Whether you’re writing a thesis, academic paper, or research proposal, a structured literature review is a cornerstone of strong scholarship. It helps you understand what’s already known, identify gaps, refine your research question, and demonstrate credibility.
But with so many sources and so much information, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. A structured literature review brings clarity, transparency, and replicability to the process—making your review more rigorous and manageable.
In this guide, we break down exactly how to conduct a structured literature review, step by step.
What Is a Structured Literature Review?
A structured literature review is a systematic approach to identifying, selecting, evaluating, and synthesizing relevant academic work. It differs from a narrative review in that it:
Follows a clear and replicable method
Uses inclusion/exclusion criteria
Aims to reduce bias
Often includes a flow diagram or summary table
It’s particularly useful for theses, dissertations, and high-quality academic publications.
Step-by-Step: How to Undertake a Structured Literature Review
Step 1: Define Your Research Question
A clear research question guides your review and helps you filter relevant literature.
Use frameworks like:
PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) — for health and social sciences
SPIDER (Sample, Phenomenon, Design, Evaluation, Research type) — for qualitative research
SMART or FINER — for general academic rigor
Example:
“How do remote work arrangements impact employee productivity in the technology sector?”
Step 2: Develop Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Establish what kinds of studies will be included or excluded, based on factors like:
| Criteria | Examples |
|---|---|
| Language | English only |
| Publication date | 2015–2024 |
| Region | OECD countries |
| Study type | Peer-reviewed articles, empirical studies only |
| Population | Knowledge workers in tech industry |
This ensures consistency and transparency.
Step 3: Choose and Document Your Databases
Use multiple scholarly databases for comprehensive coverage:
Scopus
Web of Science
PubMed (health/medicine)
PsycINFO (psychology)
ERIC (education)
Google Scholar (broad but less curated)
OpenAlex includes 250 million pieces of academic literature
Keep a record of:
Databases searched
Date of search
Keywords and filters used
TIP: Use the extensive fact sheet in write studio to record metadata about each record
Step 4: Construct Your Search String
Combine keywords and Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search.
Example search string:
(“remote work” OR “telecommuting” OR “work from home”) AND (“productivity” OR “performance”) AND (“technology sector” OR “IT industry”)
Use quotation marks for exact phrases and parentheses to group terms.
Step 5: Conduct the Search and Screen the Results
Stage 1: Title and abstract screening
Remove duplicates
Screen for relevance
Use a spreadsheet or software (e.g., Excel, Covidence)
Stage 2: Full-text screening
Apply your inclusion/exclusion criteria more rigorously
Record reasons for exclusion
Tip: Use the PRISMA flow diagram to track your screening process.
Step 6: Extract and Organize the Data
For each included study, extract key information such as:
| Author | Year | Title | Method | Sample | Key Findings | Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith | 2021 | Remote Work and Productivity | Survey | 320 tech workers | Productivity rose 15% | Directly relevant |
Use tools like:
Excel or Google Sheets
Write studio, Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley for citations
NVivo or ATLAS.ti for qualitative data
Step 7: Synthesize the Literature
Don’t just list studies—identify patterns, contradictions, gaps, and trends.
Types of synthesis:
Thematic synthesis (qualitative)
Narrative synthesis (summary + interpretation)
Meta-analysis (quantitative aggregation of results)
Organize your synthesis by:
Themes or variables
Chronological development
Methodological approaches
Example themes: productivity measurement, team communication, work-life balance, employee engagement
Step 8: Critically Appraise the Studies
Evaluate the quality and credibility of each source.
Ask:
Is the methodology sound?
Are findings generalizable?
Any evidence of bias?
Is the sample size adequate?
Use appraisal tools like:
CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme)
Joanna Briggs Institute Checklists
AMSTAR (for systematic reviews)
Step 9: Write the Review
Your literature review should be structured and critical—not just descriptive.
Typical structure:
Introduction
Scope, purpose, and structure of the review
Methods
Search strategy, databases, criteria, number of studies
Findings/Synthesis
Themes, comparisons, trends, gaps
Critical evaluation
Quality of evidence, limitations
Conclusion
Summary of insights, implications, research gaps
Step 10: Reference and Document Transparently
Use consistent citation styles (APA, Harvard, Chicago, etc.), approved by your institution and include:
Full reference list
PRISMA diagram (if systematic)
Appendices (for full search strategies or data extraction tables)
In Summary
A structured literature review helps you build a strong foundation for your research. It’s a systematic, transparent, and critical process that reveals what’s known—and what still needs to be explored.
By following these steps, you not only improve the quality of your review, but you also make your work more credible, replicable, and valuable to your academic or professional field.
Remember: clarity, consistency, and critical thinking are your best tools.
