Research Guides: Chemistry Seminar (24-592): Literature review

Purpose

Review articles comprehensively summarize article after article about what is already known on a topic.

Primary research articles report new findings. The review of literature in a primary article is based on significance and relevance to the research question rather than being comprehensive.

Purpose of a literature review

Review articles are very comprehensive in summarizing articles about what is already known on a topic. A review article is a secondary source. The reference list in each article can lead you to primary research articles.

Primary research articles report new findings. The review of literature in a primary article is based on significance and relevance to the research question behind the study rather than being comprehensive.

Summarize | Connect | Explain | Synthesize

Summarize research related to the primary research question.

Point out any connections between the sources especially where one source built upon prior study.

Explain how this past work fits together to make your research question significant.

The literature review lays the foundation for understanding and synthesizing your research.
Credit: Washington & Lee University

NOTE: commonly known scientific knowledge does not need to be referenced in a review of literature.

How do poster session authors decide what articles to include in the references section?

Only cite key references integral to your study, as references are wordy and space consuming. Use a smaller font to the main body text to reduce" the space needed for your references.

Gundogan B, Koshy K, Kurar L, Whitehurst K. 2016. How to make an academic poster. Annals of medicine and surgery. [accessed 2019 February 27];11:69-71. doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2016.09.001.

Eulalio A, Mano M, Dal Ferro M, Zentilin L, Sinagra G, Zacchigna S, Giacca M. 2012. Functional screening identified miRNAs inducing cardiac regeneration. Nature. 492:376-381.

Poster presentation examples

AAAS e-poster submissions
Note annual competition:
"The competition is open to individuals who are students at the time of submission for work recently performed while enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree program (postdocs are not eligible – even if presenting graduate research)."

iPosters and #betterposter
iPosters "support videos and animations, and are displayed on giant, interactive touch-screens."
#betterposter, an idea created by a UX (user behavior) researcher, enables readers to quickly see what the poster is about and encourages a deeper question than "so, what is your research about?"
User behavior behind #betterposter: How to create a better research poster in less time (runtime 20:52)

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