A literature review provides an evaluative overview of information you have examined that you feel is relevant to your research topic. The purpose of a literature review is to inform readers about the current state of knowledge, theories and ideas pertaining to your chosen topic and to identify knowledge gaps. In general, a successful literature review is not merely descriptive, it also situates your research objective or the issue(s) you are addressing in your thesis within the context of the associated research fields or subject areas.