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Mathematics: Background Information

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Literature Reviews

What is a literature review?
Rather than describing original research results, literature reviews summarize the research on a particular topic by synthesizing information from many primary sources.

Why should I read literature reviews?
Review articles can be helpful for gathering background information and identifying key articles in a particular field.

How can I find a literature review?
Many library databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, allow you to filter search results to include only "review articles" or "literature reviews." Annual Reviews is a database of reviews synthesizing primary research in the sciences.

Writing a literature review? Check out our tutorial.

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David Romito

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