Hey there! 😊 

Next week is my son’s birthday, and we’re in full celebration-planning mode! 🎉 (AKA thinks are A LOT busier than usual in the week before Christmas…) Between picking out his favorite cake and planning the perfect day, I’ve been reflecting on how much life can feel like juggling sometimes. Whether it’s organizing a party or tackling a literature review, the key is having a system that works every time. Trust me, I’ve been there—balancing family plans, an overly ambitious to-do list, and a dinner with friends, all while managing academic deadlines. What’s my advice? Don’t try to do everything at once—it’s a recipe for burnout. Break it down into smaller, manageable steps. Prioritize what matters right now, and focus on that.

The same approach works for research. Preparation is everything. If you rush through the groundwork, you’ll feel it later. Taking the time to dive deep into the literature, plan methodically, and stick to a clear structure can make all the difference. FORMAT AND STRUCTURE save the day—whether it’s a birthday party or a research proposal! 🙌 And that’s exactly what I teach in my workbooks and online courses. Literature reviews might seem daunting, but with the right process, you can turn them into a strong foundation for your research.

So, let’s focus and dive into how to master the art of the literature review. Once you’ve got that under control, everything else will start to fall into place. 🚀

So, let’s take a breath, focus, and dive into how to master the art of literature review. Once you’ve got that under control, everything else will start to fall into place.

YOU NEED TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEWS FOR EVERY THESIS OR RESEARCH PAPER:

1. Background Review: Building Your Foundation

The background review is where you gather foundational knowledge. This type of review pulls from widely trusted sources—think global databases like the World Health Organization (WHO), NICE, or Eurostat. It’s about painting the big picture before zeroing in on the specifics of your research.

2. Comprehensive Search of Electronic Databases: Leave No Stone Unturned

This type of review is more exhaustive. Here, you’re searching through electronic databases to uncover every relevant study—both primary and secondary—on your specific research question. The goal is to capture all the evidence available, providing a detailed landscape of your topic.

TWO DIFFERENT LITERATURE REVIEWS. TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

💡 Pro Tip: Make sure you understand the difference between keyword searches (basic terms) and controlled vocabulary searches (using standardized terms from a database like PubMed’s MeSH terms) to maximize your search results.

🛠️ 8 Steps for a Successful Database Search:

1️. Define Your Research Question: Everything starts here! 🎯
2️.Choose Your Sources: Pick which databases and resources you’ll search through. 🌐
3️. Build Your Search Terms & Strategy: Brainstorm relevant terms, synonyms, and related concepts. 🔎
4️. Conduct Your Search: Dive into your chosen databases and get searching. ⌨️
5️. Review & Refine: Not getting what you need? Adjust your strategy and try again. 🔄
6️. Repeat the Search: Refined searches often yield better results. 🔄
7️. Assess for Relevance: Remove irrelevant results and duplicates. 📚
8️. Document the Process: Keep a record of everything—what worked and what didn’t. 📝

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🔥 AI Tools for Literature Reviews: Power Up Your Search

If you’re looking to speed up your literature review, AI tools can be a game-changer. One tool to check out is EvidenceHunt. It uses AI to help you find every piece of evidence on your topic, cutting down on search time and improving accuracy.

Here’s how to get started:

• Use the Advanced Search: Tailor your search to your specific population and intervention.
• Focus on Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses First: These provide a broad overview before you dive into individual studies.

And the best part? AI tools like EvidenceHunt streamline the process so you can focus more on analyzing, not just searching!

Other AI tools to supercharge your literature review:

• Consensus: A research paper search engine that uses AI to pull insights.
• Sourcely: Great for summarizing and formatting sources for your papers.
• ResearchBuddy: Automates your literature review.
• Connected Papers: Offers a visual map of related research in your field.
• ResearchRabbit: Think of it as the “Spotify” for research papers—suggesting relevant studies based on your interests.

💡 Pro Tip: Start with Systematic Reviews to get a solid overview, then dig into primary studies to add depth.

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🔑 Unspoken Rule of Academia: Your Literature Review Is More Than a Summary

This week’s unspoken rule: Your literature review is not just a list of sources – it’s a narrative. You need to critically engage with the material, highlight key debates, and show how your work fits into the broader academic conversation. Think of it as weaving a story that leads up to your research question.

💡 Takeaways for Your Literature Review:

• Structure: Define your research question first and use it to guide your search.
• Be Comprehensive: Use both background reviews and comprehensive searches for a full picture.
• Leverage AI Tools: Save time and ensure thoroughness with AI-powered search engines.
• Document Your Process: Keep track of your search strategy and results for transparency.

With these tips, you’re ready to tackle your literature review like a pro! And if you need more Tips, templates and more: Check out my 90 min online course on How to do a literature review….

Yours,

Prof. Benstoem 😊