Targeted literature searches are a fundamental part of writing clinical manuscripts that will meet the standards of high-quality journals and contribute meaningfully to evidence-based practice. When physicians write clinical manuscripts, utilizing a targeted literature search can identify high-quality, relevant, and current evidence. While a general literature review is useful, a targeted literature search is specific to the clinical question and should be completed through frameworks established, such as PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) and PRISMA [1].

Literature Review Tips for the Introduction and Discussion Sections

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Literature Review Tips for the Introduction and Discussion Sections

Table of Contents

1. Presenting Literature Review in the Introduction and Discussion Sections
2. What Should Be Included in the Literature Review of the Introduction Section
3. What Goes in the Literature Review of the Discussion Section
4. Conclusion

The literature review is an essential part of academic writing because it establishes the context for your research study. In the introduction section, the literature review helps establish the background of your topic by illustrating the relevance and significance of the research question. The literature review synthesizes prior research and identifies gaps in the research and knowledge on the subject, provides key findings that align with the objectives of your study, identifies prior studies and the methods used, and justifies your own research design. The introduction sets the problem of your research, allowing the reader to appreciate why your study is necessary and how it contributes to the field. [1]

1. Literature Review Tips for the Introduction Section

Literature reviews help you accomplish the following:

1.1. Assess Previous Research

The process of assessing previous research involves critiquing and evaluating the trustworthiness of previous publications, research designs and processes, findings, and conclusions.

Assess trustworthiness in previous publications or research results.
Locate gaps, discrepancies, or conflicts in the research.
Identify how key concepts have been developed and trends in the topic or field.
Assess the extent past research outcomes can be exploited for the current study.

1.2. Locate Experts

Locating experts in the topic means identifying researchers and practitioners who have influential and pioneering contributions to the topic, based on:

Observations, numerical citation impact, and journals.
Researcher’s credentials and organizational or institutional affiliations.
Researchers who have written several foundational articles.
Experts involved with large conferences, big journals, and academic research

1.3. Locate Key Questions

Identifying key questions means identifying the gaps and unresolved issues in the research literature, as:

Inconsistencies or contradictions in the existing research.
Shortcomings in previous research designs or methodologies.
New trends or technologies that deserve to be studied.
Gaps in understanding or theoretical concerns that have not been identified.

1.4. Identify Methodologies Utilized in Previous Literature

Identifying the methodologies adopted in previous literature is crucial to understanding, at least generally, how research designs and data collection have occurred:

Locate common research methods (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).
Examine the different methodologies for making observations and collecting data

2. Presenting Literature Review in the Introduction and Discussion Sections

The introduction section of a literature review is crucial for setting the context of your research.[1]

2.1. Thematic Analysis

This approach organizes existing literature into key themes or areas of focus to identify commonalities and trends across different studies. It allows the writer to nearly consolidate the research based on those themes, while showcasing the major themes with original literature gaps.

Thematic analysis may work well when covering a wide range of topics within an area, because it organizes the available literature into manageable, comprehensive sections. [2]

2.2. Chronological approach

This approach organizes literature in accordance with the central research question of how research on a topic has developed based on time. This approach basically provides a historical perspective on the topic, so one can see how theories, methodology, and findings have changed with time.
The chronological approach may be especially useful in cases where categorizing literature by the change of research trend is essential. This method proved effective where the topic is evolving or where you may see paradigm shifts in understanding.

2.3. Methodological Review

The methodological review approach clusters studies according to the research method. Methodological review clusters literature according to qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods research and gives the reader information about how methodological and epistemological diversity exists within the literature.
This approach is useful if the imposer is interested in ways of understanding how different methodological approaches have emerged to form knowledge on a subject, and allows some methodological approaches to potentially ignore biases or limitations.[3]

2.4. Conceptual Framework Review

In some cases, a in the introduction may benefit from mapping the previous research and the conceptual frameworks that have affected it. Mapping conceptual frameworks helps make clear the avenues of inquiry and the theoretical models behind the studies.
This allows readers to see how studies fit into different models or reasoning and situate their research within the appropriate theoretical frameworks. This approach also works well in disciplines that emphasize the development of theory.

2.5. Critical synthesis

This method does not simply summarize the literature, as it also critically examines and evaluates previous studies, considering their strengths, weaknesses, and limitations.
Critical synthesis allows the writer to establish if previous findings were valid, what areas are controversial or in disagreement, and where there are gaps in the literature that need to be explored.

3. What Goes in the Literature Review of the Discussion Section?

3.1. Providing Context for Your Study

Based on your study of several existing literatures
Explained to relevance of your findings in terms of previous studies.

3.2. Comparing Your Findings to Other Studies

Stated the similarities and differences with existing studies
Discussed contradictions, gaps, or new knowledge
Make a critical comment on how the findings fit in with the literature.
Highlighted what was unique about your study

3.3. Stating the Contribution of Your Study

Discussed the implications of your findings and what is potentially significant for future work
Outlined how your study has contributed to knowledge.

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Conclusion

A quality in an introduction and discussion, will provide a stronger academic base for your research. It can help contextualize your article, draw attention to evidence gaps, and show how your work fits within a particular research area. By relating your findings to existing studies, you describe the significance of your study and its contribution to knowledge. This provides a strong contextual basis that can not only reinforce the significance of your study but can shape future research in that area. In the end, a strong literature review increases the validity and richness of your study.

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References

Literature reviews. (2011, December 28). The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/literature-reviews/
(N.d.). Elgaronline.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025, from https://www.elgaronline.com/view/journals/jqrt/3/2/article-p79.xml
Chong, S. W., & Reinders, H. (2021). A methodological review of qualitative research syntheses in CALL: The state-of-the-art. System, 103(102646), 102646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102646