Literature Review Writing

def create_literature_matrix(sources: list[dict]) -> dict:
    """
    Create a structured matrix for organizing reviewed literature.

    Args:
        sources: List of dicts with keys: author, year, title, method,
                 sample, key_findings, themes, limitations
    """
    matrix = {
        "headers": [
            "Author (Year)", "Research Question", "Method",
            "Sample/Data", "Key Findings", "Themes", "Limitations"
        ],
        "rows": [],
        "theme_index": {}
    }

    for src in sources:
        row = {
            "citation": f"{src['author']} ({src['year']})",
            "question": src.get("research_question", ""),
            "method": src.get("method", ""),
            "sample": src.get("sample", ""),
            "findings": src.get("key_findings", ""),
            "themes": src.get("themes", []),
            "limitations": src.get("limitations", "")
        }
        matrix["rows"].append(row)

        for theme in src.get("themes", []):
            matrix["theme_index"].setdefault(theme, []).append(
                row["citation"]
            )

    return matrix

Chronological (rarely ideal for reviews):
  "In 2010, Smith found X. Then in 2012, Jones found Y.
   In 2015, Lee found Z."
  Problem: Reads like an annotated bibliography, not a synthesis.

Thematic (recommended):
  "Three factors have been identified as predictors of X.
   First, [factor A] has been consistently supported (Smith, 2010;
   Jones, 2012; Lee, 2015). Second, [factor B] shows mixed results..."
  Advantage: Synthesizes findings around conceptual themes.

Methodological (useful for systematic reviews):
  "Studies using qualitative methods (n=12) found [pattern],
   while quantitative studies (n=25) reported [different pattern].
   This methodological divide suggests..."

Summary (weak -- describes one paper at a time):
  "Smith (2020) studied 200 undergraduates and found that sleep
   quality predicted academic performance. Jones (2021) surveyed
   150 graduate students and found a similar relationship."

Synthesis (strong -- integrates multiple sources around a point):
  "Sleep quality has been consistently linked to academic performance
   across both undergraduate (Smith, 2020; Lee, 2019) and graduate
   (Jones, 2021) populations, with effect sizes ranging from r=0.25
   to r=0.42. However, this relationship may be confounded by
   socioeconomic factors (Park, 2022), which only two studies
   controlled for."

Agreement:
  "There is broad consensus that..."
  "Multiple studies converge on the finding that..."
  "This finding has been replicated across [contexts]..."

Disagreement:
  "However, findings diverge regarding..."
  "In contrast to the majority view, [author] argues..."
  "The evidence is mixed, with some studies reporting [X] and others [Y]..."

Gap identification:
  "Notably absent from this literature is..."
  "While [aspect] has been well studied, [gap] remains unexplored..."
  "No studies to date have examined [specific gap]..."

Transition:
  "Taken together, these findings suggest..."
  "Building on this body of work, recent studies have begun to..."
  "This line of research has evolved from [earlier focus] to [current focus]..."

1. Introduction (1-2 pages)
   - Define the topic and scope
   - Explain why this review is needed (gap, timeliness, controversy)
   - State the review's objectives or research questions

2. Methods (for systematic/scoping reviews)
   - Search strategy, databases, date range
   - Inclusion/exclusion criteria
   - Screening process (PRISMA flow diagram)

3. Body: Thematic Sections (bulk of the review)
   - Each section covers a theme, construct, or sub-question
   - Synthesize rather than summarize
   - Use tables to compare studies when appropriate

4. Discussion / Synthesis
   - What is the overall state of knowledge?
   - Where do studies agree and disagree?
   - What are the gaps?

5. Conclusion / Future Directions
   - Summarize the key takeaways
   - Propose a research agenda addressing identified gaps

Problem: "Laundry list" structure
  - Each paragraph describes one study in isolation
  Fix: Group studies by theme and synthesize across them

Problem: Missing recent literature
  - Review stops at 2020 in a fast-moving field
  Fix: Search within the last 12 months before submission

Problem: Uncritical acceptance
  - All studies treated as equally valid
  Fix: Evaluate methodological quality and note study limitations

Problem: No conceptual framework
  - Sources listed without a guiding structure
  Fix: Start with a framework (theoretical, conceptual, or thematic map)

Problem: Omitting contradictory evidence
  - Only citing studies that support the authors' position
  Fix: Actively seek and discuss disconfirming evidence