Conduct a literature review
On this page we introduce you to literature analysis, a fundamental pillar for your thesis or research project.
1. Introduction: What Is It and What Is It Used For?
A literature review is a critical, systematic, and integrated analysis of the scientific state of the art on a specific topic.
Conducting a literature review means:
- identifying the dominant theoretical models;
- mapping the available empirical evidence;
- identifying the research gap, namely the unresolved issue, contradiction, or unexplored area within the literature in which the research project can be positioned.
A well-developed literature review demonstrates the researcher’s ability to reconstruct and critically interpret the scholarly debate within the relevant academic community.
In the field of Business and Management, systematic literature reviews may, for example:
- analyse the evolution of a managerial topic;
- compare theoretical models;
- identify prevailing methodological approaches;
- support evidence-based decision-making;
- develop robust theoretical frameworks.
2. Types of Literature Review
Depending on the objectives of the research project, different methodological approaches may be adopted. In the Business and Management field, the three most common approaches are the following:
| Type | Main Objective | Method Used | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrative / Traditional Review | To provide a critical and theoretical overview of a broad phenomenon. | Qualitative selection of the main sources based on the researcher’s expertise. | Bachelor’s theses; introductory chapters of Master’s theses. |
| Systematic Literature Review (SLR) | To answer a specific research question while minimising selection bias. | Rigorous and replicable protocol: explicit search strings and transparent inclusion/exclusion criteria. | Scientific papers, doctoral dissertations, studies on the impact of economic policies. |
| Scoping Review | To map an emerging field of study and assess the extent of the existing literature. | Broad exploratory approach aimed at identifying key concepts, theories, and research gaps. | Emerging business topics (e.g., the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence on human resource management). |
3. Framework for Structuring the Research Question
Before querying academic databases, it is essential to define the scope of the research. Poorly formulated research questions often generate fragmented or irrelevant results.
To formulate an effective research question, several methodological frameworks may be employed. Each framework is identified by an acronym derived from the initial letters of the key dimensions considered in the development of the research question.
Different academic disciplines tend to favour different frameworks. In business and socio-economic research, the most widely used include:
- CIMO (Context, Intervention, Mechanisms, Outcomes)
- PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome)
- PICOC (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Context)
- PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome)
- SPICE (Setting, Perspective, Interest, Comparison, Evaluation)
- SPIDER (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research Type)
- ECLIPSE (Expectation, Client, Location, Impact, Professionals, Service)
As an example, the CIMO framework is particularly suitable for management-oriented and policy-oriented research and is structured as follows:
C - Context | I - Intervention | M - Mechanisms | O - Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
What is the situation, environment, or target population under investigation? | What action, policy, strategy, or variable is being studied? | Which psychological, organisational, or economic processes explain the relationship between the intervention and the context? | What are the expected outcomes or effects? |
Example: | Example: | Example: | Example: |
4. Operational Workflow of a Literature Review
The literature review process is not linear but cyclical. It can nevertheless be summarised into five sequential operational stages.
Phase 1: Planning and Strategy
Definition of Keywords
Translate the concepts derived from the CIMO framework into English keywords and construct search strings using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT).
Example:
("SMEs" OR "Small business") AND "Green technology" AND "Tax incentives"
Phase 2: Search and Data Collection
Querying Academic Databases
Search certified academic databases and scholarly search engines. Conduct an initial exploratory search using forward and backward citation tracking (snowballing techniques): identify who cited the most relevant papers and which sources those papers themselves referenced.
Phase 3: Screening and Selection
Application of Critical Filters
Evaluate the retrieved results according to quality criteria by first reading the abstract and subsequently the full text. Apply objective criteria, excluding, for example, papers that have not undergone peer review or studies unrelated to the required business context.
Phase 4: Data Extraction and Synthesis
Development of the Literature Matrix
Create a literature matrix to map the selected studies. For each source, extract information regarding:
- Author/Year
- Methodology (Qualitative, Quantitative, Case Study)
- Variables analysed
- Main findings
- Study limitations
Phase 5: Writing the Review
Drafting the Final Analysis
Organise the chapter thematically rather than as a sequence of summaries (e.g., “Author A argues X, Author B argues Y”). Group studies according to schools of thought, compare contrasting perspectives, and highlight areas of convergence and divergence within the literature.
5. Useful Tools for Carrying out Analysis
Several tools may support the literature review process depending on the specific stage of the analysis.
Bibliographic Research Tools
Both general and specialised research tools (databases) may be used. Examples include:
- Elsevier Scopus and Clarivate Web of Science: major citation databases essential for mapping the scholarly impact of papers (e.g., Impact Factor) within specific research fields.
- EconLit: a specialised database curated by the American Economic Association, focused on political economy, econometrics, and finance.
- Business Source Ultimate (EBSCO): a leading resource for management, marketing, accounting, and corporate finance, providing access to full-text articles from prestigious journals.
- Eureka: the University discovery tool.
- Google Scholar: Google’s academic search engine for scholarly materials.
- SSRN (Social Science Research Network): a platform for disseminating academic research in the social sciences and related disciplines.
- RePEc (Research Papers in Economics): a platform dedicated to the dissemination of economic research papers.
- ProQuest Dissertations & Theses: a large international database of dissertations and theses across multiple disciplines.
These are only some of the resources available; many additional databases are accessible through the University of Turin.
Furthermore, several advanced AI-assisted academic search tools are increasingly available to support literature discovery and analysis.
Citation and Bibliography Management
To manage references and compile bibliographies efficiently, researchers are encouraged to use dedicated Reference Management Systems, which allow users to collect, organise, and reuse bibliographic materials.
- Zotero / Mendeley / EndNote: these tools allow users to save PDFs directly from the browser, organise documents into folders, highlight and annotate texts, extract notes, and automatically generate citations in Word or LaTeX using preferred citation styles (e.g., APA or Harvard).
Software for Screening and Systematic Reviews
Several web-based applications facilitate the management of systematic reviews by supporting collaborative screening, deduplication, inclusion/exclusion procedures, and other user-defined criteria. Some tools provide free versions with optional paid extensions. Examples include: