Guides: Literature Reviews: Synthesize the Literature

Synthesize the Literature According to Main Themes or Topics

When synthesizing, we combine different thoughts or voices together into a unified whole.

Synthesizing

• is a creative process,

• includes critical analysis, and

• integrates different ideas from literature that is focused on a specific problem or research question.

Do not simply summarize each article one after another.

Synthesizing includes a detailed, critical analysis of the information within the included studies and shows how each source is related to each theme.

Your synthesis should be more than a long series of paraphrasing and quoting of others’ ideas.

Your Voice Matters

Include statements that show your understanding of how the literature is connected throughout each paragraph.
Show logical transitions and connections between ideas and sources in each paragraph.
Use your voice to help show these connections.

Videos

Watch this 3-minute introduction to synthesizing information.

USU Libraries. (2019, June 25). Research synthesis [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObK6J7vGnw8

Watch this 3-minute video on synthesizing literature.

Sheridan, N. [Nathalie Sheridan]. (2013, November 23). Synthesizing literature [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm8mZ-ClNuw

More Information

More information can be found in the LC guide on "Synthesizing Information."