A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Literature Review for Doctoral Research
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2022
Pages: 264
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2022
Pages: 264
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This book was written to teach the novice researcher how to conduct a review of the current scholarly literature. Students will learn how to identify scholarly sources, how to analyze and synthesize the sources, and how to write a review of the current state of the scholarly literature on a research topic. Additionally, how to write a theoretical framework to explain a research topic is provided.
Chapter 1: What Is a Literature Review?
Introduction
Types of Literature Reviews
Purposes for Conducting a Review of the Scholarly Literature
Contents of a Literature Review
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 2: Steps for Writing a Literature Review
Introduction
Steps to Compose a Literature Review
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 3: How to Locate and Identify Scholarly Sources
Introduction
Primary and Secondary Sources
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
How to Locate Scholarly Sources
How to Search for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
How to Organize Information
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 4: Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Synthesizing
Introduction
Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Synthesizing
Quoting
Plagiarism and Avoiding Plagiarism
Author’s Voice
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 5: How to Synthesize Related Literature
Introduction
What Does It Mean to Synthesize?
Types of Synthesis
Analyzing and Synthesizing Related Literature
Ways to Organize and Synthesize
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 6: How to Write an Outline
Introduction
How to Create a Literature Review Outline
How to Write a Literature Review Outline to Narrow the Gap in the Literature
How to Write a Literature Review Outline to Solve a Problem
How to Write a Literature Review Outline to Improve a Practice
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 7: How to Write a Theoretical Review
Introduction
What Is a Theory?
What Is a Theoretical Framework?
How to Choose Relevant Theories
Prevalent Theories for Educational Research
How to Write a Theoretical Framework
Steps for Writing a Theoretical Framework
Theoretical Framework Examples
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 8: How to Write a Related Literature Section to Identify/Narrow a Gap
Introduction
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 9: Example Outline and Literature Review to Narrow a Gap in the Literature
Chapter 10: How to Write a Related Literature Section to Solve a Problem
Introduction
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 11: Example Outline and Literature Review to Solve a Problem
Chapter 12: How to Write the Related Literature Section to Improve a Practice
Introduction
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 13: Example Outline and Literature Review to Improve a Practice
References
Appendix A: Individual Scholarly Works Template
Appendix B: Comparative Scholarly Works Template
Index
Dr. Bunnie L. Claxton is the founder and chief executive officer of Dissertation Research Specialist, a company that supports the implementation of doctoral programs in universities around the world. She currently serves as a consultant to universities regarding dissertation research to assist with program development, course development, and faculty training. She also provides support to doctoral candidates through her website www.dissertationspecialist.com. She is an adjunct instructor, subject matter expert, and dissertation chair for multiple universities. She is an international speaker, and she presented her research at Oxford University and Cambridge University in 2025. She was the keynote speaker for the World Conference on Teaching and Education in Berlin, Germany. Formerly, she served as the director of applied doctoral research at Liberty University. Dr. Claxton has been involved in the field of education since 1994, including public school, private school, home school, and higher education. Dr. Claxton served as the superintendent for Liberty University Online Academy, an online K–12 school with over 16,000 students, and she currently serves on the board of directors. She is the author of 20 textbooks and is best known for her Step-by-Step textbook series. A few titles include A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Applied Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Qualitative Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Quantitative Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Literature Review for Doctoral Research, and A Step-by-Step Introduction to Research Methods: Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed-Methods, and Applied.
Dr. Carol L. Dolan, Ed.D. is an adjunct professor for Liberty University. She has served as an educator for more than 20 years, teaching every grade from pre-kindergarten through college in public, private, and homeschool settings. She served in the military for more than 20 years and has worked as an editor, curriculum developer, dissertation committee member, and doctoral student capstone project mentor. She has edited books, dissertations, theses, capstone projects, curricular materials, course content, and more. Dr. Dolan lives in remote interior Alaska and volunteers educating local students when she is not teaching courses, mentoring students, or editing.
