Scholars approach library research strategically by choosing the best search tools, developing search vocabularies, designing effective searches, and analyzing search results thoughtfully. This guide looks at the process of searching for comprehensive and relevant literature as part of your literature review -- think of it as strategic information gathering.
The term "Literature review" can be used to describe the process by which you are looking for relevant research and it describes the summary and critical analysis of the state of research and understanding of the topic to date that you will include in your paper/thesis. Scholarly or academic peer-reviewed articles will often be a part of the research paper. An entire paper that is only a literature review is called a "review article" and they tell the reader the current state of understanding about a topic.
The literature review : six steps to success by 
Succeeding with Your Master's Dissertation : A Step-by-step Handbook by 