How to ‘critically’ review the literature sources for a research?

A carefully crafted review of literature includes the identification and analysis of previous research documents pertaining to the present research problem. A preliminary analysis of literature will help in clarifying and identifying the research problem.
Although reviewing literature sources is a time-consuming task, it is a rewarding task as well. It helps you to justify the research, set a theoretical framework and ensures the originality of the work. However, reviewing literature sources isn’t an easy task. Once you have identified several literature sources, the next thing to do is to critically evaluate the sauces.

Knowledge doesn’t exist in the vacuum. The study will be significant only if it is similar or different from earlier studies. The main objectives of the literature review are:

1. To summarise the current knowledge.
2. To generate and refine the research ideas.

Importance of conducting a literature review

Improves research methodology – It helps you acquire methodologies used by other researchers to find and solve research problems similar to the ones they are investigating.

Lays focus on research problem – Review of literature helps you shape the research problem.

Contextualises research findings –  How do you answer your research questions compared to what other researchers concluded? What is the contribution of your research work? How are your findings distinguished from that of other researchers? To answer these questions, you need to review the literature.

Ensures novelty – By reviewing the literature you can ensure the novelty of your research work.

Know how to evaluate the literature sources before including them in your thesis:

1. Identify the key issues and major work done previously in your research area. Evaluate the previous research and discover new research opportunities.
2. Define a research question. Demonstrate how your study fits into established research. Develop your own ideas for accepting or rejecting arguments.
3. Reveal the areas of interest and which areas have been investigated and which are yet to be investigated.  Divulge the common findings and inconsistency among the studies. Evaluate and compare the data, methodologies, and results between the studies. Identify the factors that were previously not considered.
4. Examine the gaps that exist between the two theories and develop the hypotheses.  

Stages at which evaluation of literature sources is necessary

1. An early review is required to establish the context of the study and to confirm the choice of the research focus.
2. During the process of study, review the sources to ensure that you remain updated about the ongoing research in your research domain.
3. At the final stage, reviewing sources is necessary to identify the implications of the research and to relate the findings of present research with that of the previous research.

Now that you know how to analyze the sources, carefully review the literature sources, establish the gap and place your own work.