Feminist Research Ethics

This depends on the role the literature review plays in the research.

For you as the writer, the literature review provides a map of the theory and research related to your chosen subject of study. It can help you:

• develop and refine a research question, methodology, and/or theoretical framework;
• identify gaps in existing research,
• provide a theoretical overview required to conduct your research,
• provide an interdisciplinary overview of the topic,
• be used to indicate your contribution to the field(s) of inquiry, and/or
• strengthen your knowledge and expertise in your area of study.

For the reader, the literature review can reveal your rationale for pursuing your line of inquiry. A published literature review can also provide the reader with an appraisal of the existing literature on a topic, provide background for their own research interests, and present related texts in conversation with each other.

Resources:

• ResearchGate: What is the importance of literature review? [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_importance_of_literature_review ]
• Write a Literature Review – Virginia Commonwealth University [http://guides.library.vcu.edu/lit-review ]

Reflection Exercise: 

• What do you hope the outcome of your literature review is?
• Who do you envision reading it?