Every book, paper, or dissertation in the social sciences involves some element of literature review to build up an integrated, comprehensive picture of the world. This is the first book to systematize the practice of reviewing existing literature, and will thus be invaluable to everyone who writes in the social sciences. It is designed for students with some background in basic research methods and statistics. Cooper applies the basic tenets of sound data gathering to a synthesis of past research, discussing the process from conceptualization through to presentation of results. The author's intention is to produce a review that can be replicated, will achieve concensus, and focus debate in a constructive fashion. The book represents a significant departure from the past; replacing the traditional intuitive, subjective, narrative style with a systematic, objective alternative.