Planning and carrying out a literature review

2. Purpose of a literature review

• provide a clear set of objectives about the purpose of the review.

• organise the literature included in the review into categories supporting a particular position, those against, and those developing an entirely new position.

• give a concise explanation of the significant similarities and differences between the literature included in the review.

• enable you to develop conclusions about which literature has the best considered arguments and which of those arguments make the most substantial contribution to the understanding and development of the area of research defined in the literature review.
   
• provide a clear indication about where your research project will fit into the existing literature. It may fill in a gap in the literature, develop an earlier piece of research in a new context, or use an earlier work to develop lessons for practice.

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