A literature review should be written as a neutral document that almost never has a position statement.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: A literature review should be written as a neutral document that almost never has a position statement.

Option 1: True. This asserts that literature reviews must be neutral and rarely express any stance. While many reviews strive for objectivity, this claim is overly rigid. In practice, literature reviews often adopt a particular lens, framework, or interpretive stance to organize findings, critique methodologies, or highlight gaps. Some reviews—especially narrative or critical reviews—explicitly articulate a perspective or argument to guide readers through the analysis. Therefore, labeling all literature reviews as strictly neutral and almost never having a position statement can be misleading.

Option 2: False. This option contends that the idea of universal neutrality and an absence of position statements is incorrect. Indeed, reviews frequently present a viewpoint, synthesize evidence around a thesis, or advocate for a specific interpretation of the literature. Authors may outline criteria, critique prevailing methods, or propose theoretical or practical implications, all of which reflect a position. Variability exists across review types: systematic reviews emphasize methodology and neutrality to reduce bias, while narrative or scoping reviews may deliberately frame a stance to advance a particular argument.

Summary of reasoning across options: The blanket claim that literature reviews are always neutral and seldom state a position does not accommodate the diversity of review styles. Reviews can be neutral in method yet still convey a position in interpretation or synthesis, and many review types intentionally articulate a perspective to structure the discussion. This nuance is why the statement in option True is not universally valid.

COM_COM_000323 Written Communications Online Lesson 1B - Self Assessment

A literature review should be written as a neutral document that almost never has a position statement.

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

By definition, a literature review involves a thorough look at the major written works (research etc,) about your narrow topic.

While sometimes a literature review will have an introduction, body and conclusion structure, it is more common to structure it according to the topic.

Which of the following is not a recommended source for an academic literature review?

A literature review is a critical evaluation, not just a summary of existing research.

A well-written literature review helps identify gaps in existing research and justifies the need for new studies.

A literature review can help to:

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a literature review? A literature review for a field of research ...

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler