LITERATURE REVIEW

A literature review is a summary of previous research on a topic.

Some questions to think about as you develop your literature review:
What is known about the subject?
Are there any gaps in the knowledge of the subject?
Have areas of further study been identified by other researchers that you may want to consider?
Who are the significant research personalities in this area?
Is there consensus about the topic?
What aspects have generated significant debate on the topic?
What methods or problems were identified by others studying in the field and how might they impact your research?
What is the most productive methodology for your research based on the literature you have reviewed?
What is the current status of research in this area?
What sources of information or data were identified that might be useful to you?

What is the purpose of a Literature Review?
The purpose of a literature review is to convey to the reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic and what are the strengths and weaknesses.
The literature review allows the reader to be brought up to date regarding the state of research in the field and familiarizes the reader with any contrasting perspectives and viewpoints on the topic.

How to do a literature search?
Develop a search strategy
Define the topic - In order to begin your literature review you must first define your research question.
What is the purpose?
What does it mean?
What are the key words? Are there other words which could be used, such as synonyms, variations in spelling?
What do you already know about the topic?
What is the scope?

Compiling a list of keywords -
Before beginning a search for information, it is important to develop a search strategy that will most effectively locate useful, relevant information.
This will often involve breaking down an essay or research question into:
keywords or phrases
entering your search
evaluating your results to determine whether you need to employ various strategies to broaden, narrow or otherwise modify your research.

http://www.library.ncat.edu/ref/guides/literaturereview03.htm