What is a literature review?
Answer
A literature review is an account of the current research and thinking in a specific area of study. It aims to introduce the reader to prior research, analysis, and understanding, and to provide you, the researcher, with a foundation which you can build on with your own research.
It often forms a section or chapter of a larger work (such as a dissertation), but you may also be asked to produce one as a standalone work.
The literature review also critically evaluates the material you've found; this is why it is a review rather than a report. The literature review demonstrates to your readers that you have an in-depth command of your topic and that you understand how your own research adds to an existing body of knowledge.