Difference between a Literature Review and an Abstract
A literature review and an abstract are two different elements of an academic paper. While an abstract is a brief summary of the paper, a literature review is a more detailed analysis of the existing literature on the topic.
Abstract: An abstract is a concise summary of an academic paper. It typically includes the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions of the study. An abstract is usually between 150 to 250 words long and is located at the beginning of the paper, before the introduction. Its purpose is to provide a brief overview of the paper's content, so that readers can quickly determine if the paper is relevant to their interests.
Literature Review: A literature review, on the other hand, is a comprehensive summary and analysis of the existing literature on a particular topic. It typically involves a thorough evaluation of scholarly articles, books, and other relevant sources, and aims to provide an overview of the current state of research on the topic. A literature review is usually longer than an abstract and can range from a few paragraphs to several pages.
Examples
To illustrate the difference between an abstract and a literature review, consider the following examples:
Abstract Example: This study examines the impact of technology on student learning outcomes in the classroom. Using a randomized controlled trial design, we compare the performance of students who receive technology-based instruction to those who receive traditional classroom instruction. Our results show that technology-based instruction is associated with higher student achievement in math and science.
Literature Review Example: This literature review examines the impact of technology on student learning outcomes in K-12 classrooms. The review includes a comprehensive analysis of existing research on the topic, including studies that have used randomized controlled trial designs, quasi-experimental designs, and observational studies. The review finds that while the use of technology in the classroom has the potential to enhance student learning outcomes, the specific conditions under which technology is most effective are still unclear. Future research should focus on identifying the most effective ways to integrate technology into the classroom to maximize student learning.
Abstract = summary of your paper but a literature review states your question, examines literature relevant to your study and then shows how you intend to answer your problem :)
The abstract is specific to the research paper or the thesis. It mentions the researcher's objectives and the results of his research. As for the literary review, it is a group of studies on a specific topic that has been addressed from many aspects, written by the researcher in research axes, and they are the results of the studies.
The abstract is found before the actual article or paper, whereas a review is usually found at different place. And by a different author/s, whereas the abstract is written paper / article's by the author/s.