Steps in reviewing literature.

Reviewing the literature is an important part of the research process. Systematic steps to follow when evaluating the literature include critiquing the following: title, abstract, problem, purpose, theoretical or conceptual framework or model, implications for nursing, review of literature, hypotheses or research questions, variables, instruments, subjects, ethical concerns, research designs, results, conclusions, recommendations, and future studies. Frequently, the reader must search for these topics since few studies list the above as separate headings; however, it is important to evaluate each to determine a study's relevance to the reader's research needs.