The Literature Review as an Exercise in Historical Thinking

Abstract

Approaching a body of literature from a historical perspective is widely acknowledged as essential to conducting a literature review. Methodological guidance for approaching a body of literature from a historical perspective depends on familiarity with works historians have written about the practice of historical research. This article provides some direction by drawing from the best-known work of one distinguished historian, a work which, upon careful reading, outlines some fundamental tasks for the historically-inclined reviewer of a body of literature. An evaluation rubric is presented that facilitates a progressive appraisal of the integration of history within a literature review. Ultimately, the article serves to stimulate the processes of thought, interpretation and rationalization when historically engaging with a body of literature. Numerous examples from the literature on human resource development are identified that illustrate the issues discussed in the article.