A literature review can help to:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: A literature review can help to:

Option a: 'a. Justify the need for further research' — This is a valid function of a literature review. By synthesizing what is known, identifying gaps, and highlighting inconsistencies or unanswered questions, it justifies why additional studies are warranted. The reasoning here centers on mapping current knowledge and pointing to where evidence is lacking or where methods could be improved.

Option b: 'b. Replace existing research findings' — This is incorrect. A literature review does not replace findings; rather, it aggregates, compares, and evaluates existing findings. It may synthesize or critique prior results, but it does not substitute for empirical evidence or claim to replace it.

Option c: 'c. Avoid additional data analysis' — This is also incorrect. Conducting a literature review often informs and motivates data analysis in new research, reveals appropriate analytical approaches, and may reveal what analyses have been done in past studies. Saying it avoids data analysis ignores the role of reviews in shaping methodological choices.

Option d: 'd. Reducing the need for a methodology' — This is inaccurate. A literature review is part of establishing a methodology, not reducing it. It helps justify the chosen methods and design for a new study, and often leads to explicit methodological decisions rather than diminishing them.

Additional context: Literature reviews function as a map of the current knowledge landscape, helping researchers identify gaps, trends, and debates. They support justification for new studies and inform theory, design, and analysis choices. Misconceptions in options b, c, and d stem from misunderstanding the purpose of synthesizing existing work versus producing new findings, and from misapprehensions about the role of reviews in research planning.

MCD1470 Engineering Practices / MCD4770 Professional Practice - Trimester 2 - 2025

A literature review can help to:

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

By definition, a literature review involves a thorough look at the major written works (research etc,) about your narrow topic.

While sometimes a literature review will have an introduction, body and conclusion structure, it is more common to structure it according to the topic.

A literature review should be written as a neutral document that almost never has a position statement.

Which of the following is not a recommended source for an academic literature review?

A literature review is a critical evaluation, not just a summary of existing research.

A well-written literature review helps identify gaps in existing research and justifies the need for new studies.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a literature review? A literature review for a field of research ...

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler