Examples of literature review can help you understand how to compare research findings rather than simply summarise individual papers. In dance therapy research involving people with Parkinson’s disease, studies may examine balance, participant experiences or continued attendance. This guide provides sample paragraphs showing how to connect those findings, discuss limitations and identify questions for further research.
1. Define What You Mean by Dance Therapy
Before reviewing findings, explain which interventions your research work includes.
The American Dance Therapy Association defines dance/movement therapy as a psychotherapeutic practice involving movement. This is more specific than attending a recreational dance class or participating in a dance-based exercise programme.
Research involving Parkinson’s disease includes different approaches, such as adapted tango, ballroom dancing and community dance sessions. These should not automatically be treated as equivalent forms of therapy.
Literature Review Example
This review considers dance-based programmes for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, while distinguishing these activities from formal dance/movement therapy. Studies will be compared according to their movement content, therapeutic objectives, instructor background and delivery setting. These distinctions help clarify whether findings concern physical training, social participation, psychological support or a combination of these elements.
This opening establishes the boundaries of your review. It also prevents a broad label from hiding important differences between programmes.
2.Examples of Literature Review on Balance and Mobility
Physical outcomes provide one starting point for organising the evidence.
A systematic review published in 2020 included 16 randomised controlled trials involving 636 participants with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. Its findings supported improvements in balance and motor symptom severity, while identifying uncertainty around non-motor outcomes and quality of life.
Literature Review Example
Evidence from randomised trials suggests that dance-based programmes can improve selected motor outcomes in people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. However, improvement in balance should not be interpreted as improvement in every aspect of mobility. A literature review should examine the specific outcomes assessed and consider whether changes were maintained beyond the intervention period.
The analytical step comes after reporting the finding. Ask whether studies used comparable measures, included similar participants and assessed outcomes under similar conditions.
Avoid replacing these details with a general statement that dance “improves Parkinson’s disease.” That wording goes beyond the specific outcomes being investigated.
3.Compare Programmes Instead of Listing Studies
A review becomes more informative when it compares interventions directly.
One randomised study compared partnered and non-partnered tango in 39 people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. Both groups improved on selected balance and walking measures. Participants in the partnered group reported greater enjoyment and interest in continuing.
Literature Review Example
The comparison between partnered and non-partnered tango illustrates why physical outcomes and participant preferences should be considered separately. Both formats showed improvements on selected movement measures, while partnered dancing attracted greater reported enjoyment. These findings suggest that programme choice should consider acceptability alongside measured physical performance. They do not establish that one format is universally preferable.
For your own research work, record differences in session frequency, programme duration, supervision and comparison groups.
A study comparing dance with no additional activity answers a different question from one comparing dance with another exercise programme. Explain that distinction when discussing effectiveness.
4.Review Emotional Well-Being and Social Experiences
Movement scores do not explain everything participants value about dancing.
A UK qualitative study explored a Parkinson’s dance programme using interviews, observation and an elicitation activity. Participants included people with Parkinson’s, carers, dance artists and helpers. Findings described enjoyment, social connection and confidence in movement among the experiences associated with participation.
Literature Review Example
Qualitative evidence adds an account of what participation means to people living with Parkinson’s disease. Experiences of enjoyment, connection and confidence may help explain why a programme matters to participants, even when clinical measures capture only part of that experience. These accounts complement quantitative findings but cannot independently demonstrate a causal treatment effect.
When reviewing a qualitative study, examine how participants were recruited and whose experiences were represented.
Did the study include people who stopped attending? Were less positive experiences explored? Such questions help researchers assess the range and credibility of the findings.
5.Examine Participation and Practical Barriers
A programme can be appealing yet difficult to attend consistently.
A qualitative investigation associated with a dance feasibility study identified practical issues involving travel, partners, cost and knowledge of local opportunities. Participants also described challenges with coordination, turning and remembering dance steps.
Literature Review Example
Participation depends on more than interest in dancing. Practical arrangements and the demands of the activity can shape whether individuals feel able to attend. A review should therefore examine accessibility, teaching support and reasons for discontinuation alongside reported benefits. These factors can inform programme development and help explain differences in attendance.
This approach connects published findings to a practical research question.
For example, you might investigate how participants experience transport arrangements or how teaching adaptations influence confidence. Present these as possible questions to investigate, rather than assuming the existing literature has already answered them.
