{"id":648,"date":"2017-12-06T22:29:25","date_gmt":"2017-12-07T03:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/chapter\/chapter-7-synthesizing-sources\/"},"modified":"2025-08-31T05:25:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T09:25:29","slug":"chapter-7-synthesizing-sources","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/chapter\/chapter-7-synthesizing-sources\/","title":{"raw":"Synthesizing Sources","rendered":"Synthesizing Sources"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\nAt the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">synthesize key sources connecting them with the research question and topic area.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h1>7.1 Overview of synthesizing<\/h1>\r\n<h2>7.1.1 Putting the Pieces Together<\/h2>\r\nCombining separate elements into a whole is the dictionary definition of synthesis. \u00a0It is a way to make connections among and between numerous and varied source materials. \u00a0A literature review is not an annotated bibliography, organized by title, author, or date of publication. \u00a0Rather, it is grouped by topic to create a whole view of the literature relevant to your research question.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_145\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"240\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/press.rebus.community\/app\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2017\/11\/image1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-645\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2017\/12\/image1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" \/><\/a> Figure 7.1[\/caption]\r\n\r\nYour synthesis must demonstrate a critical analysis of the papers you collected as well as your ability to integrate the results of your analysis into your own literature review. \u00a0Each paper collected should be critically evaluated and weighed for \u201cadequacy, appropriateness, and thoroughness\u201d (<a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">Garrard, 2017<\/a>) before inclusion in your own review. \u00a0Papers that do not meet this criteria likely should not be included in your literature review.\r\n\r\nBegin the synthesis process by creating a grid, table, or an outline where you will summarize, using common themes you have identified and the sources you have found. The summary grid or outline will help you compare and contrast the themes so you can see the relationships among them as well as areas where you may need to do more searching. Whichever method you choose, this type of organization will help you to both understand the information you find and structure the writing of your review. \u00a0Remember, although \u201cthe means of summarizing can vary, the key at this point is to make sure you understand what you\u2019ve found and how it relates to your topic and research question\u201d (<a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">Bennard et al., 2014<\/a>).\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_146\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"601\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/press.rebus.community\/app\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2017\/11\/image2.png\"><img class=\"wp-image-646 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/image2.png\" alt=\"Figure 7.2 shows an example of a simplified literature summary table. In this example, individual journal citations are listed in rows. Table column headings read: purpose, methods, and results.\" width=\"601\" height=\"299\" \/><\/a> Figure 7.2 Summary table[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you read through the material you gather, look for common themes as they may provide the structure for your literature review. \u00a0And, remember, research is an iterative process: it is not unusual to go back and search information sources for more material.\r\n<blockquote>At one extreme, if you are claiming, \u2018There are no prior publications on this topic,\u2019 it is more likely that you have not found them yet and may need to broaden your search. \u00a0At another extreme, writing a complete literature review can be difficult with a well-trod topic. \u00a0Do not cite it all; instead cite what is most relevant. \u00a0If that still leaves too much to include, be sure to reference influential sources...as well as high-quality work that clearly connects to the points you make. (<a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">Klingner, Scanlon, &amp; Pressley, 2005<\/a>).<\/blockquote>\r\n<h1>7.2 Creating a summary table<\/h1>\r\nLiterature reviews can be organized sequentially or by topic, theme, method, results, theory, or argument. \u00a0It\u2019s important to develop categories that are meaningful and relevant to your research question. \u00a0Take detailed notes on each article and use a consistent format for capturing all the information each article provides. \u00a0These notes and the summary table can be done manually, using note cards. \u00a0However, given the amount of information you will be recording, an electronic file created in a word processing or spreadsheet is more manageable. Examples of fields you may want to capture in your notes include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Authors\u2019 names<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Article title<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Publication year<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Main purpose of the article<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Methodology or research design<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Participants<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Variables<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Measurement<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Results<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conclusions<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<sup>\u00a0<\/sup>Other