Best Examples of Literature Review Examples for Research Papers

Examples of Literature Review Examples for Research Papers (Right Up Front)

Let’s start exactly where you probably wish your professor had started: with concrete examples of literature review examples for research papers and what makes them work.

Think of these as “templates in the wild” you can imitate.

1. Short Undergraduate Literature Review (Psychology)

Scenario: A 6–8 page research paper for an intro psychology course on how social media affects teen sleep.

What the literature review looks like:

The review is usually 2–3 pages and organized by themes, not by “Study 1, Study 2, Study 3.” A strong example of a short literature review might:

• Start broad: overall rates of teen social media use and sleep problems (using sources like the CDC’s adolescent sleep data).
• Move to mechanisms: blue light exposure, fear of missing out (FOMO), late-night notifications.
• Narrow to gaps: most studies are cross-sectional, few look at long-term outcomes, or very little research on non-U.S. teens.

Sample sentences you might see in this example of a literature review:

“Recent national surveys indicate that fewer than one in four U.S. high school students gets the recommended 8 hours of sleep on school nights (CDC, 2023). At the same time, daily social media use among adolescents has risen above three hours per day, raising concerns about potential impacts on sleep duration and quality.”

“Although several studies report an association between heavy social media use and shorter sleep (Johnson & Lee, 2022; Patel et al., 2021), most rely on self-reported screen time and cross-sectional designs, limiting conclusions about causality.”

This is one of the best examples of a beginner-friendly literature review: short, clearly themed, and ending in a gap statement that leads naturally into the research question.

2. Empirical Research Paper Literature Review (APA-Style)

Scenario: A standard empirical paper in psychology, nursing, or education using APA format.

What the literature review looks like:

In these examples of literature review examples for research papers, the review is usually the entire Introduction section. It:

• Starts with what is already known.
• Moves to what is not known.
• Ends with hypotheses or research questions.

Example structure for a study on mindfulness and college student anxiety:

• Paragraph 1–2: Prevalence of anxiety in college students (citing sources like NIMH and recent campus mental health surveys).
• Paragraph 3–4: Evidence that mindfulness-based interventions reduce anxiety in adults.
• Paragraph 5: Limited evidence focused specifically on college students, or on digital mindfulness apps.
• Final paragraph: “Therefore, the present study examines…”

Sample phrasing from a strong example of this style:

“Mindfulness-based interventions have demonstrated moderate effects in reducing anxiety symptoms in adult populations (Hofmann et al., 2010). However, fewer studies have examined whether brief, app-based mindfulness programs are effective for college students, who face distinct academic and social stressors. The present study addresses this gap by…”

Notice how this type of literature review doesn’t just summarize. It builds a case for why the new study matters.

3. Narrative Literature Review (Humanities or Social Sciences)

Scenario: A stand-alone literature review paper in sociology, history, or English, often 10–20 pages.

What the literature review looks like:

These examples include a more essay-like style, with subheadings but also a strong narrative voice. For instance, a review on “Representations of Climate Anxiety in Contemporary Fiction” might:

• Organize by time period (pre-2010 vs. post-2010 climate fiction).
• Or organize by perspective (works focusing on individual psychology vs. collective, societal responses).

What you’d see in a high-quality example:

“Early climate fiction tended to center on large-scale catastrophe and dystopian futures, often sidelining the psychological experiences of individual characters (Smith, 2009). More recent works, however, foreground intimate portrayals of climate anxiety, particularly among younger protagonists (Jones, 2021; Lee, 2022). This shift parallels the growing recognition of climate-related distress in psychological research (American Psychological Association, 2023).”

This is one of the best examples of how to weave disciplines together: literary analysis plus recent psychological findings on climate anxiety.

4. Systematic Literature Review (Health, Nursing, Education)

Scenario: A graduate-level paper or article summarizing all research on a very specific question, often in health or education.

