A literature review offers critical evaluation of academic writing on a topic â but what does the wider education research say about them, and how can they be used by schools?
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What is a literature review?
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A literature review is a piece of writing that explores other academic literature that has been written about a specific subject or topic.Ěý
Crucially, it doesnât just signpost readers towards what other people have written but offers a critical evaluation of these sources. It explores and explains the strengths and flaws of the arguments presented, hence the term âreviewâ rather than âreportâ.Ěý
It can be useful to think of it like a film review, where the critic gives a brief rundown of the plot and key elements of the film, and then offers their own evaluation of its effectiveness. Similarly, in a literature review, the writer first details the research, theories and evidence they have explored, and then offers a critical evaluation and discussion of this content.
Where can I see this in action?
Two examples of systematic literature reviews from the EEF can be found in this July 2021 , which reviews eight areas of cognitive science, and this October 2021 , which explores the mechanisms of effective professional development design.
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement.
To achieve this, it summarises the best available evidence for teachers; its Teaching and Learning Toolkit, for example, is used by 70 per cent of secondary schools.
The charity also generates new evidenceĚýof âwhat worksâ to improve teaching and learning, by funding independent evaluations of high-potential projects, and supports teachers and senior leaders to use the evidence to achieve the maximum possible benefit for young people.
