In the context of research, what is "literature"?

In the context of research, "literature" refers to the body of written works that address the topic being studied, encompassing academic articles, books, and other scholarly resources that provide insights, findings, and theoretical frameworks relevant to that subject. This literature serves as the foundation upon which new research builds, allowing researchers to understand existing knowledge, identify gaps, and position their work within the broader academic conversation.

Other forms of writing, such as collections of fiction, personal journals, or historical documents, do not specifically pertain to the scholarly examination and analysis of a research topic in the same way that academic literature does. Therefore, while those other options may contain valuable information, they do not define "literature" in the research context.