50 Best Literature Review Templates

1. Define scope and objectives upfront
Outline the research questions, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and time frame before drafting the template to guide systematic data collection and ensure consistency across sources. This helps prevent scope creep and improves comparability across studies.

2. Use a consistent extraction framework
Embed a standard set of fields (e.g., author, year, study design, population, key findings, limitations) in the template so you can efficiently extract and organize information from each source. This ensures uniform data capture and easier synthesis.

3. Plan synthesis and maintain traceability
Decide early whether you will use narrative, thematic, or meta-analytic synthesis and ensure the template supports this. Keep notes that link findings to sources, identify gaps, and track how conclusions evolve as you review more literature.