A literature review provides:
Note: A literature review is not just a summary of current research and thinking about a topic. A literature review requires you to take a critical, global view of your topic. It is the part of your research paper where you compare and critique existing scholarly findings about a topic, and explain where your thinking fits into the existing research. For example: Are you addressing a gap in knowledge? Are you presenting a different perspective on a topic?
Parts of a Research Study infographic created by Instruction and Liaison Librarian, Kadie Turcotte, at the McQuade Library, Merrimack College. Reproduced with permission.