ABSTRACT
The process of taking an interesting topic and making it into a researchable question can be especially challenging for beginners, but the literature review can help. Literature reviews require the researcher to consider the important scholarly research, a process that serves to frame the research they are preparing to undertake. In framing the research, a review of the literature also helps the researcher narrow the question by identifying overlaps, gaps, and ways questions have been framed already in the literature. Literature reviews can stand alone as articles, and some types of journals or annual reviews are dedicated to publishing them. They help newcomers or non-specialists by offering detailed overviews on specific topics, summarizing the history of research on each topic, as well as its current status and controversies. Most often, literature reviews are a part of introducing empirical research. A well-crafted literature review will show the readers the context within which the research was conducted.
