McCombes (2019) states that a literature review is a method of gathering information from scholarly sources on a specific topic. 

It provides an outline of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research. You will need to find relevant publications, such as books and journal articles to write a Literature review. There are five key steps that will help you to critically analyze them, and explain what you found:

1. Search for relevant literature
2. Evaluate sources
3. Identify themes, debates, and gaps
4. Outline the structure
5. Write your literature review

There are many types of reviews of literature, such as systematic reviews. The choice of review type is wholly dependent on the research question.  For example, not all research questions are well-suited for systematic reviews. Review the table to peruse the various types of reviews and their definitions.

Table adapted from Duke University

Label

Description

Critical review

Aims to demonstrate writer has extensively researched literature and critically evaluated its quality. Goes beyond mere description to include the degree of analysis and conceptual innovation. Typically results in hypothesis or mode

Literature review

Generic term: published materials that provide an examination of recent or current literature. Can cover a wide range of subjects at various levels of completeness and comprehensiveness. May include research findings

Mapping review/ systematic map

Map out and categorize existing literature from which to commission further reviews and/or primary research by identifying gaps in the research literature

Meta-analysis

A technique that statistically combines the results of quantitative studies to provide a more precise effect of the results

Mixed studies review/mixed methods review

Refers to any combination of methods where one significant component is a literature review (usually systematic). Within a review context it refers to a combination of review approaches for example combining quantitative with qualitative research or outcome with process studies

Overview

Generic term: summary of the [medical] literature that attempts to survey the literature and describe its characteristics

Qualitative systematic review/qualitative evidence synthesis

Method for integrating or comparing the findings from qualitative studies. It looks for ‘themes’ or ‘constructs’ that lie in or across individual qualitative studies

Rapid review

Assessment of what is already known about a policy or practice issue, by using systematic review methods to search and critically appraise existing research

Scoping review

Preliminary assessment of potential size and scope of available research literature. Aims to identify the nature and extent of research evidence (usually including ongoing research)

State-of-the-art review

Tend to address more current matters in contrast to other combined retrospective and current approaches. May offer new perspectives

Systematic review

Seeks to systematically search for, appraise and synthesis research evidence, often adhering to guidelines on the conduct of a review

Systematic search and review

Combines strengths of critical review with a comprehensive search process. Typically addresses broad questions to produce ‘best evidence synthesis’

Systematized review

Attempt to include elements of the systematic review process while stopping short of a systematic review. Typically conducted as postgraduate student assignment

Umbrella review

Specifically refers to review compiling evidence from multiple reviews into one accessible and usable document. Focuses on broad conditions or problems for which there are competing interventions and highlights reviews that address these interventions and their results

Systematic review:
Barriers and facilitators to health screening in men: A systematic review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.023

Literature review:
A Literature review of mentorship programs in academic nursing
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2017.02.007

Scoping review: 
How do patients experience caring? Scoping review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.03.029

Rapid review: 
Blended foods for tube-fed children: a safe and realistic option? A rapid review of the evidence
https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2016-311030