LibGuides: Module 1: Choose review type: About

About

What this module covers

This literature review module is focused on how to select a literature review type. It outlines common review types used in Health focused research and the associated guidelines. By exploring the purpose and resources required for different review types, you can make a more informed choices on what review approach you should take.

Through engaging with the content and activities in this module you will learn how to:

Recognise the varied purposes of different review types
Determine the resources needed to complete different review types
Identify commonly-used literature review types in health research
Locate guidelines for different literature review types

This module will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Key consideration

Before you start your review. Check that your review is new research. Literature reviews are resource heavy, taking significant time and energy. To maximise the impact of your research it’s important to start the review process by checking “Has this been done already?”.

Conduct a comprehensive search for existing reviews to see if similar reviews are underway or already published. This has the benefit of refining your research focus.

Cummings, Browner & Hulley (1988) developed the FINER model framework for researchers to consider the impact of the review they hope to undertake.

FINER model elements	Questions to address
Feasibility	Is the scope of the research manageable? Do you have the time, resources, expertise and funding?
Interesting	What is the interest in answering this question? Who benefits from answering this question?
Novel	How will answering this question generate new evidence for the discipline literature?
Ethical	What are the ethical implications of this research?
Relevant	How is this research relevant to professional practice in this discipline? How is this research relevant to other scholars in your discipline?

Cummings, S. R., Browner, W. S., & Hulley, S. B. (1988) Conceiving the research question. In S. B. Hulley, & S. R. Cummings SR (Eds), Designing Clinical Research. (pp. 12 - 17). Williams & Wilkins.

Module support

For troubleshooting this module or for further literature review training contact a librarian.