What the literature review looks like:

Systematic reviews follow a methodical process: search terms, databases, inclusion criteria, and often a flow diagram. You can see real examples at the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database, where many articles are labeled as “Systematic Review.”

For example, a systematic review on “School-Based Interventions to Improve Adolescent Sleep” might:

• Describe search strategies across databases like PubMed, ERIC, and PsycINFO.
• Include only randomized controlled trials from 2010–2024.
• Organize the literature by intervention type (education-only, schedule changes, digital tools).

Sample language you’d see in this example of a literature review:

“Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC for studies published between January 2010 and March 2024. Studies were included if they evaluated a school-based intervention targeting sleep duration among adolescents aged 13–18. Of 1,247 records identified, 23 met inclusion criteria.”

This type is common in health fields (Mayo Clinic and NIH funded research often cites them) and is one of the best examples of a highly structured, transparent review.

5. Theoretical or Conceptual Literature Review

Scenario: A graduate seminar paper or dissertation chapter that tries to build or refine a theory.

What the literature review looks like:

Instead of summarizing “what we know,” these examples of literature review examples for research papers focus on how we think about a topic.

Imagine a conceptual review on “Digital Literacy as a Form of Social Capital.” A strong example might:

• Compare classic social capital theories (Bourdieu, Coleman, Putnam).
• Connect those to modern digital literacy frameworks.
• Propose an updated model that explains inequalities in access and outcomes.

Sample phrasing:

“While Bourdieu’s conception of social capital emphasizes durable networks of institutionalized relationships (Bourdieu, 1986), recent work on digital literacy highlights more fluid, platform-specific competencies (Ng, 2012). Integrating these perspectives suggests that digital literacy may function as a context-dependent form of social capital, enabling or constraining access to educational and economic opportunities.”

This is a great example of a literature review that isn’t just background—it creates something new out of the existing research.

6. Literature Review Chapter in a Thesis or Dissertation

Scenario: A 20–40 page chapter in a master’s thesis or PhD dissertation.

What the literature review looks like:

These are longer, but the best examples are still tightly organized. A thesis on remote learning outcomes after COVID-19 might:

• Review pre-2020 online learning research.
• Summarize emergency remote teaching during 2020–2021.
• Highlight 2022–2025 studies on hybrid models and long-term impacts.

You’ll see a lot of subheadings, for example:

• “Historical Perspectives on Online Learning”
• “Emergency Remote Teaching During COVID-19”
• “Post-Pandemic Hybrid Models (2022–2025)”

Universities like Harvard and many state schools post public theses that serve as real examples you can read and learn from.

How to Use These Examples of Literature Review Examples for Research Papers

Seeing examples is helpful. Knowing how to copy the right parts is even better.

When you study the best examples of literature review writing, focus on four things:

1. How they open.
Almost every strong example starts broad, then narrows. You’ll notice patterns like:

“Over the past decade, X has increased…”
“Recent surveys indicate…”
“A growing body of research suggests…”

2. How they group studies.
Good examples don’t go study-by-study. They group by theme, method, population, or time period. For instance:

“Several longitudinal studies have found…”
“In contrast, cross-sectional research typically reports…”

3. How they signal disagreement.
Watch for phrases such as:

“Findings are mixed.”
“Results have been inconsistent across age groups.”
“While some researchers argue X, others emphasize Y.”

4. How they end.
Nearly every strong example of a literature review ends with a gap and a purpose:

“However, few studies have examined…”
“To address this limitation, the present study…”

If you read any of the real examples from university repositories or databases like PubMed with these four questions in mind, you’ll start to see the underlying blueprint.

