Find and Use Review Articles
Looking for an efficient way to get an overview of a body of research on your topic? A review article is a great place to start. A review article provides an analysis of the state of research on a set of related research questions. Review articles often:
- summarize key research findings;
- reference must-read articles;
- describe current areas of agreement as well as controversies and debates;
- point out gaps in knowledge and unanswered questions;
- suggest directions for future research.
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Why read a review article?
You can use a review article to get a better understanding of the existing research on a topic, identify research questions you would like to explore, and to find relevant sources in the review article’s bibliography.
In other words, reading a review article can save you time and give you a more well-rounded and coherent understanding of your topic.
Am I allowed the cite review articles in my papers?
It depends....
Unlike typical research articles, review articles do not present any original primary research. For this reason, some assignments may not allow you to directly cite a review article in your paper. However, you can still use the article to get a general understanding of the field and to find important primary research articles.
Also note that for most senior theses in the sciences, the proper place to cite a review article is in the first few paragraphs of your introduction. By placing references to a review article in your early intro, you give your reader a place to go for more information if they are unfamiliar with your field.
Be sure to review the writing prompt and check with your instructor to be sure!
How do I find a review article?
Finding a review article is relatively simple, though it varies slightly depending on what database you are using.
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Web of Science
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PubMed
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UCLA Library Journal Search
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Google Scholar and ArticlesPlus
In both google scholar and ArticlesPlus you can add review, "literature review", "annual review" or "review article" to your search terms.
Be sure to check that your results really are review articles! See our tips below to make sure.
How do I know if an article is a Review Article or a Primary Research Article?
In primary research articles:
- the abstracts often talk about performing a study, or conducting an investigation;
- the articles often contain a methods section or describe how the original research was performed;
- the focus is often narrower, investingating specific research questions;
- while most research articles contain a brief literature review in their introduction, it is not the primary purpose of the paper.
Example abstract:
Chaudhury, D., Loh, D. H., Dragich, J. M., Hagopian, A., & Colwell, C. S. (2008). Select cognitive deficits in vasoactive intestinal peptide deficient mice. BMC neuroscience, 9(1), 63.
In review articles:
- the abstracts often talk about summarizing existing evidence;
- the articles often do not include a methods section;
- the focus is often on summarizing and analyzing a broad set of questions related to a research area.
Example abstract:
Tottenham, N., & Sheridan, M. A. (2009). A review of adversity, the amygdala and the hippocampus: a consideration of developmental timing. The developing human brain, 204.