fields that will be useful when you begin to synthesize the sum total of your research:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Specific details of the article or research that are especially relevant to your study<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key terms and definitions<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Statistics<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strengths or weaknesses in research design<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Relationships to other studies<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Possible gaps in the research or literature (for example, many research articles conclude with the statement \u201cmore research is needed in this area\u201d)<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finally, note how closely each article relates to your topic. \u00a0You may want to rank these as high, medium, or low relevance. \u00a0For papers that you decide not to include, you may want to note your reasoning for exclusion, such as \u2018small sample size\u2019, \u2018local case study,\u2019 or \u2018lacks evidence to support assertion.\u2019<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThis short video demonstrates how a nursing researcher might create a summary table.\r\n<h4>7.2.1 Creating a Summary Table<\/h4>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_304\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"854\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nX2R9FzYhT0\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-647\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-12-at-11.02.53.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a> Killam, Laura (2013). Literature review preparation: Creating a summary table. Includes transcript. \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nX2R9FzYhT0\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nX2R9FzYhT0<\/a>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<sup>\u00a0<\/sup>Summary tables can be organized by author or by theme, for example:\r\n<div>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Author\/Year<\/td>\r\n<td>Research Design<\/td>\r\n<td>Participants or Population Studied<\/td>\r\n<td>Comparison<\/td>\r\n<td>Outcome<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Smith\/2010<\/td>\r\n<td>Mixed methods<\/td>\r\n<td>Undergraduates<\/td>\r\n<td>Graduates<\/td>\r\n<td>Improved access<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>King\/2016<\/td>\r\n<td>Survey<\/td>\r\n<td>Females<\/td>\r\n<td>Males<\/td>\r\n<td>Increased representation<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Miller\/2011<\/td>\r\n<td>Content analysis<\/td>\r\n<td>Nurses<\/td>\r\n<td>Doctors<\/td>\r\n<td>New procedure<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\nFor a summary table template, see <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.monm.edu\/writingatmc\/files\/2013\/04\/Synthesis-Matrix-Template.pdf\">http:\/\/blogs.monm.edu\/writingatmc\/files\/2013\/04\/Synthesis-Matrix-Template.pdf<\/a>\r\n<h1>7.3 Creating a summary outline<sup>\r\n<\/sup><\/h1>\r\nAn alternate way to organize your articles for synthesis it to create an outline. After you have collected the articles you intend to use (and have put aside the ones you won\u2019t be using), it\u2019s time to identify the conclusions that can be drawn from the articles as a group.\r\n\r\n<sup>\u00a0<\/sup>Based on your review of the collected articles, group them by categories. \u00a0You may wish to further organize them by topic and then chronologically or alphabetically by author. \u00a0For each topic or subtopic you identified during your critical analysis of the paper, determine what those papers have in common. \u00a0Likewise, determine which ones in the group differ. \u00a0If there are contradictory findings, you may be able to identify methodological or theoretical differences that could account for the contradiction (for example, differences in population demographics). \u00a0Determine what general conclusions you can report about the topic or subtopic as the entire group of studies relate to it. \u00a0For example, you may have several studies that agree on outcome, such as \u2018hands on learning is best for science in elementary school\u2019 or that \u2018continuing education is the best method for updating nursing certification.\u2019 In that case, you may want to organize by methodology used in the studies rather than by outcome.\r\n\r\nOrganize your outline in a logical order and prepare to write the first draft of your literature review. \u00a0That order might be from broad to more specific, or it may be sequential or chronological, going from foundational literature to more current. \u00a0Remember, \u201can effective literature review need not denote the entire historical record, but rather establish the raison d\u2019etre for the current study and in doing so cite that literature distinctly pertinent for theoretical, methodological, or empirical reasons.\u201d (<a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">Milardo, 2015, p. 22<\/a>).\r\n\r\nAs you organize the summarized documents into a logical structure, you are also appraising and synthesizing complex information from multiple sources. \u00a0Your literature review is the result of your research that synthesizes new and old information and creates new knowledge.