What is a key feature of the literature review process?

The literature review process is fundamentally centered around evaluating existing knowledge on a specific topic. This involves systematically collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing research findings, theories, and concepts that have already been established by other scholars. By doing so, researchers can identify gaps in the current understanding, build upon prior work, and establish a theoretical framework for their own study. This not only helps in informing the research question but also contributes to the scholarly conversation within a field.

While gathering recent data or conducting field experiments are important research activities, they do not specifically define the literature review process itself. A literature review is meant to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of knowledge prior to embarking on new research, rather than focusing solely on new or primary data collection methods like surveys or experiments.