What roles does literature review play in scientific research
1. Identifying gaps in existing knowledge: A literature review helps researchers identify gaps in existing knowledge and areas where further research is needed. This ensures that new research contributes to the overall body of knowledge in a meaningful way.
2. Providing context for the research: Literature reviews help provide a context for the research by summarizing previous studies and theories related to the research topic. This helps researchers understand the current state of knowledge and how their research fits into the broader field.
3. Identifying key concepts and theories: A literature review helps researchers identify key concepts, theories, and methodologies that have been used in previous studies. This can help guide the design of new research and ensure that the study is grounded in established principles.
4. Evaluating existing research: A literature review allows researchers to critically evaluate existing research and assess the strengths and weaknesses of previous studies. This can help researchers design more robust studies and avoid potential pitfalls.
5. Generating research questions and hypotheses: A literature review can help researchers generate research questions and hypotheses based on gaps in existing knowledge and areas where further investigation is needed. This can help focus the research and ensure that it addresses important research questions.
6. Building a theoretical framework: A literature review helps researchers build a theoretical framework for their study by synthesizing existing theories and concepts related to the research topic. This framework can help guide the research design and analysis of results.
7. Justifying the research: A literature review helps researchers justify their research by demonstrating the importance of the research question and showing how it builds on existing knowledge. This can help researchers secure funding and gain support for their research project.