Literature Review: Methods and Technologies

What gap does this book address? What is missing from the existing literature is not another guide to the dissertation literature review or a systematic review, but a resource that treats the literature review as a transferable, evolving competency—one that looks different depending on purpose, discipline, and academic or career stage.

The expectation that students purchase a new textbook for each new context is neither pedagogically sound nor financially affordable. This book was conceived as a comprehensive, flexible alternative. By publishing it in open access and organizing content into distinct sections—by review phase, review type, and learning or research objective—we aimed to create a resource that grows with the reader. Individual modules are designed for straightforward integration into any learning management system (LMS), making it easy for instructors to assign only what is relevant to their course.

Although the primary target audience for this textbook is students enrolled in courses at the College of Education and those engaged in educational research, the content should be broadly applicable. Novice researchers and students from various disciplines can benefit from its focus on the fundamental methodologies and technologies behind literature review or evidence synthesis. The book emphasizes crucial skills such as retrieving research evidence, organization, analysis, synthesis, writing, and the use of applicable technology, making it a valuable resource across multiple fields of study.