FOUR MAJOR GOALS OF A LITERATURE REVIEW

In the previous week, we looked at the first part of the research process; the
formulation of a research topic or research questions and established that it is vital to
ask questions that are specific and well-articulated. Once the questions have been
set, the next step is the literature review.
As the name might suggest, literature review is simply that, a review of existing
literature on one’s chosen topic. The author is expected to review existing literature
on their chosen topic, analyse it and present it in an organized way. With so much
information available on the internet now, this may seem like a walk in the park. On
the contrary though, the information age presents a new challenge in that anyone
with the ability to, can write about whatever topic interests them and post it on the
internet. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, an American politician and sociologist put it aptly
when he said “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, not his own facts.” Today’s
readers have the major challenge of separating genuine information from false or
sensational stories. (Goldman and Scardamalia, 2013)
It is of utmost importance, therefore, that one chooses their sources of information
very carefully. Dr. Qutieshat suggests “accessing scholarly articles via Google
Scholar’s search engine coupled with sci-hub.se for free articles in PDF format”.
Once the desirable sources are identified, the next step is to collect the information
and put it together and create a theoretical framework and methodology. (Scribbr,
n.d.)
Randolph (2009) argues that a dissertation review has multiple goals and that these
may vary depending on the research being conducted. If, for example, the main
purpose of a research is simply to conduct a review, then the author’s focus will be
on integration and perhaps some degree of critical analysis, identification of central
issues or to logically analyze an argument. A researcher that is trying to justify a later
investigation may place more emphasis on critical analysis of previous research with
the aim of identifying a weakness and proposing a remedy.
There are, indeed, several reasons why a literature review should be conducted but
this discussion will list only what the author feels are the top four.

1. To justify one’s research

With so much information readily available on the internet, chances that one’s topic
of choice has never been researched before are extremely slim. One needs only
click on their preferred search engine and hey presto! The information is there. Most
researchers identify and list down any limitations in their research and suggest
further research on certain aspects of their findings. A good literature review would
use this information to identify any gaps in the research and, therefore, justify the
need for further study. (Ness, 2020)

2. To familiarize oneself with the knowledge that currently exists on the

chosen topic.
As indicated in 1 above, one’s chosen topic has most likely been researched by
other people and as such, it is important to note the information that is currently
available on the topic for any one of the following reasons:

 Adding credibility to one’s work,

 Ensuring one is not simply repeating what someone else has already done
before,
 Give credit to previous researchers and
 Creating a strong base of knowledge on the chosen topic.
The Royal Literary Fund, (2021) phrases it superbly saying “A literature review
shows your readers that you have an in-depth grasp of your subject; and that you
understand where your own research fits into and adds to an existing body of agreed
knowledge.”

3. To integrate and provide a summary of prior research

A good literature review summarizes the information that is available about a
chosen topic and integrates the current knowledge on the subject. Hart, (1998)
advises that a literature review synthesizes the different results and allows the
researcher to coordinate and add more depth to existing literature as well as chart
the direction that future research should take. According to Randolph, (2009) a
literature review seeks to integrate the reviews that currently exist on the chosen
topic and present the reader with a more holistic picture.

4. To establish the context of the topic or problem

A good literature review allows the author to “critically analyze previous research,
identify central issues, or explicate a line of argument within a field” (Randolph,
2009). Literature review will show what the objective of previous research was and
how what was found by previous researchers can be useful.
 
REFERENCES
Goldman, S.R., & Scardamalia, M., (2013). Managing, Understanding, Applying, and
Creating Knowledge in the Information Age: Next-Generation Challenges and
Opportunities, Cognition and Instruction, 31:2, 255-
269, https://doi.org/10.1080/10824669.2013.773217 (Links to an external site.)
 
Hart, C., (1998). Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science research
imagination. London: Sage.
 
Ness, L.R., (2020). What are the four major goals of a literature review? My
Dissertation Coach. https://mydissertation.coach/q-and-a/what-are-the-four-major-
goals-of-a-literature-review (Links to an external site.)
 
Randolph, J., (2009). A Guide to Writing the Dissertation Literature Review. Practical
Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14(13). https://doi.org/10.7275/b0az-
8t74 (Links to an external site.)
 
Scribbr. (n.d.). Purpose of a Literature
Review Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/frequently-asked-questions/purpose-of-a-
literature-review/ (Links to an external site.)
 
The Royal Literary Fund, (2021). What is a Literature
Review?. https://www.rlf.org.uk/resources/what-is-a-literature-review/