Review for scientific work

What You'll Find on this Page

Writing a review for scientific work

JalolovBehruz

What You'll Find on this Page

This page features a discussion of each of the following components of writing a scientific review article:

• Choosing a topic and finding articles
• What questions to answer in your review
• Which sections to include and tips for writing them

Other tips and tricks are featured underneath this box.

Tips on Forming a Thesis

• Make sure your thesis is specific and addresses a question/problem in the field
• Make sure it is relevant to all of the articles you include
• Be certain that it is clearly stated in the abstract, introduction, and conclusion

Tips for Writing Review Articles

• Tips for Writing Your First Scientific Literature Review ArticleThis page, written by a grad student, gives first-hand advice about how to go about writing a review article for the first time. It is a quick, easy read that will help you find your footing as you begin!

A note on reviews

Reviews are usually published by experts in the field. Being familiar with the structure and purpose of reviews will help you navigate scientific literature more confidently, but remember that it is not likely you will be writing a review for publication in a journal until well into your career. Sometimes, journal editors will invite scientists to write a review for their journal.

Information to Consider in Your Review: What to Write About

When doing research for your review, here is a list of questions to consider as you read through articles to potentially include:

• What is the thesis or problem being addressed in this paper? 
• What are the strengths and limitations of the study? Is there a better way to answer the research question?
• How does the author approach the study - from a theoretical, experimental, interpretive, or clinical (etc.) standpoint? Did they choose the best approach?
• Is the author using an assumed theoretical framework such as, for example, psychoanalytic or developmental? How does this affect the conclusions they draw? 
• How does the author engage with other literature in the field? Is literature that both contradicts and supports his/her findings mentioned? 
• Did the researchers choose appropriate methods of experimentation and data analysis for the research question? 
• Do you think that the conclusions they draw based upon the data they present are valid and reasonable? Or are there gaps in the logic or assumptions being made?
• Does this particular research study contribute to the knowledge base of the field around which you're centering your review? Is it worth including in your discussion, and does it fit your main thesis? 

Adapted from the UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal.

Structure of Your Review

Your review should follow the following structure:

• Abstract
• Write this last
• A summary of your main thesis and the studies you examine in your review

• Introduction
• Introduce your topic
• Outline what you will discuss throughout the review
• Frame the paper with your thesis
• Tell your audience why it is important that you reviewed the literature in your topic area

Thank you for your attention!