the literature review
A literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic. The literature review surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research. The review should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify this previous research. It should give a theoretical base for the research and help you (the author) determine the nature of your research. The literature review acknowledges the work of previous researchers, and in so doing, assures the reader that your work has been well conceived. It is assumed that by mentioning a previous work in the field of study, that the author has read, evaluated, and assimiliated that work into the work at hand.
A literature review creates a “landscape” for the reader, giving her or him a full understanding of the developments in the field. This landscape informs the reader that the author has indeed assimilated all (or the vast majority of) previous, significant works in the field into her or his research.
The purpose of a literature review is to:
- Provide foundation of knowledge on topic
- Identify areas of prior scholarship to prevent duplication and give credit to other researchers
- Identify inconstancies: gaps in research, conflicts in previous studies, open questions left from other research
- Identify need for additional research (justifying your research)
- Identify the relationship of works in context of its contribution to the topic and to other works
- Place your own research within the context of existing literature making a case for why further study is needed.
This guide brings together all the resources you will need to understand what a literature review is (and isn’t), and to conduct and write your own literature review.
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This second edition of Diana Ridley’s bestselling book provides a step-by-step guide to conducting a literature search and literature review, using cases and examples throughout to demonstrate best practice. Ridley outlines practical strategies for conducting a systematic search of the available literature, reading and note taking and writing up your literature review as part of an undergraduate research project, Masters dissertation or PhD thesis.
- Examples drawn from a wide range of disciplines
- A new chapter on conducting systematic reviews
- Increased guidance on evaluating the quality of online sources and online literature
- Enhanced guidance in dealing with copyright and permissions issues.
References:
http://uscupstate.libguides.com/c.php?g=627058&p=4389968
http://libguides.wpi.edu/literaturereview
http://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/the-literature-review/book236719
http://guides.library.bloomu.edu/litreview