\r\n<h1>7.4 Additional resources:<\/h1>\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www2.smumn.edu\/deptpages\/tcwritingcenter\/forms_of_writing\/LitRevMatrix_TC.pdf\">Literature Reviews: Using a Matrix to Organize Research<\/a> \/ Saint Mary\u2019s University of Minnesota\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/liberalarts.iupui.edu\/uwc\/files\/documents\/Lit_Review_Synthesis.pdf\">Literature Review: Synthesizing Multiple Sources<\/a> \/ Indiana University\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/writingcenter.fiu.edu\/resources\/synthesis-matrix-2.pdf\">Writing a Literature Review and Using a Synthesis Matrix<\/a> \/ Florida International University\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/11tXg0IYjR6kZk-Uf5Eq2pFfVSrd3lxsWOhoEqht8BZ4\/edit?usp=sharing\">\u00a0Sample Literature Reviews Grid<\/a> \/ Complied by Lindsay Roberts\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Practice<\/h3>\r\nSelect three or four articles on a single topic of interest to you. Then enter them into an outline or table in the categories you feel are important to a research question. Try both the grid and the outline if you can to see which suits you better. The attached grid contains the fields suggested in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nX2R9FzYhT0&amp;feature=youtu.be\">video<\/a>.\r\n<h4>Literature Review Table<sup>\u00a0<\/sup><\/h4>\r\n<div>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Author\r\n\r\nDate<\/td>\r\n<td>Topic\/Focus\r\n\r\nPurpose<\/td>\r\n<td>Conceptual\r\n\r\nTheoretical Framework<\/td>\r\n<td>Paradigm\r\n\r\nMethods<\/td>\r\n<td>Context\r\n\r\nSetting\r\n\r\nSample<\/td>\r\n<td>Findings<\/td>\r\n<td>Gaps<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\r\n<h3>Test Yourself<\/h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Select two articles from your own summary table or outline and write a paragraph explaining how and why the sources relate to each other and your review of the literature.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">In your literature review, under what topic or subtopic will you place the paragraph you just wrote?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h1><a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">References<\/a><\/h1>\r\n<h1><a href=\"\/back-matter\/image-attributions-by-chapter\/#att7\">Image attribution<\/a><\/h1>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<p>At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">synthesize key sources connecting them with the research question and topic area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h1>7.1 Overview of synthesizing<\/h1>\n<h2>7.1.1 Putting the Pieces Together<\/h2>\n<p>Combining separate elements into a whole is the dictionary definition of synthesis. \u00a0It is a way to make connections among and between numerous and varied source materials. \u00a0A literature review is not an annotated bibliography, organized by title, author, or date of publication. \u00a0Rather, it is grouped by topic to create a whole view of the literature relevant to your research question.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_145\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-145\" style=\"width: 240px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/press.rebus.community\/app\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2017\/11\/image1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-645\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2017\/12\/image1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2017\/12\/image1.jpg 240w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2017\/12\/image1-65x49.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2017\/12\/image1-225x169.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-145\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 7.1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Your synthesis must demonstrate a critical analysis of the papers you collected as well as your ability to integrate the results of your analysis into your own literature review. \u00a0Each paper collected should be critically evaluated and weighed for \u201cadequacy, appropriateness, and thoroughness\u201d (<a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">Garrard, 2017<\/a>) before inclusion in your own review. \u00a0Papers that do not meet this criteria likely should not be included in your literature review.<\/p>\n<p>Begin the synthesis process by creating a grid, table, or an outline where you will summarize, using common themes you have identified and the sources you have found. The summary grid or outline will help you compare and contrast the themes so you can see the relationships among them as well as areas where you may need to do more searching. Whichever method you choose, this type of organization will help you to both understand the information you find and structure the writing of your review. \u00a0Remember, although \u201cthe means of summarizing can vary, the key at this point is to make sure you understand what you\u2019ve found and how it relates to your topic and research question\u201d (<a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">Bennard et al., 2014<\/a>).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_146\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-146\" style=\"width: 601px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/press.rebus.community\/app\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2017\/11\/image2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-646 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/image2.png\" alt=\"Figure 7.2 shows an example of a simplified literature summary table. In this example, individual journal citations are listed in rows. Table column headings read: purpose, methods, and results.\" width=\"601\" height=\"299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/image2.png 601w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/image2-300x149.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/image2-65x32.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/image2-225x112.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/image2-350x174.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-146\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 7.2 Summary table<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As you read through the material you gather, look for common themes as they may provide the structure for your literature review. \u00a0And, remember, research is an iterative process: it is not unusual to go back and search information sources for more material.