What is the purpose of a literature review in a research paper?
The purpose of a literature review is to gain an understanding of the existing research and debates relevant to a particular topic or area of study, and to present that knowledge in the form of a written report. Conducting a literature review helps you build your knowledge in your field.
What is the main purpose of literature?
The literary purpose is used to entertain and to give aesthetic pleasure. The focus of the literary purpose is on the words themselves and on a conscious and deliberate arrangement of the words to produce a pleasing or enriching effect. A writer often expresses a worldview when using the literary purpose.
What is the purpose of a literature review in the introduction?
A literature review functions as a tool to: provide a background to your work by summarising the previously published work.
How do you introduce a literature review?
The introduction should:
- define your topic and provide an appropriate context for reviewing the literature;
- establish your reasons – i.e. point of view – for.
- reviewing the literature;
- explain the organisation – i.e. sequence – of the review;
- state the scope of the review – i.e. what is included and what isn’t included.
What sources can be used in a literature review?
This includes peer-reviewed articles, books, dissertations and conference papers. When reviewing the literature, be sure to include major works as well as studies that respond to major works. You will want to focus on primary sources, though secondary sources can be valuable as well.
Is a literature review qualitative or quantitative?
Literature reviews are qualitative when used as a research method or design. However, a research paper that is either qualitative or quantitative can have a literature review that addresses a specific research gap.
What questions should be asked when assessing a literature review?
Ask yourself questions like these:
- What is the specific thesis, problem, or research question that my literature review helps to define?
- What type of literature review am I conducting?
- What is the scope of my literature review?
- How good was my information seeking?
- Have I critically analysed the literature I use?
