A literature review is a piece of academic writing demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the academic literature on a specific topic placed in context. A literature review also includes a critical evaluation of the material; this is why it is called a literature review rather than a literature report.
In a larger piece of written work, such as a dissertation, a literature review is usually one of the first tasks carried out after deciding on a topic. Reading combined with critical analysis can help to refine a topic and frame research questions. A literature review establishes familiarity with, and understanding of, current research in a particular field before carrying out a new investigation. Conducting a literature review should enable students to find out what research has already been done and identify what is unknown within chosen topics.
A well-written literature review will demonstrate a student’s ability to:
- summarise and analyse previous research and theories
- identify areas of controversy and contested claims
- highlight any gaps that may exist in research to date