11 Conclusion to Part III

In this part, we covered the literature review process, from understanding its core purpose to applying AI tools that can support every stage of the journey. We began by unpacking what a literature review is, the different types you might encounter, and the key benefits it brings to your research. We outlined a practical, research-backed set of steps drawn from Creswell and others to carry out your literature review. These include identifying keywords, searching databases, skimming for relevance, organizing sources into a literature map, summarizing readings, and writing the review itself.

We then explored how AI is reshaping the search process. We introduced the concept of Deep Research covering tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, highlighting both their strengths and limitations. From there, We looked at AI-powered academic search platforms such as Scite, Consensus, Elicit, R Discovery, Connected Papers, ResearchRabbit, and Litmaps and explained the different features they offer to help you locate, organize, and interpret relevant literature more effectively.

Together, these tools and strategies can help you streamline the often messy and overwhelming process of building a literature review. But as we’ve emphasized throughout, these technologies are here to assist not replace the thoughtful, critical work that research demands. In the next chapter, we shift from searching to reading, exploring how to engage deeply with the texts you’ve gathered and how AI can support your understanding without taking over the thinking.