What is literature review

A literature review is a critical analysis and evaluation of scholarly work on a specific topic. It involves reviewing, summarizing, and synthesizing existing research, articles, books, and other sources of information related to the topic of study. The purpose of a literature review is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on the topic, identify gaps or controversies in the existing literature, and highlight areas for further research. It helps researchers to gain a thorough understanding of the existing literature, identify key concepts and theories, and develop research questions or hypotheses. A literature review is commonly included in research papers, dissertations, and academic articles.