First Steps In Academy: Different Types of Literature Reviews

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One of the most common approaches to literature review in research. This approach relies on searching items written by a specific author. This approach is very methodical but does not require the writer to find all the academic items on the subject, but rather all the academic items based on self-selection of the sources.

Scoping review is used to assess the number of studies conducted on a certain topic. The goal of the review is to identify important definitions, trends and study-methods relating to the topic. Scoping review often identifies research gaps in the topic.

• Systematic research is a research type that allows for transparent and restorable research (for example by using the PRISMA model, that filters that number of existing studies to that number of studies analyzed in the article).
• Systematic research can be updated over time (that is, a continuous study can be conducted based on published studies). These kinds of studies are usually based on thematic analysis, for example partitioning all studies on a certain subject by methodology, age, gender, culture, geographical location and more. Statistical analysis is often included in the study. These studies are usually conducted on well-researched topics in order to map the different studies on the topic.
• As a result of the large amount of information these studies rely on and in order to avoid inaccuracies, the studies are usually conducted by a group of researchers and not by individuals.
• As a result of the large amount of information required for the study, these studies usually take a long time (often years).
• Systematic review relies on important keywords and excessive research in relevant databases. The goal of the study is to summarize and identify most (if not all) of the studies conducted on the topic. The study saves time and effort for future students and/or researchers who wish to study the topic as it can be relied on as reliable source of information.
• The study reveals areas in which the topic is less researched, allowing future researchers to conduct studies that will “fill in the gap”.

• Bibliometric research relies on statistics and statistical analysis
• This research is considered objective and will usually be accompanied by graphs and images in addition to text to support it.
• Bibliometric research can be categorized by leading academic journals on the subject, leading researchers on the subject, countries researching the subject, academic institutions researching the subject, connections between the different researchers researching the subject and more.
• Using this type of research allows researchers to identify trends related to the research of the subject, such as popularity over time (when the subject was more/less research), quotes over time, keywords and more.
• Bibliographic research allows researchers to identity less researched areas of specific subjects thus allowing them to “fill the hole”.
• This research type allows researchers to track different disciplines over years and analyze trends relating to their research area.
• Bibliographic research allows students and researchers to view the “full picture”, presenting an objective overview of the subject and allowing them to save time and resources self-researching the subject.