Writing a Literature Review: A Comprehensive Guide for MBBS Students

Question 1

When organizing a literature review, the recommended approach is to utilize:

Accepted Answer

Combination of all the above

Answer

Chronological order of publication dates

Answer

Thematic categorization of research topics

Answer

Methodological grouping of studies

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a well-written literature review?

Accepted Answer

Plagiarism or inappropriate citation

Answer

Thorough coverage of relevant literature

Answer

Critical evaluation of research articles

Answer

Synthesized and integrated findings

Question 3

The primary purpose of a literature search is to:

Accepted Answer

Identify and gather relevant research articles

Answer

Provide a comprehensive summary of all available research

Answer

Synthesize the results of retrieved articles

Answer

Critically assess the quality of research

Question 4

The distinction between primary and secondary research articles lies in:

Accepted Answer

Primary research articles present original research findings, while secondary research articles summarize existing research

Answer

Secondary research articles present original research findings, while primary research articles summarize existing research

Answer

Primary research articles are qualitative, while secondary research articles are quantitative

Answer

Secondary research articles are qualitative, while primary research articles are quantitative

Question 5

Why is it crucial to consider potential bias when interpreting research findings?

Accepted Answer

Bias can compromise the validity and reliability of research results

Answer

Bias ensures the reproducibility of research findings

Answer

Bias is an inherent and beneficial aspect of scientific research

Answer

Bias does not significantly impact research outcomes

Question 6

The primary purpose of a PRISMA diagram is to:

Accepted Answer

Visually depict the process of literature searching and screening

Answer

Assess the quality of research articles

Answer

Synthesize the results of multiple research studies

Answer

Develop novel research questions

Question 7

For comprehensive medical literature searches, which database is most recommended?

Accepted Answer

MEDLINE

Answer

Google Scholar

Answer

Web of Science

Answer

JSTOR

Question 8

What is the conventional structure for writing a comprehensive literature review?

Accepted Answer

Introduction, Body, Conclusion

Answer

Methods, Results, Discussion

Answer

Background, Research Question, Discussion

Answer

Abstract, Introduction, Discussion

Question 9

In the context of a literature review, what is the purpose of conducting a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To combine and analyze data from multiple studies to draw more robust conclusions

Answer

To statistically analyze the outcomes of individual studies

Answer

To provide a historical overview of a research topic

Answer

To synthesize findings from qualitative research

Question 10

The primary objective of conducting a literature search in a research project is to:

Accepted Answer

Identify existing research on the topic

Answer

Collect data for analysis

Answer

Test hypotheses

Answer

Determine the feasibility of the project

Question 11

Which of the following databases is widely recognized as the most comprehensive for medical research?

Accepted Answer

PubMed

Answer

Scopus

Answer

Web of Science

Answer

JSTOR

Question 12

A systematic literature review differs from a narrative review primarily in that it:

Accepted Answer

Follows a predefined protocol

Answer

Is more focused and specific

Answer

Uses qualitative data

Answer

Is more suitable for exploratory research

Question 13

The appropriate citation style for a medical literature review is:

Accepted Answer

Vancouver (Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals)

Answer

Harvard

Answer

MLA

Answer

Chicago

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a key component of a literature review?

Accepted Answer

Empirical data collection

Answer

Identification of relevant studies

Answer

Critical appraisal of articles

Answer

Synthesis of findings

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of conducting a literature search?

Accepted Answer

To locate relevant studies on a specific topic

Answer

To identify potential collaborators

Answer

To establish the need for further research

Answer

To test new hypotheses

Question 16

Which of the following databases is commonly used for medical literature searches?

Accepted Answer

PubMed

Answer

Google Scholar

Answer

JSTOR

Answer

Web of Science

Question 17

What is the difference between a systematic review and a meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

A systematic review provides a qualitative summary of studies, while a meta-analysis performs a statistical synthesis of data.

Answer

A meta-analysis provides a qualitative summary of studies, while a systematic review performs a statistical synthesis of data.

Answer

A systematic review is more comprehensive than a meta-analysis.

Answer

A meta-analysis is more comprehensive than a systematic review.

Question 18

What is the purpose of a research question in a literature review?

Accepted Answer

To focus the review and guide the search for relevant studies

Answer

To provide a clear structure for the review

Answer

To make the review more engaging

Answer

To critically evaluate the quality of the studies included in the review

Question 19

Which of the following steps is essential in the process of writing a literature review?

Accepted Answer

Critically appraising research articles

Answer

Conducting interviews with experts

Answer

Writing a research abstract

Answer

Designing a research questionnaire

Question 20

What is the primary purpose of conducting a thorough literature search before writing a literature review?

Accepted Answer

To gather relevant research on the topic and avoid duplication of efforts.

Answer

To impress the reader with the researcher's knowledge.

Answer

To demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of the subject area.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a desirable characteristic of a well-written literature review?

Accepted Answer

It presents biased or one-sided information.

Answer

It synthesizes findings and draws meaningful conclusions.

Answer

It is comprehensive and covers all relevant literature.

Answer

It is organized and easy to follow.

Question 22

In a research proposal, what is the main role of the literature review section?

Accepted Answer

To demonstrate an understanding of the research topic and its context.

Answer

To state the research question or hypothesis.

Answer

To define the methodology for the research.

Question 23

What is a key advantage of using a database for conducting a literature search?

Accepted Answer

It enables a more comprehensive and efficient search of research articles.

Answer

It provides exclusive access to free and open-access articles.

Answer

It ensures the superior quality of the articles found.

Question 24

Which of the following is an effective approach to synthesizing findings from multiple research articles?

Accepted Answer

Identifying common themes and patterns across studies.

Answer

Highlighting only the findings that support the researcher's hypothesis.

Answer

Combining the results of all studies into a single statistical analysis.

Question 25

When writing a literature review, which ethical consideration is of utmost importance?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding plagiarism and ensuring accurate attribution of sources.

Answer

Seeking approval from an ethics committee before conducting the review.

Answer

Obtaining informed consent from the authors of the articles reviewed.

Question 26

What is a primary benefit of peer-reviewing a literature review?

Accepted Answer

It provides constructive feedback to enhance the quality of the review.

Answer

It eliminates the need for revisions or corrections to the review.

Answer

It guarantees the acceptance of the review for publication in a high-impact journal.

Question 27

Why is it crucial to write a clear and concise literature review?

Accepted Answer

It facilitates the understanding and interpretation of the research topic for readers.

Answer

It showcases the researcher's writing abilities to examiners or supervisors.

Answer

It prevents the literature review from becoming excessively long.