Give every source a role
A literature review is not a queue of article summaries. Record what each source contributes to the question: a definition, method, finding, contradiction, limitation or unresolved problem.
A simple evidence table can capture the study context, design, sample, result and limitation. The table is a working tool, not the structure of the final prose.
Organize around claims, not authors
Group sources by theme, method, chronology or competing explanation. Each paragraph should advance one claim about the body of evidence, then use several sources to show its support and limits.
- Where do findings converge?
- Which methods produce different answers?
- Which populations or settings are missing?
- What uncertainty remains after the strongest studies?
Make the gap proportionate to the evidence
A gap is not simply a topic with few papers. It may be an unresolved disagreement, a weak method, a missing population or an outcome that has not been examined well.
State why the gap matters and how the proposed work addresses it. Avoid claiming that no research exists unless the search strategy supports that conclusion.
Keep an auditable citation trail
Record search terms, databases, dates and reasons for excluding important-looking sources. Cite the original evidence where possible and verify that every citation supports the exact sentence in which it appears.