Synthesis of the State-

of-the-Art
MARK ANTHONY C. BOTOR
LEA JASMIN C. MARCO
Synthesis of the State-of-the-Art

A synthesis of the state of the art is a comprehensive analysis

of the existing literature on a particular topic. It involves analyzing
and summarizing the most recent and relevant research on a topic
to provide a comprehensive understanding of the existing
literature. A synthesis of the state of the art is a crucial step in any
research paper as it helps to identify gaps in the literature,
highlight areas for future research, and provide a framework for
your analysis.
Synthesis of the State-of-the-Art

To write a synthesis of the state of the art, you should first

identify the theoretical foundation for your discussion. You should then
define the relevance of the question you are going to analyze, clarify
and define your focus, problems, and/or hypotheses, and justify the
relevance or importance of the problem you have chosen to focus on.
Once you have done this, you can begin synthesizing the literature by
analyzing and summarizing each source under consistent headings.
Steps in writing Synthesis of the
State-of-the-Art
1. Identify the theoretical foundation for
your discussion.
2. Define the relevance of the question you
are going to analyze.
3. Clarify and define your focus, problems,
and/or hypotheses.
4. Justify the relevance or importance of the
problem you have chosen to focus on.
5. Synthesize the literature.
6. Identify gaps in knowledge.
Common Mistakes in writing Synthesis of the
State-of-the-Art
1. Over-reliance on low-quality sources.
2. A lack of landmark/seminal literature.
3. A lack of current literature.
4. Description instead of integration and
synthesis.
5. Irrelevant or unfocused content.
6. Poor chapter structure and layout.
To determine if your sources are relevant, you
should consider the following factors:

1.Scope
2.Credibility
3.Currency
4.Purpose
5.Quality
Literature Review VS. Synthesis of the State-of-the-Art
A literature review is a
comprehensive summary of the
existing literature on a particular
topic. It provides an overview of
the research that has been
conducted on the topic, identifies
gaps in the literature, and
highlights areas for future
research.
Synthesis of the state of
the art is a more focused analysis
of the existing literature on a
particular topic. It involves
analyzing and summarizing the
most recent and relevant
research on a topic to provide an
overview of the current state of
knowledge in that area.