What is Literature review?

What is Literature review?

A literature review is a critical analysis and summary of published research articles, books, and other scholarly sources related to a particular research topic. It provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge and research on the topic, highlighting gaps, inconsistencies, and areas for future research.

The purpose of a literature review is to provide a synthesis of the existing literature on a particular research question or topic. It aims to identify the key concepts, theories, and methodologies that have been used in previous research, and to critically evaluate the quality and relevance of this research.

The literature review typically begins with a focused research question or problem, and the search for relevant literature may involve using databases and other search tools to locate relevant sources. The researcher must then critically evaluate each source and synthesize the information to identify trends, patterns, and themes.

The literature review may also include a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the previous research, and identify gaps in the existing knowledge that the current study seeks to address. It may also highlight contradictions or inconsistencies in the literature, and provide a theoretical framework for the current study.

Overall, a literature review is an essential part of the research process, as it provides a foundation of knowledge for the current study and helps to position it within the broader scholarly discourse on the topic.