PERFORMING A LITERATURE REVIEW: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

One of the early activities in the research process is the review of the research literature. After the problem has been identified, information is needed about the problem so that it can be put in the proper context and the research can proceed effectively. In the review of the literature, the researcher attempts to determine what others have learned about similar research problems and to gather information relevant to research problem at hand. Research is never ending process no investigation can be visualized in isolation. If we haven't already defined our research topic, we can't begin our literature search. However, the process of searching for relevant literature may be critical in help in we define our research problem. When we do a literature review, we increase our research approach as well as our overall knowledge base. Books, magazines, and the Internet are the primary sources for recognising literature. There are a number of resources that might assist we in discovering relevant publications. One of the most significant aspects of our study's literature review is that it acts as a theoretical framework for the investigation, as well as providing context for our results. Only the first function may be completed at this point in the research process. An important part of a good literature review is to present the key themes in a logical progression; each argument should be supported by specific quotes or citations from the source material; and the reference style used must comply to an accepted academic standard. This paper discusses literature review as a methodology for conducting research and offers an overview of different types of reviews, as well as some guidelines to how to both conduct and evaluate a literature review paper.