There are many reasons to conduct a literature review:
- To provide a theoretical framework for a given topic
- To define terms and variables for an area of research
- To provide an overview and synthesis of current evidence
- To demonstrate a gap in the literature
- To identify methodologies and research techniques for a research area
Baker, J.D. (2016). The purpose, process, and methods of writing a literature review. AORN, 103(3), 265-269. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2016.01.016