A literature review asks: What do we know - or not know - about this particular issue/ topic/ subject?
You can think of this the part of your paper where you are introducing the topic by explaining what other scholars in your field have written on your topic. Literature reviews synthesize their arguments, theories, and ideas. You are "setting the stage".
The “literature” represents an on-going scholarly conversation. A literature review “re-views” – looks again – at what others have said, done, found in a particular area.
The “literature” you choose will inform and underpin everything you write, so plan searches carefully.
Search
An effective literature search:
Assess
Topic relevance: Is the literature on the same topic as you proposed to study?
Individual and site relevance: Does the literature examine the same individuals and sites you want to study?
If not
Summarize
Summarize each source to:
Synthesize
Integrate the literature – enter into the on-going scholarly conversation with your own narrative about how these perspectives, findings, conclusions, fit together with one another – and – with your research questions
Source: Nita Bryant, Virginia Commonwealth University, November 18, 2013.