Writing a Literature Review

• "careful or diligent search" or the "collection of information on a particular topic".   Merriam-Webster online
• "the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions."  Google dictionary 
• "a form of disciplined inquiry that involves studying something in a planned manner and reporting it so that other inquirers can potentially replicate the process if they choose"  .... Frey, L. et al. (2000). Investigating communication: An introduction to research methods. USA: Allyn and Bacon.

A literature review, in academic writing, is the process used by the researcher to: 

• learn what has been done on a topic
• determine who is writing on the topic
• establish opinions about the topic
• analyze the information presented on the topic

• Identify what the study is about
• Identify where the study takes place
• Identify why the study takes place
• Identify who is involved
• Identify why the study is valuable
• Identify how you are going to approach the study

Additional sources:

How to develop a good research question?

Narrowing a topic and writing a research question