This libGuide, Doing the literature review explain why literature reviews are needed, how to conduct one and how to write your report. While the focus is the literature review within a dissertation or thesis, many of the ideas are actually transferable to other kinds of writing, such as a peer-reviewed publication (typically in a journal, or - depending upon the discipline - as a book chapter), or a report resulting from a research project or other commissioned research.
Why do a Literature Review? Do I really need one?
Why do a Literature Review? For any researcher conducting research, a literature review helps place your research in the context of what has already been done in the field. For those who haven't yet started research, it helps to identify the writing on an area of research, and may highlight possible areas of research.
The literature review is a component of most scholarly writing. To some extent, particularly with postgraduate research, the literature review can become a project in itself. For the student, it can show their ability to understand, interpret, analyse, synthesize, and how they can develop an argument. The process of conducting and reporting can help you clarify your own thoughts about your topic. It can also establish a framework within which to present and analyze the findings.
Figure based on: Reasons for doing a literature review. Based on: Success with your early years research project' (Sage Research Methods).