Once each source has been critically analyzed, a synthesis of this information can occur. A synthesis involves the identification of common concepts or themes to determine overall conclusions from the sources as a whole. These conclusions should eventually lead to the identification of gaps in the existing research knowledge base supporting the need for your research. In Chapters 4 and 5 of the dissertation, findings should also be compared with overall conclusions from the synthesis of literature review to indicate similarities and/or differences.
Synthesizing information and inferring relationships among different sources occur on a daily basis, such as between a story heard from a news source and discussions about the same topic with others. Similarly, to synthesize the literature collected, search for relationships between scholarly sources. The first step is to understand the content of the sources. The second step is to critically analyze the sources.
The third step is to determine the relationships or patterns among sources, identifying then comparing and contrasting common concepts or themes. Seminal studies, or foundational studies, other researches have expanded upon may also provide insight into the identification of relationships or patterns. Based upon whatever relationships or patterns identified, try to infer beyond what the sources have indicated. Determine what this information is suggesting and does it provide support and a direction for the research topic.
Although the writing process in this course is somewhat linear, the actual literature review writing process is more cyclical or iterative. When developing your literature review, additional sources may need to be identified. This means returning to searching the literature, analyzing the findings, and integrating this information into the literature review. Similarly, remain current with the research in the area of interest as this may also lead to incorporating additional sources. This literature review process is continued throughout the entire dissertation process.
For this assignment, continue to add to the collection of sources by finding and reviewing 3 to 5 additional scholarly articles. Hopefully you have been using the summary tables you created in Week 2 and/or the concept map you created in Week 3. Using these tools will help you to synthesize your group of research articles by helping you visualize potential concepts, themes, relationships, patterns, and possible areas in need of further study.
1. Start with the outline created in Week 4. Ensure the incorporation of any faculty feedback and topics are in a logical order. An elaboration of the outline will occur in this assignment.
2. Include the additional scholarly sources found this week into the outline.
3. For the outline in Week 4, details were provided regarding the peer-reviewed sources under each heading and the connections between the findings of the different studies were made. Hopefully the table and/or concept map from earlier efforts in the course have helped to start seeing relationships between pieces of information in the scholarly sources. The conceptual and/or theoretical frameworks used in each study should also be noted.
4. For this assignment, expand the outline by discussing the relationships between the scholarly sources. Specifically, for each topic identified in the outline:
a.) Determine the commonalities among the articles by group. For example, did the authors use similar conceptual frameworks, sample participants, methodologies or instruments and procedures to collect data? How were the results similar? Are any studies an extension of another?
b.) Determine the differences among the articles by group. For example, did the authors use different conceptual frameworks, sample participants, methodologies or instruments and procedures to collect data? How were the results different?
c.) Determine general observations and conclusions about each topic, given the relationships inferred from the group of articles within each topic. Determine the existence of any reoccurring concepts, relationships, patterns, or themes and if any of these are in need of further inquiry.
In a 3-5 page discussion, develop a narrative in proper APA format addressing the following for each topic addressed in your outline (possibly amended) from Week 4: a) discuss the identified concepts, relationships, patterns, and themes among the scholarly sources in synthesis form, b) discuss any similarities among the scholarly sources, c) discuss any differences among the scholarly sources, and d) discuss potential topics for future research based on information from the scholarly sources.
Synthesis form involves a discussion focused on concepts, relationships, patterns, and themes among the scholarly sources. Avoid "study-telling" or presenting information singularly from each scholarly source. Synthesize or integrate the identified information by concepts, relationships, patterns, and themes learned from the scholarly sources. Use mostly parenthetical reference citations at the end of sentences as this reduces the focus on what each researcher found.
Attachment:- Articles.rar