Which Is Not Relevant About Literature Review? MCQ Guide + Notes

Introduction

If you’re searching which is not relevant about literature review, you’re probably facing it as an MCQ in research methodology. It’s a surprisingly common exam question because it tests something basic: do you understand what a literature review is—and what it is not?

The tricky part is that options often look “academic,” so students pick the wrong one. And even beyond exams, misunderstanding this question affects real writing too. People end up stuffing their literature review chapter with content that doesn’t belong there—raw data, personal opinions, long historical background, even results—then wonder why the chapter feels messy.

This blog covers the MCQ logic behind which is not relevant about literature review, the most common “wrong options,” and a practical checklist you can use to remove irrelevant content from your own thesis or dissertation.

Why the question “which is not relevant about literature review” is asked so often

Examiners like which is not relevant about literature review because it checks whether you can separate:

• reviewing existing research (literature review)
  from
• doing your own research (methodology, results, analysis)

Most students know the definition of literature review. Fewer students can identify what doesn’t belong inside it. That’s why this MCQ keeps returning.

First, what a literature review actually is

A literature review is a systematic and critical synthesis of existing research related to your topic. It typically does three things:

1. Summarizes what is already known
2. Compares studies and highlights patterns/contradictions
3. Identifies a gap your study will address

So when you see which is not relevant about literature review, think: “The correct answer is whatever does not support synthesis, comparison, or gap-building.”

What is relevant in a literature review

Before we tackle which is not relevant about literature review, it helps to know what is relevant. A strong literature review usually includes:

• key concepts and definitions (with citations)
• major themes and debates in the field
• theoretical frameworks or models used in prior studies
• methods commonly used (and their limitations)
• key findings from landmark studies
• contradictions or mixed evidence
• the research gap and justification for your work

If an MCQ option matches these, it’s usually relevant—meaning it’s not the answer to which is not relevant about literature review.

which is not relevant about literature review: the easiest way to pick the correct option

Most MCQs present 4 options, and at least 2 will sound correct. Use this elimination method:

Step 1: Ask “Does this belong before data collection?”

Literature review is done to justify and design the study. So anything that belongs after data collection is suspicious.

Step 2: Ask “Does this involve my findings?”

Your findings belong in results/discussion, not in literature review.

Step 3: Look for “your study outputs”

If an option says “analysis of collected data,” “interpretation of results,” or “testing hypothesis with your dataset,” that’s usually the answer for which is not relevant about literature review.

The most common correct answers to “which is not relevant about literature review”

Different universities word options differently, but in most exams, the “not relevant” choice falls into one of these buckets.

1) Statistical analysis of your collected data

This is a classic correct answer for which is not relevant about literature review. Data analysis belongs in the analysis/results section, not in the literature review.

2) Results and findings of your current study

Another common “correct wrong option.” Your own results are not part of literature review.

3) Personal opinions and experiences (unsupported)

A literature review needs citations and evidence. Uncited opinions are often the answer to which is not relevant about literature review.

4) A list of references without synthesis

A bibliography is not a literature review. If an option says “a list of books and articles,” it may be the answer to which is not relevant about literature review (unless the option specifically says “critical review/synthesis”).

5) Unrelated historical background

A little history is fine if it supports your argument. But long, unrelated history is frequently what examiners mean by which is not relevant about literature review.

Why students get confused

The MCQ which is not relevant about literature review often includes options like:

• “identification of research gap” (relevant)
• “review of related studies” (relevant)
• “framework for the study” (relevant)
• “testing hypothesis by collecting new data” (not relevant)

Students panic because all options sound “researchy.” The trick is that literature review focuses on existing studies, not your new data.

So if you see which is not relevant about literature review and one option involves “collecting data” or “analysis of primary data,” that’s usually the one.

which is not relevant about literature review in real dissertation writing

Even if you’re not studying for MCQs, this question matters because many literature review chapters are weak for exactly this reason: they include irrelevant content.

Here are examples of real writing mistakes that match which is not relevant about literature review:

• writing your methodology inside the review chapter
• describing your sample size plan in literature review without linking it to prior studies
• inserting your preliminary results as “support”
• using pages of unrelated history to fill length
• copying definitions without linking them to your research question

If you remove these, your chapter improves immediately.

