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with valuable insights and context for one’s own paper, thesis,
or dissertation, as it helps to build upon the existing body of
knowledge. While analysing various scholarly sources, the
literature review allows you to gain a deeper understanding
of the subject matter, critically assess the findings of previous
studies, and form a solid foundation for their own academic
work. Through this meticulous exploration of relevant
Building knowl- literature, you can connect research to the broader academic
edge and form- discourse and contribute meaningfully to your field of study.
ing arguments Thus a literature review has two main objectives: presenting
the content of previous research, theories, and evidence, and
offering your own critical evaluation and discussion of that
content. As K.E. Rudestam and R.R. Newton pointed out in
their work Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive
Guide to Content and Process, in a literature review, “...your
task is to build an argument, not a library.”
Composing a literature review involves five essential
stages:

1. Conducting a search for relevant literature.

2. Evaluating the selected sources for their credibility
and reliability.
Five stages of
composition 3. Identifying the recurring themes, ongoing debates,
and research gaps within the literature.

4. Outlining the structure to organise the review
effectively.

5. Finally, writing the literature review itself.

When writing a literature review for management/
commerce or social science topics, you not only explain the
Management/ variables and their interrelationships but also incorporate
Commerce liter- other researchers' viewpoints with citations to support your
ature review stance on the topic. If required, it is essential to cover all the
following sections while providing a comprehensive review.

SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing 109