Literature Review for Social Work and Human Services Capstone Projects
A literature review is an essential part of your Social Work Capstone, providing background information and context for your research. It synthesizes existing studies and theories related to your topic, helping you identify gaps in the literature and justify your research.
5.1 Purpose of the Literature Review
- Contextualizes your research: It shows where your work fits within existing knowledge and theory in the field of social work and human services.
- Identifies gaps: By reviewing the literature, you can find areas where research is lacking, which helps refine your research question.
- Establishes a theoretical framework: Your review will help you identify key theories and frameworks that underpin your research and interventions.
5.2 Writing the Literature Review
- Search for relevant sources: Use academic databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, and PubMed to gather peer-reviewed articles, books, and reports related to your topic.
- Organize the review: Group the literature by themes, such as intervention strategies, program evaluations, or population-specific issues.
- Analyze and synthesize: Summarize key findings from the literature and critically assess how they contribute to your understanding of the topic. Discuss any conflicting viewpoints and identify areas for further research.
