literature review

Major studies – What are the major studies in the subject area? Which ones provide a general background and which ones are focused more specifically on the problem statement?  Patterns – What common threads could be found in the existing literature? Where do studies contradict each other?  Gaps – What are the gaps in the literature? What is missing — either from content, process, or methodology?  Sampling – What populations have been sampled? What generalizations have been drawn? What other populations should be investigated?  “Kitchen Sink” research – What other research has been done in related areas? How might it affect the problem statement?  Methodologies – What are the popular or prevalent ways in which research has been done in this area?  Bibliography/References – What sources have been consulted?