Overview
This lecture explains the process of synthesis in literature reviews, highlighting its meaning, key steps, and tools for effective organization.
Understanding Synthesis
- Synthesis means combining information from different sources to create a new, unified main topic.
- It involves integrating multiple themes from journal articles or other literature.
- Synthesis goes beyond summarizing or paraphrasing individual sources.
What Synthesis Is Not
- Synthesis is not a summary or a simple comparison of articles.
- It does not involve just restating content, overusing direct quotes, or contrasting sources without deeper analysis.
Steps for Synthesizing Literature
- Read and gather relevant articles on your topic.
- Identify and take notes on common themes or topics across sources.
- Critically analyze sources for major themes, gaps, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Organize articles in your review according to these themes or subtopics.
- Analyze and discuss how each article relates to the main theme.
Citing Sources Effectively
- When several articles share similar concepts, cite all relevant sources together in your discussion.
- Citations should include author last names and publication years.
Using the Synthesis Matrix
- A synthesis matrix helps organize articles (listed on the left) by themes or ideas (listed at the top).
- Fill in the matrix with notes or quotes to track overlaps and differences among articles.
- Gaps in the matrix indicate areas where articles differ, which is normal and useful for analysis.
Tips for Writing the Literature Review
- After organizing, determine the main unifying theme (umbrella topic) for your paper.
- Share your own critical perspectives in your writing.
- Organize the paper based on themes, not individual articles.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Synthesis — The process of combining information from multiple sources to create a unified understanding or theme.
- Summary — Restating or paraphrasing the main points of a single source.
- Synthesis Matrix — A chart to visually organize articles by themes and identify overlaps or gaps.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Find and read relevant articles on your topic.
- Take notes and identify recurring themes and subtopics.
- Create a synthesis matrix for your sources.
- Organize your literature review by themes, citing relevant articles for each.
- Contact your professor or librarian for help if needed.