The Systematic Use of Previous Studies in Scientific Research

Abstract

Serious scientific research does not start from scratch; rather, it relies on a body of research and studies that form a solid foundation for any research or scientific study. Thus, previous studies are considered one of the most important tools that stimulate the mind and help generate new ideas.
The literature review and previous research provide researchers with an opportunity to examine what has been written on the topics they wish to explore, allowing them to approach the research in a new way, which aids in the development of a well-founded research problem. Previous studies are considered the most significant component of scientific research, regardless of its type (theses, dissertations, articles, etc.). Researchers benefit from previous studies during the process of selecting a research topic, throughout the stages of conducting the research, and when analyzing and reviewing the findings. This highlights the central role that previous studies play.
The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of previous studies and to explore how they can be used and benefited from in scientific research.