When is the appropriate time to edit your literature review?

Editing your literature review after completing your first draft is appropriate because it allows you to review the overall coherence and structure of your arguments. At this stage, you can assess how well your literature review integrates with the rest of your research, ensuring that it effectively supports your research questions and methodology.

Additionally, finishing the first draft enables you to identify gaps, inconsistencies, or areas that require deeper exploration or clarification within the literature. You can reflect on the findings and arguments presented and make necessary adjustments to enhance clarity and critical engagement. This reflective process fosters a more thorough and comprehensive literature review that contributes meaningfully to your research project.

Editing before starting a first draft or during data collection might lead to incomplete or unfocused literature reviews, as the full context and direction of your research may not yet be clear. On the other hand, editing while drafting the introduction could result in disruptions in your writing flow, as the structure and content of the literature review should ideally align with a completed draft for the best outcomes in coherence and academic rigor.