Which among the following is the most serious fallacy relating to literature review?

The correct answer is (3) Saying that the study is new and there is no literature on it.

This is the most serious fallacy because it is virtually impossible for a research topic to be entirely new and with no prior literature. Even if the researcher is studying a new phenomenon, they should still be able to find literature on related topics or theories.

For example, if a researcher is studying the impact of social media on mental health, they should still be able to find literature on the impact of technology on mental health, the impact of social media on social relationships, or the impact of social media on self-esteem.

Saying that there is no literature on a topic is a sign that the researcher has not done their due diligence. It is also a way to avoid having to engage with other researchers' work and to create the illusion that the researcher's work is more original or groundbreaking than it actually is.

The other fallacies listed in the question are also problematic, but they are not as serious as saying that there is no literature on a topic.

• (1) Doing a literature review after finalizing research questions: This is not ideal because it can lead the researcher to confirm their own biases and overlook important research that is relevant to their topic. However, it is still possible to do a good literature review even if it is done after the research questions have been finalized.
• (2) Referring to too many studies: This can make the literature review difficult to read and understand. However, it is not as serious as saying that there is no literature on a topic. The researcher can simply be more selective about the studies that they cite and focus on the most relevant and important studies.
• (4) Relying only on a single source of literature: This can lead to a biased and incomplete literature review. However, it is not as serious as saying that there is no literature on a topic. The researcher can simply include more sources in their literature review to ensure that they are getting a well-rounded perspective.

Overall, the most serious fallacy relating to literature review is saying that the study is new and there is no literature on it.