In this video, I discuss a few ideas about writing literature reviews, especially for students and early-career researchers in psychology and the social sciences. I begin with the distinction between a research topic and a research question, and I consider how that distinction can guide our reading, our selection of sources, and the organization of the review.
I also suggest that a literature review does not have to be only a summary of existing research or a way of identifying a gap. It can itself accomplish some intellectual work. For example, it can reveal tensions, inconsistencies, hidden assumptions, or connections that previous researchers have overlooked.