Sociology

A literature review should try to answer questions such as

1. Who are the key scholars?
2. What has been the focus of research so far?  
3. Which areas have been identified as needing further research?  
4. What research methodologies have researchers used?
5. How does the topic fit into the larger context of what has already been done?
6. How will the topic contribute to the scholarly conversation? 

Scholarly Conversation
"Research in scholarly and professional fields is a discursive practice in which ideas are formulated, debated, and weighed against one another over extended periods of time. Instead of seeking discrete answers to complex problems, experts understand that a given issue may be characterized by several competing perspectives as part of an ongoing conversation in which information users and creators come together and negotiate meaning. Experts understand that, while some topics have established answers through this process, a query may not have a single uncontested answer."

Source of quote: Association of College and Research Libraries. (2015). Framework for information literacy for higher education. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework#conversation