How to Write a Literature Review for a Kenyan University Research Paper

Q: How many sources do I need for a literature review?

For undergraduate dissertations: 20–40 peer-reviewed sources is a reasonable target. For coursework assignments with literature review components: 10–20. Your supervisor can confirm the expectation for your specific programme and assignment type.

Q: Can I use sources older than 10 years?

Classic foundational texts in your field are always appropriate regardless of age. For empirical studies on current conditions, prioritize sources from the last 5–7 years. An older study is acceptable when it established a concept or framework you are building on.

Q: How do I avoid plagiarism in a literature review?

Paraphrase all sources in your own words, synthesize multiple sources together rather than reproducing individual arguments, use direct quotations only when the exact wording is critically important (always with quotation marks and citation), and use plagiarism detection on your draft before final submission.

Q: Should my literature review include Kenyan sources?

Yes — particularly for studies on Kenyan topics. Kenyan-context sources demonstrate you understand the local context and are not generalizing from non-Kenyan findings. African Journals Online (AJOL) is the best database for finding African-context peer-reviewed sources.

Q: How long should a literature review be?

For a dissertation: typically 4,000–8,000 words (20–30% of total dissertation length). For a research paper assignment: follow the specified length or 20–30% of total essay word count. Confirm with your supervisor.

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The literature review is the foundation of any research paper or dissertation. Here is exactly how to write one that earns strong marks at a Kenyan university.

What Is a Literature Review?

A literature review is a critical synthesis of existing research relevant to your study topic. It is not a summary list of what various authors have said — it is an analysis of what the body of research shows, where it agrees, where it contradicts, what has been established, and what remains unresolved. A strong literature review demonstrates that you understand your field, can identify the gap your research addresses, and can critically evaluate sources rather than merely reporting them. It typically makes up 20–30% of a research paper’s total length.

Finding Sources

Sources for a Kenyan university literature review: peer-reviewed journal articles through your university library databases (JSTOR, EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect), Google Scholar for broad searches and free full-text access, African Journals Online (AJOL) specifically for African-context research, government reports and policy documents (especially for applied Kenyan topics — KNBS, Ministry reports, county government documents), and previous dissertations at your institution’s library. Prioritize recent sources (last 5–7 years) for current understanding, and foundational works where they established core concepts in your field.

How to Organize Your Literature Review

Most effective organization approaches: Thematic organization — group sources around themes or concepts rather than discussing each source separately. This is the most sophisticated and most commonly expected approach at Kenyan universities. Chronological organization — show how thinking on your topic has evolved over time. Methodological organization — group sources by research approach. Avoid the weakest approach: summarizing each source separately one after another. This is description, not analysis — and it consistently receives lower marks at Kenyan universities.

💡 Tip: Write your literature review in reverse: start with your research gap (what the existing literature does NOT yet establish) and work backward to show what the literature DOES establish. This ensures your literature review builds toward justifying your specific study rather than being a collection of interesting but directionless summaries.

How to Write It

Strong literature review structure: Introduction paragraph — state the scope of the review and the key themes you will address. Body sections — each section addresses a key theme, presents what the literature shows, identifies agreements and contradictions, and evaluates the strength of evidence. Synthesize multiple sources together (‘Several studies in the Kenyan context (Author A, Year; Author B, Year) have found…’) rather than discussing each separately. Gap and justification paragraph — explicitly state what the existing literature does not yet address that your study will investigate. This is the most important paragraph in the entire literature review.

Common Literature Review Mistakes

Most common errors: relying on too few sources (aim for 20–40 sources for a dissertation literature review), using non-academic sources as primary references, summarizing sources without analysis or comparison, not including any Kenya-specific sources for studies on Kenyan topics, failing to show critical evaluation of source quality, and not ending with a clear statement of the gap your research addresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sources do I need for a literature review?▼

Can I use sources older than 10 years?▼

How do I avoid plagiarism in a literature review?▼

Should my literature review include Kenyan sources?▼

How long should a literature review be?▼

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Written by Theophilus Mburu

Theophilus Mburu is a dedicated dentist and a contributing writer at Edunotes, bringing a unique blend of scientific insight and creativity to the blog. Beyond the clinic, he enjoys immersing himself in video games and exploring music, adding a fresh and relatable perspective to his content.