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How to Write a Strong Literature Review (With Examples)

In a previous blog, we highlighted top 5 best AI tools for literature review that offer a large collection of research materials to support your research. Now, in this blog, we will go through the process and the 3 pillars of writing lit review while providing a real-life literature review example to help you grasp the concept with ease.

What’s a Literature Review?

A literature review is a summary of what other researchers have already discovered about your topic. It helps you figure out what’s already known, what questions still need answers, and how your own research fits into the bigger picture.

What Are the 3 Pillars of Literature Review?

Introduction

The introduction of a literature review should:

  • Provide context for the topic
  • Define the scope and purpose of the review
  • Outline the organisational framework
  • Present a clear thesis statement

Body

The body of the literature review is where you analyse and synthesise existing research. Consider organising your review by:

  • Themes or concepts
  • Chronological order
  • Methodological approaches

Conclusion

A strong conclusion should:

  • Summarise key findings
  • Highlight contributions to the field
  • Discuss implications and applications
  • Suggest directions for future research

Tips on How to Write a Great Literature Review

  • Read widely to get a full picture of your topic.
  • Don’t just summarise – analyse and compare different studies.
  • Look for patterns and gaps in the research.
  • Keep your writing clear and logical.
  • Use transition words to help your ideas flow smoothly.
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    How Zendy Can Help with Your Literature Review

    In order to write a strong literature review you need to find the right sources, and of course a tools to help accelerate the process.

    Zendy.io isn’t just a digital library that offers access to relevant studies across disciplines, but it also helps you write a solid literature review, Zendy AI tools include features designed to help you with literature reviews. You can:

    • Summarise lengthy research articles instantly
    • Highlight key phrases and findings
    • Ask ZAIA, your personal AI research assistant, to explain complex papers
    • Compare multiple sources to find common themes or gaps

    It’s a simple way to stay focused, save time, and actually enjoy the process.

    Real-Life Literature Review Example

    This is my favourite example of a literature review! Assume you’re reviewing literature on climate change and agriculture:

    “Researchers have been studying how climate change affects farming for decades. Early studies in the 1990s focused mainly on crop yields (Stephen, 1992; Iana, 1995). As time went on, scientists started looking at more complex issues. For example, Sleman (2005) examined how changing rainfall patterns affect soil quality, while Monica (2010) investigated the spread of new crop diseases in warmer temperatures.

    Recent research has taken a broader view. Emad (2018) looked at how climate change impacts entire food systems, from farm to table. Meanwhile, Rodrigo (2020) explored how small-scale farmers in developing countries are adapting to new weather patterns.

    Despite all this research, we still don’t know enough about how climate change will affect food security in specific regions. Future studies could focus on creating detailed, local predictions to help farmers prepare for what’s ahead.”

    See how this example of literature review flows naturally from one idea to the next? It gives you a clear picture of how research in this area has evolved over time. 

    Other Examples of Literature Review

    By following these tips and studying literature review examples, you’ll be ready to start writing a solid literature review.

    Remember, the key is to organise your sources, explain how they connect, and point out what still needs to be studied. Happy researching!

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    The Journal of Financial Economics

    A top peer-reviewed journal since 1974 published by Elsevier, founded by Michael C. Jensen, Eugene Fama, and Robert C. Merton. The Journal of Financial Economics (JEF) serves as a dedicated platform for publishing high-quality studies on financial markets, corporate finance, financial intermediation, entrepreneurial finance, corporate governance, organisational economics, macro-finance, behavioural finance, and household finance

    Focused on both theoretical and empirical research in financial economics. The Journal of Financial Economics prioritises rigorous empirical, theoretical, and experimental contributions, particularly those related to the theory of the firm and financial economics.

    Journal of Financial Economics Impact Factor and Rankings

    According to the latest updates from VU Journal Publishing Guide, The Journal of Financial Economics has made a big impact, with an impressive 10.4 impact factor as of 2024. That puts it among the top economics and finance journals globally. It ranks 5th out of 600 in the Economics category and takes the top spot—1st out of 233—in Business, Finance. These rankings highlight just how influential the journal is in its field.

    AbbreviationJ. FINANC. ECON
    ISSN0304-405X (1879-2774)
    eISSN:N/A
    CategoryAccounting (Q1); Economics and Econometrics (Q1); Finance (Q1); Strategy and Management (Q1)
    WoS Core Citation IndexesSSCI – Social Sciences Citation Index
    Journal Impact Factor (JIF)10.4
    5-year Impact Factor11.4
    Best ranking:ECONOMICS (Q1) Percentage rank: 99.2%
    CountrySWITZERLAND
    PublisherElsevier

    Source: WoS

    Journal of Financial Economics Scopus Metrics

    According to Scopus data for 2023, the journal’s metrics are equally impressive:

    • SCImago Journal Rank (SJR): 13.655
    • Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP): 5.048
    • CiteScore: 15.8

    These metrics reinforce the journal’s reputation as a leader in its field, with high rankings in many categories including Accounting, Finance, Economics and Econometrics, and Strategy and Management.

    Journal of Financial Economics H-index and Citations

    The Journal of Financial Economics has an exceptional h-index of 311, indicating that at least 311 articles published in the journal have been cited at least 311 times each. This high h-index reflects the journal’s strong impact and the enduring relevance of its published research.

    What is The Scope of The Journal of Financial Economics?

    The journal covers a wide range of topics within finance and economics, including:

    • Accounting
    • Economics and Econometrics
    • Finance
    • Strategy and Management

    It’s particularly known for its applied papers and case studies section, which provides a platform for scholarly studies of actual cases, events, or practices in the financial world.

    Conclusion

    The Journal of Financial Economics stands out as a top-tier publication in its field, consistently ranking highly across various metrics. Its high impact factor, impressive SJR, and strong h-index all point to its significant influence in the world of financial economics. For researchers and professionals in finance and economics, publishing or referencing articles from this journal can lend considerable weight to their work.