A literature review (also known as a narrative review) is an integrated analysis of the existing literature used to summarize a body of literature, draw conclusions about a topic, and identify research gaps. By understanding the current state of the literature, you can show how new research fits into the larger research landscape.
A Literature Review is NOT:
- Just a summary of sources
- A review of everything written on a particular topic
- A research paper arguing for a specific viewpoint - a lit review should avoid bias and highlight areas of disagreements
- A systematic review
Purposes of a Literature Review
- Explain the background of research on a topic
- Demonstrate the importance of a topic
- Suggest new areas of research
- Identify major themes, concepts, and researchers in a topic
- Identify critical gaps, points of disagreement, or flawed approaches for a research topic
