Synthesizing Review of

Related Literature
What is Synthesizing
Review?
 put back together, explain, interpret.
Synthesising the content of your analysis means
you need to explain and provide an original
interpretation of what you've read by
highlighting relationships (or lack thereof),
between your sources.
Why Synthesizing of
review is important?
 The aim of any literature review is to summarize
and
synthesize the arguments and ideas of existing
knowledge in a particular field without adding any
new contributions . Being built on existing
knowledge they help the researcher to even turn the
wheels of the topic of reserach.
Synthesizing an RRL (Review of Related Literature) must demonstrate a critical
analysis of the papers or sources
that the researcher collected, as well as, it must show the ability of the researcher to
integrate the results of her analysis on Chapter II. A synthesis must also be evaluated
and weighed critically. Moreover, it is an advanced reading technique or skill that
requires critical analysis, creativity, and insightful mind of a researcher. It also
contrasts and combines information and ideas from the gathered sources of the
researcher. It also gives an integration of information from different sources to
highlight important points ofconnection and relatedness, to address similarities and
differences and draw conclusion. Synthesizing a collection of RRL combines parts
and elements from a variety of sources into one unified and integrated entity.
 How to synthesize a review of Related Literature?

In a person’s daily routine, they always experience synthesizing information

from
different sources, such as from the stories you have heard from a new source
and
discussions about the same topic with others.
These are the steps on how to Synthesize a
Review of Related Literature.
Digest the material and understand the content of the sources.

In this process, you have to determine and identify similarities among the articles
by
group in terms of concepts, patterns, and relationship. You may ask these
questions
within yourself.

-Did the author used similar conceptual and theoretical framework, sample
participants, methodologies, or instruments and procedures to collect data?

-How and in what way are the findings similar?

-Are there any studies that served as an extension of another study?

Remember you should be noting not only the articles that are similar but how
 Review and critically analyze the sources.

This second step may determine the differences and contradictions among
the
articles by group. You can ask these questions to yourself.

-Did the authors used different conceptual and theoretical framework,

sample
participants, methodologies, or instruments and procedures to collect data?

-How and in what ways are the findings different and contradictory?
 Synthesize the content of the information that you have gathered.

It means going beyond your critique to determine the relationships or patterns

among
sources, identifying then comparing and contrasting common concepts or themes.
This step determines general observations and conclusions about each topic given
the relationship inferred from the group of articles within each topic. It also
determines the existence of any reoccurring concepts, relationships, patterns, or
themes and if any of these are in need of further inquiry.
 For instance, on your three different sources you have found out different themes
such as theme A, theme B, and theme C. You might compare and contrast things on
those three themes that emerged on your sources. Consequently, it may also happen
that there is one seminal study done that all other researchers expanded upon. If
you will to ask if there are overall themes that are used in a review of related
literature, the answer is whatever the theme or pattern appeared on your information
gathered, try to infer beyond what was indicated on your collection of sources. In
order
for you to have a well-developed synthesis of your study, one must use their ability of
having the “higher ordered thinking skills”. Through your HOTS you will be able
to write objectively and constructively. Also, you can provide ideas clearly, logically
organized, and focused writing.
 Note: A key element to make a good synthesis of
review of related literature is the
integration, which is about making connections
between and among ideas and
concepts. It is about applying what you have
researching within a larger framework,
thereby providing you a new way of looking onto a
phenomenon.
Here is a diagram which will help you synthesize
and analyze your literature
review.
Example of Synthesis of Review of Related Literature
The studies mentioned above, focussed on finding
out the connection of students
performance while students were engaged in an
online class. They further noted that
while a student has an access to education using
online media, it may gleaned that a
student can perform well on his academics. In
addition, both of the studies above
shown that there is really an impact between
students’ performance and online
distance learning.
Thank you!