What is a Literature Review in Research? Definition by Authors, Purpose, and Examples

A literature review in research is usually conducted to provide the theoretical framework and rationale for a research or thesis. So through literature review, it is possible to add new and better content about the subject that the researcher is researching.

A literature review shows the reader how deep the researcher’s knowledge of a topic is and gives an indication of where the research will contribute to current knowledge. Learn what a literature review is in research, its purpose, types, and how to write one. Essential guide for students and researchers.

Literature Review in Research

Relevant literature review in research refers to the process of collecting, selecting and reading various books, journals, reports and reference materials. That is, searching and evaluating all the content (literature) that falls within the scope or scope of your chosen research topic is called a literature review.

A literature review in research allows you to add new and better content about the topic you are writing about. It demonstrates to the reader how deep your knowledge of a topic is, and indicates where your research will contribute to current knowledge.

Related literature review and research review are not the same thing. The main focus of an academic research paper is to develop a new argument, while the focus of a literature review is to build a foundation and support for a new contribution or insight in a research paper. However, the main focus of a literature review is to summarize the ideas and arguments of others.

Literature review Definition by Authors

The following are the important definitions of the literature review in research or Literature review Definition by Authors –

According to Snyder (2019, p.333) – “A literature review can broadly be described as a more or less systematic way of collecting and synthesizing previous research.”

According to Charter V. Good – “The keys to the vast storehouse of published literature may open doors to sources of significant problems and explanatory hypotheses and provide helpful orientation for the definition of the problem, background for selection of procedure, and comparative data for interpretation of results.”

According to Grath (1970) – “A review of the literature and related research report is the most important component in designing a research project.”

Sources of Literature Review

All the sources from which the literature is reviewed are mentioned here –

•  Different books (Books),
•  Journal of related subjects (Journal),
•  Newspaper,
•  Census Report,
•  Discussions/Conferences (Seminar/Conferences),
•  Thesis Paper (Thesis Paper),
•  Bibliography etc.

Purpose of Literature Review

A literature review is an essential part of any research project. It involves a careful examination and summary of existing studies and publications related to the research topic. The main purpose of a literature review is to build a strong foundation for new research by understanding what is already known.

Here are the important purposes of the literature review in research –

i) To Understand Existing Knowledge: It provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on the topic.

ii) To Identify Research Gaps: Helps to discover areas where further research is needed.

iii) To Avoid Duplication: Ensures that the new research adds original value and does not merely repeat previous work.

iv) To Develop Theoretical Framework: Connects relevant theories and concepts to support the study.

v) To Refine Research Questions or Hypotheses: Guides the formulation of clear and focused research questions.

vi) To Guide Methodology: Informs the choice of research methods by reviewing techniques used in past studies.

vii) To Provide Context: Situates the current study within the larger academic conversation.

APA Literature Review Example

(Research Topic) – ‘Impact of Socio-economic Status on Academic Achievement among the Secondary School Students’.

• Andrabi, A. & Jabeen, N. (2018) conducted their study in India (Kashmir) and concluded that socioeconomic status is a very important factor in academic achievement irrespective of category and gender.
• Baro, A. (2017) studied in India and shows that the components of socioeconomic status greatly impact academic achievement.
• Chandra, R. and Azimuddin, S. (2013) conducted their study in India and examined how the socioeconomic status of the students influences their academic achievement.

Types	Examples
Book one Author	Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory. London: Sage. or Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches (3rd. ed).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Book two Author	Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd. ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Book – Editor	Clandinin, D. J. (Ed.) (2007). Handbook of narrative inquiry: Mapping a methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Conclusion

So one of the basic components of any research is a literature review. Therefore, it is very important to conduct a research literature review properly to properly conduct and complete any research. Before starting any research, the researcher is able to gain accurate knowledge about the nature, scope, causes, effects and relationship of the research problem through a literature review.

References

• Best, J.W & Khan, J.V (2006) “Research in Education” (10^th Ed.). New Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited.
• Creswell, J.W (2019) “Educational Research” (4^th Ed.). Pearson, ISBN 978-93-325-4947-0
• Kaul L. (1984) Methodology of Education Research, New Delhi, Vikas Publishing House
• Kishan, N (2016) “Economics of Education” APH Publishing Corporation.
• What is a Literature Review in Research? Definition, Purpose, and Examples

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