Updated 2024–2025 Trends You Can Reference in Your Literature Review

If you want your work to feel current, it helps to anchor it in recent trends. Here are a few you’ll see in modern examples of literature review examples for research papers:

Post-COVID research waves.
In education, psychology, and public health, many studies now compare pre- and post-2020 data: learning loss, telehealth, remote work, and mental health. You’ll see phrases like:

“In the wake of COVID-19, several studies have re-examined…”

Digital and AI tools.
From ChatGPT in classrooms to AI-assisted diagnostics in medicine, 2023–2025 papers are full of questions about effectiveness, ethics, and bias. For instance, you might cite emerging work on AI in education from major universities or policy groups.

Mental health and well-being.
Organizations like the CDC and NIMH continue to publish data on anxiety, depression, and youth mental health. Recent literature reviews often connect their topics (social media, climate change, economic stress) to this broader context.

Using these trends in your own review doesn’t mean you have to change your topic. It just means you’re showing you know where your topic sits in the 2024–2025 research landscape.

Building Your Own Review: Borrowing from the Best Examples

Let’s turn those examples of literature review examples for research papers into a loose “recipe” you can adapt.

Step 1: Start With a Mini-Outline

Before you write, list 3–5 themes you see in your sources. For a paper on remote work productivity, your themes might be:

• Communication and collaboration tools
• Work–life boundaries and burnout
• Manager expectations and monitoring
• Differences by industry or job type

Each theme becomes a subsection in your literature review. This is exactly how the best examples stay organized instead of turning into a random list of studies.

Step 2: Draft Paragraphs That Sound Like the Real Examples

For each theme, aim for a pattern you’ve seen in strong examples:

• Start with a topic sentence: what this paragraph is about.
• Summarize what most studies show.
• Note disagreements or limitations.
• Link back to your own research question.

Template you can adapt:

“Research on [theme] generally indicates that [overall finding] (Author, Year; Author, Year). However, [point of disagreement or limitation]. These mixed findings suggest that [lead-in to your study or argument].”

This is how you move from reading examples of literature review examples for research papers to actually writing in that same confident, synthesized voice.

Step 3: End With a Clear Gap and Purpose

Look again at the examples above. Nearly all of them end their review with something like:

“Despite growing interest in X, relatively few studies have examined Y in Z population.”

Then they follow up with:

“The present study addresses this gap by…”

If you can write those two sentences clearly, you’re doing what the best examples do.

FAQ: Common Questions About Literature Review Examples

How long should a literature review be in a research paper?
For a typical undergraduate paper, the literature review section is often 2–4 pages. For a full empirical article, it might be 4–8 pages. Thesis chapters and stand-alone reviews are longer. When you look at real examples of literature review examples for research papers from your department, pay attention to the page range in your specific field.

Where can I find real examples of literature review examples for research papers?
Start with your university library’s database. Many schools host open-access theses and dissertations that include full literature review chapters. You can also search PubMed, ERIC, or PsycINFO and look at the introduction sections of peer-reviewed articles. Harvard’s guide to literature reviews is another helpful starting point: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/literaturereview

What is an example of a strong opening sentence for a literature review?
Something that sets the stage without sounding dramatic. For instance: “Over the past decade, the use of mobile health apps has expanded rapidly, raising new questions about their effectiveness in managing chronic conditions.” If you scan the best examples of literature review writing, you’ll see this calm, factual style repeated over and over.

Do I have to include every study I find?
No. Even systematic reviews use inclusion and exclusion criteria. Your job is not to list every article; it’s to select and organize the most relevant, high-quality work that helps answer your research question. When you study examples of literature reviews in your field, notice how authors justify what they focus on.

Can I use AI tools to help write my literature review?
You can use tools to help brainstorm search terms, organize notes, or check grammar. But your actual understanding and synthesis need to be your own. Many 2024–2025 syllabi now explicitly warn about overreliance on AI, so always follow your institution’s academic integrity policy.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the best way to learn how to write a literature review is to read real ones with a writer’s eye. Use the examples of literature review examples for research papers outlined here as a starter set, then go hunt down a few in your own discipline. Study how they open, how they group studies, and how they end—and then borrow those patterns for your own work.