Literature reviews, as the name implies, examine materials previously done in a field of study, evaluating them in relation to a research that you are proposing. It’s an activity you are likely to come across both in the academe and research fields, along with some specialized industries.
Goals of a Literature Review
Most literature reviews will take on one or more of these goals:
- To provide a justification for your study.
- To identify gaps among the existing materials in the field, particularly ones that your research can fill.
- To demonstrate scholarly ability by identifying relevant studies and outlining existing knowledge.
- To evaluate existing information in the field.
- To synthesize existing information in line with the concepts you have set in your research.
When To Do Literature Reviews
Some people do informal literature reviews before tackling a research in depth. This allows them to set a clearer context for the study, as well as define its actual relevance to the field. Doing so can help you refine your research topic, establishing a concrete perspective from which you can proceed.
In some situations, though, you will be asked to write a formal literature review as part of your course requirements or to justify a research proposal. In those situations, it will be in your best interest to crack open an academic writing software or manual to help you produce one with proper content and format.