This book was written to teach the novice researcher how to conduct a review of the current scholarly literature. Students will learn how to identify scholarly sources, how to analyze and synthesize the sources, and how to write a review of the current state of the scholarly literature on a research topic. Additionally, how to write a theoretical framework to explain a research topic is provided.
Chapter 1: What Is a Literature Review?
Introduction
Types of Literature Reviews
Purposes for Conducting a Review of the Scholarly Literature
Contents of a Literature Review
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 2: Steps for Writing a Literature Review
Introduction
Steps to Compose a Literature Review
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 3: How to Locate and Identify Scholarly Sources
Introduction
Primary and Secondary Sources
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
How to Locate Scholarly Sources
How to Search for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
How to Organize Information
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 4: Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Synthesizing
Introduction
Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Synthesizing
Quoting
Plagiarism and Avoiding Plagiarism
Author’s Voice
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 5: How to Synthesize Related Literature
Introduction
What Does It Mean to Synthesize?
Types of Synthesis
Analyzing and Synthesizing Related Literature
Ways to Organize and Synthesize
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 6: How to Write an Outline
Introduction
How to Create a Literature Review Outline
How to Write a Literature Review Outline to Narrow the Gap in the Literature
How to Write a Literature Review Outline to Solve a Problem
How to Write a Literature Review Outline to Improve a Practice
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 7: How to Write a Theoretical Review
Introduction
What Is a Theory?
What Is a Theoretical Framework?
How to Choose Relevant Theories
Prevalent Theories for Educational Research
How to Write a Theoretical Framework
Steps for Writing a Theoretical Framework
Theoretical Framework Examples
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 8: How to Write a Related Literature Section to Identify/Narrow a Gap
Introduction
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 9: Example Outline and Literature Review to Narrow a Gap in the Literature
Chapter 10: How to Write a Related Literature Section to Solve a Problem
Introduction
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 11: Example Outline and Literature Review to Solve a Problem
Chapter 12: How to Write the Related Literature Section to Improve a Practice
Introduction
Conclusion
Chapter Highlights
Chapter 13: Example Outline and Literature Review to Improve a Practice
References
Appendix A: Individual Scholarly Works Template
Appendix B: Comparative Scholarly Works Template
Index
Dr. Bunnie L. Claxton is the founder and chief executive officer of Dissertation Research Specialist, a company that supports the implementation of doctoral programs in universities around the world. She currently serves as a consultant to universities regarding dissertation research to assist with program development, course development, and faculty training. She also provides support to doctoral candidates through her website www.dissertationspecialist.com. She is an adjunct instructor, subject matter expert, and dissertation chair for multiple universities. She is an international speaker, and she presented her research at Oxford University and Cambridge University in 2025. She was the keynote speaker for the World Conference on Teaching and Education in Berlin, Germany. Formerly, she served as the director of applied doctoral research at Liberty University. Dr. Claxton has been involved in the field of education since 1994, including public school, private school, home school, and higher education. Dr. Claxton served as the superintendent for Liberty University Online Academy, an online K–12 school with over 16,000 students, and she currently serves on the board of directors. She is the author of 20 textbooks and is best known for her Step-by-Step textbook series. A few titles include A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Applied Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Qualitative Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Quantitative Research, A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Literature Review for Doctoral Research, and A Step-by-Step Introduction to Research Methods: Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed-Methods, and Applied.
Dr. Carol L. Dolan, Ed.D. is an adjunct professor for Liberty University. She has served as an educator for more than 20 years, teaching every grade from pre-kindergarten through college in public, private, and homeschool settings. She served in the military for more than 20 years and has worked as an editor, curriculum developer, dissertation committee member, and doctoral student capstone project mentor. She has edited books, dissertations, theses, capstone projects, curricular materials, course content, and more. Dr. Dolan lives in remote interior Alaska and volunteers educating local students when she is not teaching courses, mentoring students, or editing.