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>At one extreme, if you are claiming, \u2018There are no prior publications on this topic,\u2019 it is more likely that you have not found them yet and may need to broaden your search. \u00a0At another extreme, writing a complete literature review can be difficult with a well-trod topic. \u00a0Do not cite it all; instead cite what is most relevant. \u00a0If that still leaves too much to include, be sure to reference influential sources&#8230;as well as high-quality work that clearly connects to the points you make. (<a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">Klingner, Scanlon, &amp; Pressley, 2005<\/a>).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h1>7.2 Creating a summary table<\/h1>\n<p>Literature reviews can be organized sequentially or by topic, theme, method, results, theory, or argument. \u00a0It\u2019s important to develop categories that are meaningful and relevant to your research question. \u00a0Take detailed notes on each article and use a consistent format for capturing all the information each article provides. \u00a0These notes and the summary table can be done manually, using note cards. \u00a0However, given the amount of information you will be recording, an electronic file created in a word processing or spreadsheet is more manageable. Examples of fields you may want to capture in your notes include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Authors\u2019 names<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Article title<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Publication year<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Main purpose of the article<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Methodology or research design<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Participants<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Variables<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Measurement<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Results<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conclusions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><sup>\u00a0<\/sup>Other fields that will be useful when you begin to synthesize the sum total of your research:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Specific details of the article or research that are especially relevant to your study<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key terms and definitions<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Statistics<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strengths or weaknesses in research design<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Relationships to other studies<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Possible gaps in the research or literature (for example, many research articles conclude with the statement \u201cmore research is needed in this area\u201d)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finally, note how closely each article relates to your topic. \u00a0You may want to rank these as high, medium, or low relevance. \u00a0For papers that you decide not to include, you may want to note your reasoning for exclusion, such as \u2018small sample size\u2019, \u2018local case study,\u2019 or \u2018lacks evidence to support assertion.\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This short video demonstrates how a nursing researcher might create a summary table.<\/p>\n<h4>7.2.1 Creating a Summary Table<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_304\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-304\" style=\"width: 854px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nX2R9FzYhT0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-647\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-12-at-11.02.53.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-12-at-11.02.53.png 854w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-12-at-11.02.53-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-12-at-11.02.53-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-12-at-11.02.53-65x37.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-12-at-11.02.53-225x126.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-12-at-11.02.53-350x197.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-304\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Killam, Laura (2013). Literature review preparation: Creating a summary table. Includes transcript. \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nX2R9FzYhT0\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nX2R9FzYhT0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><sup>\u00a0<\/sup>Summary tables can be organized by author or by theme, for example:<\/p>\n<div>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Author\/Year<\/td>\n<td>Research Design<\/td>\n<td>Participants or Population Studied<\/td>\n<td>Comparison<\/td>\n<td>Outcome<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Smith\/2010<\/td>\n<td>Mixed methods<\/td>\n<td>Undergraduates<\/td>\n<td>Graduates<\/td>\n<td>Improved access<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>King\/2016<\/td>\n<td>Survey<\/td>\n<td>Females<\/td>\n<td>Males<\/td>\n<td>Increased representation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Miller\/2011<\/td>\n<td>Content analysis<\/td>\n<td>Nurses<\/td>\n<td>Doctors<\/td>\n<td>New procedure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>For a summary table template, see <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.monm.edu\/writingatmc\/files\/2013\/04\/Synthesis-Matrix-Template.pdf\">http:\/\/blogs.monm.edu\/writingatmc\/files\/2013\/04\/Synthesis-Matrix-Template.