Literature Review Prompts for Researchers and Students

Design search strategy for lit review. Topic: [describe]. Research question: [describe]. Include: key search terms + Boolean operators, databases to use (Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science), inclusion/exclusion criteria, date range, language filters, grey literature consideration.

Screen these abstracts for relevance. Inclusion criteria: [describe]. Abstracts: [paste]. For each: relevance score (1-10), include/exclude/maybe, reason, key findings preview. Systematic + quick.

Build citation chaining plan. Seed papers: [list 3-5 key papers]. Include: backward chaining (what they cite), forward chaining (who cites them), author tracking, related papers on databases, saturation check (when stop).

Thematic synthesis across papers. Topic: [describe]. Papers reviewed: [list with key findings]. Include: emerging themes across literature, consensus findings, contested areas, methodological patterns, integration of themes, discussion of tensions.

Chronological review of field. Topic: [describe]. Time periods: [describe]. Include: evolution of thinking by decade/era, paradigm shifts, influential papers per period, current state, forward-looking implications.

Compare methodologies across papers. Topic: [describe]. Papers: [list methodologies]. Include: methodology categorization (quantitative, qualitative, mixed), strengths/limitations per approach, sample sizes + contexts, which methodologies produce which findings.

Analyze conflicting findings. Topic: [describe]. Studies showing X: [list]. Studies showing Y: [list]. Include: methodological differences that might explain, contextual differences (populations, settings), theoretical perspectives, research agenda forward.

Critically evaluate [paper]. Include: research question clarity, methodology appropriateness, sample adequacy, analysis rigor, findings interpretation, limitations acknowledged, contribution to field, biases identified, overall rigor score.

Identify research gaps. Field: [describe]. Existing literature: [summarize]. Include: unaddressed questions, methodological gaps, population gaps, temporal/geographic gaps, emerging phenomena under-studied, replication needs. Justify why gaps important.

Evaluate theoretical frameworks in field. Field: [describe]. Include: dominant theories, competing theoretical perspectives, empirical support per theory, integration attempts, critical assessment of assumptions, framework I'll adopt + why.

Build lit review outline. Topic: [describe]. Word count: [X]. Scope: [thesis, paper, systematic review]. Include: introduction (narrow focus), section organization (thematic, chronological, methodological), word allocation per section, conclusion pointing to gap, flow.

Draft lit review section. Topic: [describe section]. Papers to cite: [list]. Include: topic sentence, synthesis across papers (not one-by-one summary), critical engagement, transitions to next section, flowing prose. 500-800 words.

Write lit review introduction. Topic: [describe]. Include: broad field context, narrowing focus, importance of topic, review scope + boundaries, preview of structure, research gap to address. 400-600 words.

Write lit review conclusion. Synthesis so far: [summary]. Include: summary of findings, contributions identified, gaps articulated, theoretical implications, methodological observations, transition to your research question. Clear gap justification.

Set up reference management. Options: Zotero (free), Mendeley, EndNote, Paperpile. Include: recommended tool for my needs, browser plugins, organization by tags/folders, PDF annotation, citation styles, collaboration if needed.