 12 July 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/07/12/world/europe/uk-immigration-migrant-crossings.html. “Why Is Immigration an Issue for the UK?” BBC News, 11 July 2019, www.bbc.com/news/uk-48785695.