6.Handle Conflicting Findings Carefully
Good examples of literature review acknowledge uncertainty rather than selecting only favourable results.
A 2024 umbrella review examined 55 systematic reviews of dance for people with Parkinson’s disease. Most received critically low confidence ratings using AMSTAR 2. Its updated analyses supported some outcomes, but did not establish a quality-of-life benefit for dance added to usual pharmacological care compared with that care alone.
Literature Review Example
The evidence should be interpreted in light of both the quality of individual studies and the methods used to synthesise them. Positive participant experiences do not necessarily translate into measurable differences on a quality-of-life scale. Differences in outcome definitions, comparison groups and follow-up periods should be examined before apparently conflicting findings are treated as incompatible.
Also check whether different reviews include the same trials. Several reviews reporting similar conclusions may draw on overlapping evidence rather than separate groups of participants.
7.Turn Your Reading into a Clear Review Structure
Organising sources by theme helps you develop an argument instead of producing a paper-by-paper catalogue.
A practical structure could include:
- Scope: Define the population and eligible dance approaches.
- Physical outcomes: Discuss balance, walking and motor measures.
- Participant experiences: Examine enjoyment, confidence and social connection.
- Participation: Consider access, attendance and programme acceptability.
- Evidence limitations: Evaluate study design, measurement and follow-up.
- Research direction: Identify a question justified by the remaining uncertainty.
Keep a literature matrix containing each study’s design, participants, intervention, comparison, findings and limitations.
If you describe your review as systematic, the search and selection process must support that description. A narrative review should still explain how sources were identified and why they were relevant.
Build Your Conclusion Around the Evidence
A folder full of PDFs can quickly become difficult to manage if you cannot remember why you saved each source. When downloading research articles, consider adding a short note explaining why the publication is relevant to your work.
You might record the main finding, the section of your research it supports, and any limitations that could affect how you use the information.
Keep track of your reading in a literature matrix, spreadsheet, reference manager, or another system that suits your workflow. The aim is to organise information so that you can find and understand it easily when writing your research paper.
Save direct quotations separately and include page numbers whenever available. Keep your summaries and notes organised, and record the database name, search date, search terms, and filters you used. This information makes it easier to repeat or update your search later.
For each important journal article, record enough bibliographic information to create an accurate reference. This may include the authors, publication year, article title, journal name, volume, issue, page range, and DOI, where available.
These notes will save time when you return to your research after several days or weeks. They can also help you compare findings across publications and organise evidence for your literature review.
The strongest examples of literature review connect findings with their limitations. For dance therapy and Parkinson’s disease, that means distinguishing formal therapy from dance-based activity, separating measured outcomes from personal experiences and considering who participated in the research.
Treat dance as a potential complementary approach within the scope supported by the studies. The evidence discussed here does not establish a cure or justify replacing prescribed care.
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FAQ
1. What should a literature review on dance therapy and Parkinson’s disease include?
Include the types of dance programmes studied, participant characteristics, research methods and main findings. Compare physical outcomes, participant experiences and barriers to attendance. Discuss study limitations and explain which questions remain unanswered.
2. Where can I find examples of literature review on this topic?
Search academic resources such as PubMed, Google Scholar and your university library using terms like “Parkinson’s disease,” “dance interventions” and “literature review.” Read relevant reviews to understand their structure, then consult the original studies before discussing detailed findings.
3. Is dance therapy the same as a dance class for people with Parkinson’s disease?
Not necessarily. Formal dance/movement therapy involves a psychotherapeutic approach. Adapted dance classes may focus on exercise, enjoyment or social participation. Your literature review should describe each programme accurately rather than treating all dance activities as the same intervention.
4. How can a qualitative study contribute to the review?
A qualitative study can explore participants’ experiences, including enjoyment, confidence, relationships and difficulties attending sessions. These findings help explain what participation means to people. They complement physical assessments but do not independently establish clinical effectiveness.
5. How should I discuss conflicting research findings?
Compare the studies’ participants, dance formats, session schedules, outcome measures and follow-up periods. Differences in design may help explain different results. Present both supportive and uncertain findings, and consider the quality of the evidence before drawing conclusions.
6. How do I identify a research gap in this literature?
Look for questions that existing studies address incompletely, such as continued participation, accessibility or outcomes beyond the programme period. Check whether other research has already examined the issue. A useful gap explains what remains uncertain, why it matters and how further research could investigate it.
