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Literature Review: How do I synthesize the literature?

Synthesizing the literature means going beyond describing the results of scholarly studies. Instead, you bring together information to present a cohesive assessment of the current state of knowledge on your topic. The current state of knowledge is established through research and the publication of findings in scholarly journals. 

A synthesis of the literature tells the reader where researchers are in their current lines of inquiry, including:

  • what is known,
  • what is not known, and
  • where more research is needed.

How do I complete a synthesis of the literature?

Step 1

To begin synthesizing the literature you must first search for and read numerous scholarly articles on your topic. You must become familiar with what researchers are studying and what they are finding through their studies.

During this process there are 5 questions you should ask to become familiar with the literature, and answer as you write your synthesis:

  1. What things are broadly agreed upon in the research?
  2. Where are the disagreements in the literature? For example, what lines of inquiry or questions result in mixed findings across studies?
  3. Which key theories or ideas coming up over and over in the literature? How are they connected to each other? Do they cover the same ground or do they have different focal points? Do they define the key concepts/constructs/variables the same way? Or is there a disconnect? What's the impact of it if there is with regard to how you interpret the theories and ideas?
  4. What contexts have and haven't been covered in the existing research (consider sample characteristics, study variables, etc.)?
  5. What research methodologies are most commonly used?

Answering these questions helps you flesh out what is known about the topic and what remains unknown.

Where studies agree is how the current state of knowledge is established. As numerous studies are conducted and researchers yield the same or complementary findings, the scholarly community is able to identify answers to questions or know an idea is true or false. Once knowledge is established, research moves on to new areas that are unknown.

Where studies disagree or are lacking is how to identify the gaps in the literature and areas for further research. 

Step 2

Now it's time to write up your answers to the questions above. How you write and structure your synthesis depends on the context of your needs. For example, is the purpose to justify and gain support for a research project? Or, is the purpose to provide an overview of the current literature on a given topic? As you draft your narrative, consider your audience (who will read it) and what you want them to learn or understand.