A literature review for qualitative research is a comprehensive review of existing literature, both published and unpublished, related to a particular field of study. This review helps to identify, analyze, and summarize all the existing knowledge in order to determine the current state of knowledge and the gaps in the existing knowledge. It helps in understanding the context of a particular research problem and provides an overview of the methods and techniques used in qualitative research.
The first step in conducting a literature review for qualitative research is to identify the research problem. After identifying the research problem, the researcher must search for relevant literature in relation to the research problem. The researcher should then critically evaluate all the available literature associated with the research problem and identify the gaps in the existing knowledge. This evaluation process helps to determine which methodologies have been used commonly in the field and to select the appropriate qualitative methodology for further analysis.
The next step is to conduct a systematic analysis of the identified literature. During this analysis, the researcher must critically evaluate each piece of literature in terms of its relevance to the research problem. The researcher must also consider how the different pieces of literature can be used together to gain a better understanding of the research problem. This analysis helps to identify the common themes within the literature and to make connections between different pieces of literature.
Finally, after an extensive review of all the relevant literature, the researcher must make conclusions and recommendations on how to best approach the research problem. In this step, the researcher must make sure to consider all the available evidence, analyze it thoroughly and evaluate its relevance to the research problem. These conclusions and recommendations can then be used to further inform and refine the research design and methodology.
Overall, a literature review for qualitative research is an essential component of any research project as it helps to identify relevant information, evaluate its relevance and make connections between different pieces of literature that can be used to better understand the research problem. It is important for researchers to ensure they are familiar with the process before undertaking any qualitative research project.