2.Trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates,
3. Depending on the situation, evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant research, or
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4. Usually in the conclusion of a literature review, identify where gaps exist in how a problem has been researched to date.
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The purpose of a literature review is to:
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1. Place each work in the context of its contribution to understanding the research problem being studied.
2. Describe the relationship of each work to the others under consideration.
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3. Identify new ways to interpret prior research.
4. Reveal any gaps that exist in the literature.
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5. Resolve conflicts amongst seemingly contradictory previous studies.
6. Identify areas of prior scholarship to prevent duplication of effort.
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7. Point the way in fulfilling a need for additional research.
8. Locate your own research within the context of existing literature [very important].