What skill level is needed for effectively conducting a literature review?

Conducting a literature review requires high-level literacy skills, as this process involves critical reading, interpretation, and synthesis of complex academic texts. Researchers must be able to analyze and evaluate various sources, understanding nuanced arguments and methodologies presented by different authors. This level of analysis is essential for identifying gaps in the existing research, developing a theoretical framework, and effectively summarizing findings relevant to their own work.

High-level literacy skills include not just the ability to read and comprehend academic literature but also the capacity to assess the credibility of sources, identify key themes and trends, and articulate insights clearly in written form. Thus, engaging with scholarly articles, books, and other resources in a literature review is inherently more demanding than basic reading or moderate writing skills would allow. Without these high-level skills, it would be difficult for a researcher to effectively contribute to the existing body of knowledge in their field.