Question

Explain four purposes of literature review during research process.

Answer 1

(a)To demonstrate your familiarity with, and knowledge of the subject. A good review will inform the reader that the researcher is competent to undertake research in that particular area.
b) To provide an outline of the relevant theories and concepts important within your research project. Using an appropriate theory is important to allow you to have a framework within which to explain your findings. Concepts are important so that others may share and understand your findings in the knowledge that the often rather abstract phenomena under investigation are clearly outlined. The literature will be able to help you
gain a clear understanding and definition of appropriate concepts, as well as provide an indication of how they have been used in past studies.
c) To focus the research objective. One of the biggest problems faced by researchers is that they are unable to complete the research because they have not sufficiently focused or delimited their research objective. By reading how others have focused their research, and gaining an understanding of the types of questions that have been tackled in the past, you will be able to gain ideas on focusing your own research objective, and get an indication of the type of research objectives that have been successfully answered in the
past.
d) To determine the extent of past research into the subject matter. It is important to determine at an early stage whether you have identified an original research objective, or whether you are simply repeating past research. The review of literature will enable you to identify gaps in existing research, which can be filled through new research.
e) To develop a hypothesis. Your hypothesis is the predicted outcome of the research based upon logical reason or existing evidence. The literature will help you to develop this hypothesis. Otherwise your hypothesis is likely to be no more than educated guesswork.

1. To demonstrate your familiarity with, and knowledge of the subject.
2.  To provide an outline of the relevant theories and concepts important within your research project.
3.  To focus the research objective and develop hypotheses.
4. To determine the extent of past research into the subject matter.