What is the importance of a literature review, and what should you avoid when conducting a literature review?
D2R
- You should respond to at least two peers by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts.
- All replies must be constructive and use literature, where possible, cited in the current APA style with support from at least one academic source for each response.
RESPONSE 1 (Sanna-Kay)
What is the importance of a literature review, and what should you avoid when conducting a literature review?
A literature review is a comprehensive and current overview of published information on a specific subject area. In order to properly conduct a literature review, a body of published literature that can assist in addressing a research topic must be carefully reviewed. Scholarly journals, scholarly books, reliable databases, sources, and grey literature are all included in the reviewed literature (Maggio et al., 2019). The structure of a literature review varies, but it usually needs an introduction, a body, and a conclusion (Maggio et al., 2019). Ideas are to be organized thematically with main points relating to the literature review topic, showing how sources relate to each other and contribute to knowledge about the topic (Maggio et al., 2019). A literature review’s primary goals are to provide an overview of the accepted research evidence from previous studies, identify any knowledge gaps, and provide a basic idea of what to anticipate from future studies on the chosen topic. This will allow the author to gain familiarity with the current knowledge in their chosen field, as well as the boundaries and limitations of that field. Furthermore, a literature review aids in preventing a duplicate of the same information as others writing in the field, allowing a researcher to find their unique approach to the topic (Maggio et al., 2019).
Literature reviews are critical because they provide an understanding of the current literature, which is critical for all research study phases. Understanding the current literature is important. It allows researchers to articulate clear goals, use appropriate methods, communicate relevant results, and engage in reflective critique (Leite et al., 2019). A further advantage of a literature review is that it reveals a wealth of methodological insights, such as the research designs employed in earlier studies. A skilled researcher must do quality research because they must formulate pertinent research questions, operationalize variables of interest, and select the most appropriate methodology (Leite et al., 2019). Both new and seasoned researchers can choose rigorous research procedures with the aid of a well-conducted literature study. By identifying the advantages and disadvantages of different research procedures, the researcher can better select the best research design for their individual study. By supplying knowledge this way, a researcher is guaranteed to thoroughly comprehend the subject (Leite et al., 2019).
While writing a literature review is an important task, there are certain things researchers must remember to avoid. Researchers should avoid giving personal opinions and emotional phrases (Leite et al., 2019). The goal of a literature review is to provide existing knowledge and research on a particular issue in an objective manner. Thus, no subjective data should be included. Next, researchers should avoid unintentional plagiarism (Maggio et al., 2019). Researchers should remember to cite accurately, using the most up-to-date APA standard. Furthermore, researchers should refrain from adding irrelevant content to their literature review. Researchers should ensure that their literature review mentions studies relevant to their topic and particular subject only (Maggio et al., 2019). Finally, researchers should ensure that they only use scholarly sources for their literature reviews. This is an important process because scholars in the field have reviewed scholarly sources to check for quality and validity, which are vital for one’s research.
Completing an LR is a challenging yet important procedure for realizing one’s unique area of competence. Although knowledge is ephemeral, our duty as scholars is to contribute significantly to our subject so that others can consider our work. Good researchers have a strong foundation in complex LRs, highlighting a writer’s training and enduring academic skills.
RESPOSE 2 (grace)
A literature review is a state of the art when it comes to research aspects of the study. It compiles recent, pertinent research on the subject and combines it with other relevant studies to create a comprehensive overview of the area’s state. The format of a literature review might vary depending on the subject matter. Some disciplines demand synthesizing the sources or arranging the paragraphs according to how the various sources address related subjects (Luft et al., 2022). Each source must be discussed in its paragraph in some fields, while covering various topics within that one article, chapter, or book in other parts. This discussion aims to know the importance of a literature review and what to avoid when conducting a literature review.
Essential Component of Literature Review
With ample resources, the literature review can cover many different aspects, including the objective, scopes, methodology, limitations, research outcomes, and implications for future research. Another essential factor of literature review is that it allows the researcher to gain familiarity with the chosen field’s current knowledge, the boundaries, and limitations (Paul & Criado, 2020). It also helps gain an understanding of the theory driving the area. It allows the research question into context, provides an opportunity for the researcher to see and even evaluate successful and unsuccessful assessment and research methods in the chosen field. Furthermore, literature review prevents someone from duplicating the same information as others writing in the same area by finding a unique approach to one’s topic (Paul & Criado, 2020). Paper reviews help the readers comprehend the research problem in its current state, identify research gaps, and suggest possible future research directions. In other words, systematic reviews offer a variety of critical debates on a given research subject by integrating the body of literature, synthesizing previous research studies, identifying knowledge gaps, and developing novel theoretical frameworks (Paul & Criado, 2020). These gaps present opportunities for new research and broaden the body of knowledge on the topic of study. By recognizing these gaps, researchers may be able to develop research questions and hypotheses that outperform the limitations of prior investigations.
Most importantly, the literature review supports evidence-based practice for healthcare providers. It aids in locating current best practices, therapies, and recommendations based on the most recent research. Healthcare professionals may make informed decisions and deliver high-quality care by analyzing and synthesizing relevant studies from the literature review.
Pitfalls to Consider in Literature Review
On the other hand, there are factors to stay away from conducting a review of the literature. Low-quality resources, including non-academic papers, blog postings, opinion articles, publications by advocacy groups, and daily news headlines, must be avoided (Jansen, 2021). Superficial reviews must focus more on essential findings and offer a thorough understanding of the subject. A literature study also needs precise references rather than poor citation practices (Ngatuvai et al., 2021). It is crucial for the reviewer doing literature reviews to cite the sources that helped them to their conclusions when proposing evidence-based practice or quality improvement changes (Ngatuvai et al., 2021). Another pitfall to avoid is a publication over five years or older since current research studies are based on constant updates and recommendation guidelines that are continuously emerging (Luft et al., 2022). Literature evaluations frequently ignore the absence of landmark/seminal literature, also known as seminal or important work, which refers to the publications that first introduced an idea of significant relevance or effect within a certain area (Jansen, 2021). To lend authenticity to the clinical questions or study given, it should be avoided to omit a balance between classic literature and contemporary literature.
A literature review is crucial to research because it gives context, identifies gaps, guides study design, and supports evidence-based practice. The researcher must do a thorough and well-organized literature review to ensure the quality and validity of the study. Researchers can create complete and significant literature reviews that advance knowledge in their fields by avoiding errors like superficial reviews, biased study selection, and unorganized arrangements.
