Literature review in psychology research

Abstract

Scientific research involves the quantitative and qualitative accumulation of knowledge. The quantitative aspect entails replicating scientific findings in various contexts, including cultural and social settings. On the other hand, the qualitative aspect consists of diverse evidence from multiple disciplines, such as evidence derived from various research methodologies across different scientific fields and communities. These accumulations encompass a range of theories and interpretive frame- works. Reviewing literature critically and analytically is essential for building upon these accumulations. Nevertheless, some scholars maintain beliefs that contradict prevailing methodological principles. They present these ideas without engaging in cognitive analysis for scrutiny or critique. This can pose challenges for researchers when

incorporating such beliefs into their work or interpreting study outcomes. Effectively leveraging these divergent perspectives can help integrating novel insights into the study's scientific framework. The current paper aims to investigate how to review literature in psychology research, in order to make its practice more accurate, especially correcting some common mistakes, which lead to non-methodological use. Narrative style is more common among our students, that it does not broaden or increase new knowledge. This paper focuses on cognitive processes required to conduct literature review, so the research is to improve the current knowledge, it also emphasizes its importance and roles in developing the research ideas, steps and outputs, and how to report it constructively in the way that demonstrates clearly the new knowledge the research has created.