A literature review in report writing is a comprehensive survey of existing research, theories, and scholarly works relevant to a specific topic or research question. It serves several key purposes:
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Contextualization: It places the current research within the context of previous studies, helping to identify trends, gaps, and the evolution of knowledge in the field.
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Critical Analysis: The literature review evaluates and synthesizes various sources, highlighting strengths and weaknesses and assessing the contributions of different researchers.
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Framework Development: It helps in establishing a theoretical framework or conceptual model that guides the research direction and methodology.
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Justification of Research: By identifying gaps in the existing literature, the review justifies the need for the new study and outlines how it will contribute to the field.
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Methodological Insights: Reviewing how other researchers have approached similar problems can inform the methods and approaches used in the current study.
Overall, a well-conducted literature review is essential in report writing as it lays a solid foundation for the research by demonstrating the author’s understanding of the topic and positioning their work within the broader academic conversation.