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<h1>7.3 Creating a summary outline<sup><br \/>\n<\/sup><\/h1>\n<p>An alternate way to organize your articles for synthesis it to create an outline. After you have collected the articles you intend to use (and have put aside the ones you won\u2019t be using), it\u2019s time to identify the conclusions that can be drawn from the articles as a group.<\/p>\n<p><sup>\u00a0<\/sup>Based on your review of the collected articles, group them by categories. \u00a0You may wish to further organize them by topic and then chronologically or alphabetically by author. \u00a0For each topic or subtopic you identified during your critical analysis of the paper, determine what those papers have in common. \u00a0Likewise, determine which ones in the group differ. \u00a0If there are contradictory findings, you may be able to identify methodological or theoretical differences that could account for the contradiction (for example, differences in population demographics). \u00a0Determine what general conclusions you can report about the topic or subtopic as the entire group of studies relate to it. \u00a0For example, you may have several studies that agree on outcome, such as \u2018hands on learning is best for science in elementary school\u2019 or that \u2018continuing education is the best method for updating nursing certification.\u2019 In that case, you may want to organize by methodology used in the studies rather than by outcome.<\/p>\n<p>Organize your outline in a logical order and prepare to write the first draft of your literature review. \u00a0That order might be from broad to more specific, or it may be sequential or chronological, going from foundational literature to more current. \u00a0Remember, \u201can effective literature review need not denote the entire historical record, but rather establish the raison d\u2019etre for the current study and in doing so cite that literature distinctly pertinent for theoretical, methodological, or empirical reasons.\u201d (<a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">Milardo, 2015, p. 22<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>As you organize the summarized documents into a logical structure, you are also appraising and synthesizing complex information from multiple sources. \u00a0Your literature review is the result of your research that synthesizes new and old information and creates new knowledge.<\/p>\n<h1>7.4 Additional resources:<\/h1>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www2.smumn.edu\/deptpages\/tcwritingcenter\/forms_of_writing\/LitRevMatrix_TC.pdf\">Literature Reviews: Using a Matrix to Organize Research<\/a> \/ Saint Mary\u2019s University of Minnesota<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/liberalarts.iupui.edu\/uwc\/files\/documents\/Lit_Review_Synthesis.pdf\">Literature Review: Synthesizing Multiple Sources<\/a> \/ Indiana University<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcenter.fiu.edu\/resources\/synthesis-matrix-2.pdf\">Writing a Literature Review and Using a Synthesis Matrix<\/a> \/ Florida International University<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/11tXg0IYjR6kZk-Uf5Eq2pFfVSrd3lxsWOhoEqht8BZ4\/edit?usp=sharing\">\u00a0Sample Literature Reviews Grid<\/a> \/ Complied by Lindsay Roberts<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Practice<\/h3>\n<p>Select three or four articles on a single topic of interest to you. Then enter them into an outline or table in the categories you feel are important to a research question. Try both the grid and the outline if you can to see which suits you better. The attached grid contains the fields suggested in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nX2R9FzYhT0&amp;feature=youtu.be\">video<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Literature Review Table<sup>\u00a0<\/sup><\/h4>\n<div>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Author<\/p>\n<p>Date<\/td>\n<td>Topic\/Focus<\/p>\n<p>Purpose<\/td>\n<td>Conceptual<\/p>\n<p>Theoretical Framework<\/td>\n<td>Paradigm<\/p>\n<p>Methods<\/td>\n<td>Context<\/p>\n<p>Setting<\/p>\n<p>Sample<\/td>\n<td>Findings<\/td>\n<td>Gaps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\n<h3>Test Yourself<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Select two articles from your own summary table or outline and write a paragraph explaining how and why the sources relate to each other and your review of the literature.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">In your literature review, under what topic or subtopic will you place the paragraph you just wrote?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<h1><a href=\"\/back-matter\/references-by-chapter\/#ref7\">References<\/a><\/h1>\n<h1><a href=\"\/back-matter\/image-attributions-by-chapter\/#att7\">Image attribution<\/a><\/h1>\n<div class=\"media-attributions clear\" prefix:cc=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/ns#\" prefix:dc=\"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/\"><h2>Media Attributions<\/h2><ul><li >Figure 7.1       <\/li><li >Figure 7.2       <\/li><li >Screen Shot 2017-12-12 at 11.02.53       <\/li><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2509,"menu_order":8,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["linda-frederiksen-sue-f-phelps"],"pb_section_license":"cc-by"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[72],"license":[53],"class_list":["post-648","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","contributor-linda-frederiksen-sue-f-phelps","license-cc-by"],"part":604,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2509"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1147,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/648\/revisions\/1147"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/604"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/648\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=648"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=648"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}