Vocational Education and Training

A literature review:

• Identifies gaps in the literature
• Avoids reinventing the wheel – it will save time and may stop you from making the same mistakes as others
• Carries on where others have left off – gives a basis to build on current knowledge
• Identifies other researchers working in the same field – a good source of networking
• Increases your breadth of knowledge in your subject area
• Identifies seminal works in your area
• Provides the intellectual context for your own work, enabling you to position your project relative to other work carried out  in the area
• Identifies opposing views
• Puts your work into perspective
• Demonstrates that you can access previous work in the area
• Identifies information, ideas and methods that may be relevant to your research.

Check out this website on literature reviews or look at the document below from the Learning Skills Advisors.