A subject advances when prior studies are synthesized logically
based on the findings of prior studies (Kumar, Paul, & Unnithan, 2019).
Literature reviews, as a research methodology (Snyder, 2019), contribute significantly for conceptual, methodological, and thematic development of different domains (Palmatier, Houston, & Hulland, 2018;
Hulland & Houston, 2020). Review papers “are critical evaluations of
prior studies that have already been published” (Bem, 1995, p. 172).
They include, among others, systematic reviews and meta-analytical
reviews exploring quantitative effects. Review articles carefully identify
and synthesize relevant literature to compare and contrast the findings
of prior studies in a domain. Thus, review articles provide readers with
a state-of-the-art understanding of the research topic, help identify research gaps and signal future research avenues. In other words, systematic reviews, in particular, provide a number of critical discussions
on a specific research theme by integrating extant literature, synthesizing prior studies, identifying knowledge gaps, and developing new
theoretical frameworks (Marabelli & Newell, 2014). Systematic reviews, in particular, have become an explicitly recognized form of review-based research in many different disciplines (Callahan, 2014, p.
272; Kraus, Breier, & Dasí-Rodríguez, 2020). Many journals such as
Journal of Management, Journal of International Business Studies,
Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Academy of Marketing
Science, International Journal of Consumer Studies etc. have launched
annual special issues for review articles in the recent years.