Literature reviews familiarize us with current knowledge on the topic at hand while ensuring that we are not just repeating what others have already done.

Explanation 1:

The purpose of a literature review is multifaceted and serves several reasons. Literature reviews familiarize us with current knowledge on the topic at hand while ensuring that we are not just repeating what others have already done. Another vital aspect of the literature review is identifying knowledge gaps and unresolved problems that need to be addressed and ultimately developing the theoretical framework to which findings will be addressed. In summary, “A literature review is defined as a “systemic…method for identifying, evaluating and interpreting work produced by researchers, scholars, and practitioners” (Marshall, 2010, Introduction section).

Before writing a literature review, it is critical to assess who your audience is for the writing to be most effective and reach the desired outcome (Monette et al., 2014). There are several steps in writing a literature review, starting with searching for relevant literature that pertains to the topic. Evaluating the sources and identifying themes or gaps in the material are the next steps before leading to an outline for the structure of the topic. Before writing the final review, it is necessary to realize that you are not just summarizing sources but analyzing and evaluating the knowledge of the subject.

For explanation # 1: Explain how your colleague’s stated purpose for a literature review could relate to practice.

Explanation 2:

Literature reviews are an important part of the research process. We do it to familiarize ourselves with the current state of knowledge regarding the research problem as well as to learn how others have delineated similar problems (Monette et al., 2014). Through reviewing literature, we can narrow our research focus further and make sure that we are not duplicating things that other researchers have already done (Monette et al., 2014). Learning from others’ experience helps us to avoid pitfalls.

Marshall (2010) suggests using a three-stage process to conduct an effective literature review: searching, critiquing, and synthesizing. Searching and re-searching the literature helps to gather and collect data for analysis (Baker, 2016). Conducting your search using multiple databases is imperative (Baker, 2016). Critiquing is the process of applying rigorous and consistent literature review methods to be able to analyze or deconstruct the content (Baker, 2016). This is also where you should consider the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence provided in the articles – are the articles in-depth enough to be part of your research question? Synthesizing the literature results from the critical analysis of the different articles and leads to a summary on the research question (Baker, 2016). This is also where the author of the literature review puts their own biases and opinions aside and seeks objectivity (Baker, 2016). Remaining focused on the research question at hand will help to produce better outcomes (Baker, 2016).

For explanation #2:  Explain how your colleague’s stated purpose for a literature review could relate to practice.