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data to gain a comprehensive understanding of a subject that
captivates or concerns us. Sometimes research on the same
issue can be conducted by multiple individuals, resulting
in varying research objectives, theoretical approaches,
techniques, and even samples or data used. This can often
lead to conflicting or disputed information. The extensive
exertion of effort, time, and financial resources invested
Essence of
research in the research may ultimately result in mere duplication
and fail to be recognised as a noteworthy contribution to
the existing knowledge if a researcher does not conduct a
thorough literature review. Without adequately reviewing the
existing literature, individuals may remain oblivious to the
fact that someone else has already explored the very topic
they intend to investigate.
However, understanding these debates can be beneficial
in refining one's own research questions. Most often,
the purpose and focus of a literature review or the use of
secondary sources will differ depending on the stage of the
research project. Consequently, the types of sources that
should be sought after will change depending on where an
individual is in her research process. Initially, the search may
Evolution of be broad and scattered before narrowing down to the specific
research process study issue. Assessing relevant literature aims to identify the

range of works and ideas available, not only within one's
own field but also from various databases, encyclopaedias,
and other sources, as you have learned from the previous
lesson. The likelihood of a research project being accepted
is heightened by the inclusion of a substantial number of
reliable and approved sources.
A literature review is a comprehensive examination
of books, scholarly articles, and other relevant sources
that pertain to a specific issue, research area, or theory. Its
purpose is to offer a detailed description, summary, and
critical analysis of these works in relation to the research
problem at hand. The main goal of a literature review is to
provide readers with an understanding of the various sources
that have been explored during the research process as well
Literature as illustrate how the current study aligns with the broader
review context of the field of study. That is, rather than providing
bibliographic information regarding the area of research, in
the literature review, a researcher has to combine, synthesise,
and re-organise the already existing information obtained
from various resources in the field of study in a way that
informs how a researcher is planning to investigate a research
problem. The importance of literature review is summed up
in fig. 1.4.1

SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing 77