What is the primary purpose of conducting a literature review in research?

The primary purpose of conducting a literature review in research is to summarize existing knowledge, identify gaps, and justify further research. A literature review serves as a comprehensive overview of what has already been published on a given topic, allowing researchers to understand the current state of research and what contributions they can make. By analyzing and synthesizing previous studies, researchers can pinpoint gaps in the existing knowledge that may require further investigation or highlight areas that have been well-documented. This foundational step is crucial because it helps to frame new research questions and ensures that the proposed studies are relevant and contribute meaningfully to the field.

The other options do not capture this broader purpose. Presenting original research findings is a different aspect of the research process and is part of the results section rather than the literature review. Describing the methodology used in experiments is essential as well but is not relevant to the literature review itself, which focuses on previous work rather than detailing new methodologies. Lastly, while incorporating recent studies is valuable, focusing solely on them neglects the importance of understanding the historical context and foundational research, which is essential for situating new research within the larger body of knowledge.