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The integrative literature review is a distinctive form of research that generates new knowledge about the topic reviewed. Little guidance is available on how to write an integrative literature review. This article discusses how to organize and write an integrative literature review and cites examples of published integrative literature reviews that illustrate how this type of research has made substantive contributions to the knowledge base of human resource development.
Keywords: literature review; integrative literature review; integrative research review: synthesis
The integrative literature review is a form of research that reviews, critiques, and synthesizes representative literature on a topic in an integrated way such that new frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated. Several integrative literature reviews have made seminal contributions to our knowledge of human resource development (HRD) and related fields; some are cited in this article. Recognizing the value of work that reviews, critiques, and synthesizes knowledge from the literature on topics of interest to the field, Human Resource Development Review (HRDR) has published at least one integrative literature review in every issue since the journal began almost 4 years ago. The editors of HRDR continue to seek wellwritten review articles that yield provocative, new perspectives on key issues in the field.
This article discusses the distinctive characteristics of this form of research. In addition, we hope to counter the misconception that integrative literature reviews are less rigorous or easier to write than other types of research articles. On the contrary, the integrative literature review is a sophisticated form of research that requires a great deal of research skill and insight. Authors of review articles are expected to identify an appropriate topic or issue for the review, justify why a literature review is the appropriate means of addressing the topic or problem, search and retrieve the appropriate literature(s), analyze and critique the literature, and create new understandings of the topic through one or more forms of synthesis. This article offers guidelines for writing integrative literature reviews and cites examples of exemplary review articles. After reviewing the purposes best served by literature reviews, the article discusses how to organize and write an integrative literature review that offers valuable new perspectives on an issue. Examples of published integrative literature reviews are provided that...