Introduction
Understanding how to conduct a literature review is a foundational skill in academic research, as it shapes the direction, credibility, and originality of any study.
A literature review is a piece of academic writing demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the academic literature on a specific topic within a specific context. It is a critical evaluation of published materials, with a view to identifying possible gaps which a particular study attempts to fill. It is very important to note that literature reviews are usually almost always "critical evaluation" of published works, that is why it is called a literature review and not a "literature report."
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| Collection of books |
A literature review is therefore a process of reviewing the literature and also a form of academic writing. Conducting a literature review establishes your familiarity with an understanding of current research in a particular field, before carrying out a new investigation.
After doing a literature review, a researcher should know what research has already been done and should also be able to identify what is unknown (the gaps) within the topics of interest.
Some of the major reasons why a literature review is conducted include:
1. To identify developments within the field of study.
2. To learn about the information sources and the research methodologies employed in previous studies.
3. It allows us to find gaps in the literature that can become research questions.
4. Literature review also helps us to validate the originality of a research project.
5. To evaluate methods used in previous research with a view to identifying errors that should be avoided.
6. Conduct a literature review in order to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and controversies in the field of study.
7. Literature review also allows us to identify subject matter experts.
Major Sources of Literature
1. Books – these comprise a central part of any bibliography. The advantage of most books is that the materials published are usually of good quality, and the findings are integrated with other research to form a coherent body of knowledge. On the other hand, the major disadvantage with books is that they take a longer time to be published, so the information contained in books may not always be up to date.
2. Journals – journals are usually host to academic articles which publish recent and up-to-date information. For instance, the Nigerian Journal of Political Science (NJPS) is a departmental journal of political science and international relations which publishes up-to-date articles on issues of politics and other related fields twice every year (bi-annually).
Books and journals are some of the most reliable sources of literature for research students; however, publications such as magazines, newspapers, and other published materials in general may also contain relevant information that can be reviewed.
Conclusion
In summary, a literature review is both a process and a product — one that situates a researcher's work within an existing body of knowledge, sharpens the research question, and safeguards the originality and rigor of a study.
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