Why Write A Literature Review?

The first step of any research project is to review the field.  So let’s think about surveying, synthesising, critically analysing and presenting in more detail. A literature review does the following.

Identifies gaps in current knowledge.

Avoids reinventing the wheel - i.e. it saves you wasting time researching something that’s already been done.

Allows you to show that you are building on a foundation of existing knowledge and ideas - i.e. carrying on from where others have already reached.

Identifies other people working in the same field. Knowing who’s already working in your area and getting in touch with them can be an invaluable source of knowledge and support.

Demonstrates the depth of your knowledge about your research.

Identifies the important works in your area and shows that you’ve read them.

Provides an intellectual context for your own work, and enables you to position your project in relation to others in the field.

Identifies opposing views.

Puts your own work in perspective – are you doing something completely new, revisiting an old controversy in the light of new evidence, etc?

Demonstrates your research skills - i.e. you not only know about work in your area,  you also know how to access it.

Identifies information and ideas that may be relevant to your project.

Identifies methods that may be relevant to your project.