In general, the literature review should:
- provide a context for the research
- identify seminal works and scholars in the field
- acknowledge existing theories, points of view, hypotheses, etc. in the field of research
- justify the research
- clear up misconceptions about previous research
- ensure the research has not been done before (or if it is repeated, that it is marked as a "replication study")
- show where the research fits into the existing body of knowledge
- enable the researcher to learn from previous theory on the subject
- illustrate how the subject has been previously studied
- highlight flaws in previous research
- outline gaps in previous research
- show that the work is adding to the understanding and knowledge of the field
- help refine the topic, refocus the topic, or even contribute to the topic's evolution (Courtesy of Bloomsburg University)
