Using narrative literature reviews to build a scientific knowledge base

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rumrill, Jr., Phillip D. | Fitzgerald, Shawn M.

Affiliations: Kent State University, Department of Educational Foundations & Special Services, 413 White Hall, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA. Tel.: +1 330 672 0600; Fax: +1 330 672 2512; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: This is the first in a series of three articles that examine the role that literature reviews play in rehabilitation research. The authors briefly describe the nature of narrative literature reviews, provides examples and descriptions of narrative literature reviews from the contemporary rehabilitation literature, and examines the limitations of these types of reviews in terms of modifying the prevailing status of knowledge in a particular research area.

Keywords: literature reviews, rehabilitation research

Journal: Work, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 165-170, 2001