Literature Reviews
literature review
A literature review is not a collection of novels or poetry—it is a survey of research and writing on a specific topic. Its purpose is to summarize existing studies, major perspectives, and key experts in the field. In other words, it’s a survey of what has been written and argued about your topic.
By completing a literature review, you demonstrate that you:
- Understand the history of research on your topic.
- Recognize current academic perspectives and controversies.
- Identify gaps and areas for further study.
Thus, a literature review synthesizes your research into an explanation of what is known and what is not known on your topic. It helps focus your research and prevents you from duplicating existing work.
Just to be clear: a literature review differs from a research paper in that a literature review is a summary and synthesis of the major arguments and thinking of experts on the topic you’re investigating, whereas a research paper supports a position or an opinion you have developed yourself as a result of your own analysis of a topic.
Another benefit of a literature review is that it helps you understand ongoing academic discussions, enabling you to participate in scholarly conversations with a well-informed perspective.