Academic research and interview transcription forms the basis of a student’s thesis or dissertation. This makes academic transcription services highly relevant. Every student puts in a lot of effort to develop a thesis. A good dissertation not only contains a compilation of research findings and notes, but also scholastic inputs by the author. Universities reward theses that present a well-analyzed study of the proposed topic. A student or researcher writing a publication must also know how to write a literature review. It is a search and evaluation of available literature in your chosen topic. It includes the current knowledge including substantive findings as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to a particular topic. Literature reviews are of 2 types: a standalone one which your instructor asks you to submit as part of the assignment, and one to be included in a research report. A literature review can be lengthy because it helps to explain various perspectives about the topic to the reader.
Importance of Literature Review and How to Structure It
A literature review makes it easier for a researcher to understand their topic. By reading several studies they can have a clearer view regarding the areas of concern, the arguments presented, and gather new insights. It also helps reduce duplication of work and identify inconsistencies and gaps in the studies that were done earlier.
A literature review consists of:
- Introduction – This section explains the focus of the study, examines previous work, controversies and assumptions that have been made regarding the topic. The thesis statement is included at the end of the introduction. If the literature review is an introduction to a thesis, it will sketch out how the findings will lead to the research.
- Body – It contains headings and subheadings and discusses the main themes and trends. It also outlines the difference of opinion between various authors and if the review is meant to support your argument, you should make justifications that support it.
- Conclusion – It is the last part of the literature review that contains a summary of the arguments and the evidence collected. The conclusion of a standalone review should contain the applications and implications of the study.
Tips to Write a Proper Literature Review
- Find a topic: Think about the areas of your interest and come up with a topic that is relevant. Find out why it is important and read some sample literature reviews to get an idea about the topic.
- Review existing literature: A thorough research is important to write a good review. Search online, read journals, books, magazines and collect as much information as possible. Do not discard any articles that contain the information that you need and the articles that are contrary to your arguments.
- Narrow down your topic: There are many things that can be discussed in a literature review but keep it focused on the topic. So, narrow down your topic until you find specific aspects that interest you.
- Read articles, evaluate them and organize the sources: Read all the collected articles thoroughly and note down the assumptions, methodologies, testing procedures, subjects and the materials used. Identify the research findings from each of these studies and the conclusions that have been made, expert inputs and even labs that were used. Evaluate all this information to determine the conflicts that exist within the studies and the theories that have been used. After evaluation, look for patterns in the studies and create subtopics and common theories and organize the sources.
- Develop a thesis: Focus on the idea and the argument that you have regarding the topic. State your position and how it relates to the topic that you have chosen. One who reads the thesis should understand what your study is and what you are trying to prove.
- Write the body: Once you have a good outline of your paper, you can write the body. Since you have already listed the studies with similar findings, writing the body content should not be too difficult. Ensure that you explain how the insights of the authors align with your work.
- Analyze the topic: After writing your literature review, make sure to read the entire write-up. Analyze your findings, identify your mistakes and rectify them. Your sentences must make sense, and there should be a smooth flow between the paragraphs. A good literature review should clearly state how the findings of other researchers support your main argument.
A professional provider of academic transcription services understands the value of a good thesis and literature review. These services help students and researchers transcribe any recordings they may have in connection with their research. Transcription companies ensure speed and efficiency even for large research projects and deliver the output in a timely manner.