A quick checklist: “Does this paragraph belong in literature review?”

If you’re unsure, ask:

• Is this paragraph about existing research?
• Does it compare or synthesize at least two studies?
• Does it lead toward a gap or framework?
• Does it use citations properly?

If the answer is “no” to most, that paragraph is a candidate for which is not relevant about literature review—meaning it probably belongs elsewhere (or not at all).

Practice MCQs: which is not relevant about literature review (with answers)

Below are exam-style questions so you can see the pattern. These are the kinds of items students mean when they search which is not relevant about literature review.

MCQ 1

which is not relevant about literature review?
A) Identifying research gaps
B) Summarizing and synthesizing previous studies
C) Statistical analysis of data collected in the current study
D) Comparing findings across similar studies
Answer: C

MCQ 2

which is not relevant about literature review?
A) Establishing theoretical framework
B) Reviewing methods used by previous researchers
C) Reporting the results of the present study
D) Highlighting contradictions in past findings
Answer: C

MCQ 3

which is not relevant about literature review?
A) Reviewing related literature
B) Listing all references without interpretation
C) Showing what is already known
D) Identifying what is missing in the field
Answer: B
(Reason: a mere list is bibliography, not review.)

MCQ 4

which is not relevant about literature review?
A) Defining key concepts with citations
B) Discussing limitations in earlier studies
C) Describing the data collection process for the current study
D) Positioning your study within existing research
Answer: C

MCQ 5

which is not relevant about literature review?
A) Explaining “what the field agrees on”
B) Explaining “why studies disagree”
C) Presenting raw data tables from your survey
D) Building justification for your research question
Answer: C

If you can answer these calmly, you’ve understood the logic behind which is not relevant about literature review.

The “relevance map”: where each part of a thesis belongs

Sometimes students keep mixing sections. Here’s a simple map:

• Literature Review: what others found + gap + theory
• Methodology: what you will do (or did) + tools + sampling + ethics
• Results: what you found (numbers/themes only)
• Discussion: what your findings mean + comparison with literature + limitations
• Conclusion: what you can claim (carefully) + implications

Remembering this map makes which is not relevant about literature review easy, because anything that belongs in results/methodology becomes the “not relevant” option.

How to write literature review paragraphs that never trigger this confusion

If you want your writing to clearly look like literature review (and not like methodology/results), use this paragraph pattern:

1. Theme claim: “Studies on X generally report…”
2. Synthesis: combine 2–4 studies (not one-by-one summaries)
3. Tension: explain disagreement/limitations
4. Implication: link to your research gap

This structure automatically avoids content that fits which is not relevant about literature review, because it stays focused on existing work, not your own outputs.

Where Anushram fits in

A lot of students struggle not because they don’t read, but because they don’t know what to keep and what to remove. It’s hard to see your own chapter objectively—especially when you’re stressed and trying to meet deadlines.

That’s where a research community can help. Anushram is a collaborative platform where researchers, scholars, academicians, and professionals connect to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and support each other across domains. When you’re stuck on a methodology exam concept like which is not relevant about literature review, or when you’re rewriting your thesis chapter to remove irrelevant sections, having access to research-minded feedback can make the difference between “I think it’s okay” and “this reads like a real literature review.”

Quick FAQ

Is “data analysis” ever part of a literature review?

No. In almost every exam, data analysis is the answer to which is not relevant about literature review because analysis belongs after data collection.

Can I mention my methodology in the literature review?

You can mention methods used by previous studies. But your own methodology belongs in the methods chapter. If an option says “method of current study,” that’s often the answer to which is not relevant about literature review.

Is a literature review just a summary of studies?

No. Summary alone is weak. A literature review must synthesize and compare. If the option says “a list of references,” it can be the answer to which is not relevant about literature review.

Conclusion

The question which is not relevant about literature review becomes easy once you remember one rule: literature review is about existing research, not your data. So anything involving your results, your data analysis, or your data collection procedure is usually the “not relevant” answer.

If you want a quick revision trick: whenever you see this MCQ, ask yourself, “Which option belongs in Results/Methodology instead of in the literature chapter?” That’s almost always the correct answer to which is not relevant about literature review.

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