Research Skills Through Literature Review

This Student Research Hub introduces undergraduate students to the core research skills required to locate, evaluate, synthesise and communicate academic knowledge through the preparation of a literature review. The Hub provides a practical introduction to the research process and the role of literature reviews in developing an evidence-based understanding of a chosen topic.

Participants will learn how to identify and refine a research topic, develop and document a structured search strategy, and access relevant academic literature using online databases and scholarly information sources. The Hub will explore approaches to critically evaluating the quality, relevance and credibility of published research.

Students will also develop practical skills in academic writing, referencing and the ethical use of information. Guidance will be provided on organising and synthesising information from multiple sources, avoiding plagiarism, using reference management software and structuring a coherent and evidence-based literature review. Examples and case studies will be drawn from the sciences; however, the research skills and approaches developed throughout the Hub are transferable across a broad range of academic disciplines.

Through a combination of guided instruction, practical activities and independent learning, students will produce a literature review on a topic of their choice. The Hub aims to develop transferable skills in information literacy, critical thinking, academic writing and scholarly communication that will support students throughout their undergraduate studies and future research projects.

General learning outcomes

By the end of the Student Research Hub, students will be able to:

• Identify and refine a research topic and develop a structured search strategy to locate relevant academic literature.
• Access and critically evaluate academic sources using appropriate scholarly databases and information resources.
• Organise, analyse and synthesise information from multiple sources to identify key themes, trends and gaps within the literature.
• Apply appropriate academic referencing conventions and use reference management software to support scholarly writing.
• Demonstrate academic integrity through the ethical use of information and the avoidance of plagiarism.
• Produce a structured and evidence-based literature review on a chosen research topic.