What is the main objective of conducting a literature review?

The primary purpose of conducting a literature review is to provide context and identify research gaps within a specific field of study. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, researchers can gain insights into what has already been explored, understand the current state of knowledge, and highlight areas where further investigation is needed. This foundational step helps to frame new research questions, ensuring that future studies contribute meaningfully to the body of knowledge.

By synthesizing findings and theories from various sources, a literature review creates a backdrop against which new research can be situated. It plays a crucial role in informing researchers about the contributions made by others and allows for the identification of inconsistencies, limitations, or overlooked aspects in existing studies. This understanding not only enhances the quality of the new research but also helps in justifying its necessity and relevance.

The other options, while potentially related to aspects of literature reviews, do not encapsulate the main objective. Presenting statistics on a topic, identifying research methodologies from past studies, or documenting previous results all represent narrower goals that may be part of the literature review process but do not capture its overall aim of providing context and pinpointing research gaps.