A literature review is a critical analysis and synthesis of existing research and scholarly articles related to a specific topic. In the context of the roles of public relations in increasing sales in an organization, a literature review would involve reviewing studies, articles, and books that have explored the relationship between public relations activities and sales outcomes.
The purpose of a literature review is to identify gaps in existing knowledge, highlight key findings and theories, and provide a foundation for further research. It helps researchers understand the current state of knowledge on a topic and identify areas where additional research is needed.
A literature review typically involves the following steps:
1. Defining the research question: The researcher needs to clearly define the research question or objective of the study. In this case, it would be to understand the roles of public relations in increasing sales in an organization.
2. Identifying relevant sources: The researcher needs to identify and gather relevant sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites that have published research related to the topic.
3. Evaluating sources: The researcher needs to critically evaluate the quality and relevance of each source. This involves assessing the credibility of the authors, the methodology used, and the validity of the findings.
4. Analyzing and synthesizing information: The researcher needs to analyze the information gathered from the sources and identify key themes, theories, and findings. This involves comparing and contrasting different studies and identifying patterns or gaps in the literature.
5. Writing the literature review: The researcher needs to organize the findings and theories into a coherent and structured review. This typically includes an introduction, a summary of the main findings, a discussion of the theories and concepts, and a conclusion that highlights the gaps in the literature and the need for further research.
The theoretical framework, on the other hand, is a conceptual framework that guides the research and provides a theoretical lens through which the research question is examined. It helps researchers develop hypotheses, identify variables, and establish relationships between variables.
In the context of the roles of public relations in increasing sales, the theoretical framework could draw upon theories and concepts from fields such as marketing, communication, and organizational behavior. For example, it could incorporate theories of persuasion, relationship management, brand image, and consumer behavior to understand how public relations activities can influence sales outcomes.
The theoretical framework provides a foundation for the research design, data collection, and analysis. It helps researchers make sense of the findings and interpret the results in light of existing theories and concepts.