Synthesizing Sources in Research Writing
Definition and Core Purpose of Synthesis
Synthesis is the process of looking for areas where sources agree or disagree and drawing broader conclusions about a topic based on what those sources say. In academic research, synthesis goes beyond simply restating what individual sources state.
Primary Function in Research Writing: Writing a research paper requires synthesizing available sources to provide new insight or a different perspective on a topic, rather than merely summarizing isolated findings.
Synthesizing vs. Summarizing:
Summary: Restates information from one or more sources without providing new insight, drawing new conclusions, or establishing relationships between sources.
Synthesis: Draws on multiple sources simultaneously to reach a broader, overarching conclusion and establish connections across research material.
Types of Synthesis
Synthesis in academic research is divided into two main functional categories:
Explanatory Synthesis:
Definition: An approach that seeks to bring sources together to explain a specific perspective and the reasoning behind it.
Goal: To illuminate complex ideas, present foundational context, and explain how different findings contribute to understanding a particular viewpoint.
Argumentative Synthesis:
Definition: An approach that seeks to bring sources together to build and support an argument.
Goal: To leverage diverse research perspectives to justify a specific thesis statement or claim.
Shared Mechanism: Both explanatory and argumentative syntheses fundamentally rely on identifying relationships between sources and drawing meaningful conclusions from those connections.
Process and Guidelines for Effective Synthesis
To successfully synthesize sources in research writing, specific steps and rules must be followed during source analysis and paragraph construction:
Initial Organization and Source Grouping:
Group sources by topic, sub-theme, or research question.
Examine connections between grouped texts to identify points of agreement and disagreement.
Example Application: When researching the pros and cons of encouraging healthy eating in children, separate sources to identify which findings align with one another and which offer opposing arguments.
Constructing Synthesized Paragraphs:
Design body paragraphs around specific claims or thematic connections rather than individual sources.
Acknowledge multiple sources within a single paragraph to highlight where new conclusions can be drawn.
Key Guidelines to Remember:
Do Not Force Relationships: Avoid forcing a connection between sources if none exists. Not all sources are required to complement one another.
Maintain Clear Transitions: Highlight relationships between sources in explicit and transparent ways through clear transitions.
Include Research Outliers: Do not ignore outliers or conflicting findings in the research. Every perspective must be noted, including those that disagree with broader conclusions.
Detailed Analysis of Synthesis Examples
Comparing ineffective and effective synthesis structures illustrates how sources should be integrated within body paragraphs.
Example 1: Ineffective Synthesis:
Sample Text: "Parents are always trying to find ways to encourage healthy eating in their children. Elena Pearl Ben-Joseph, a doctor and writer for KidsHealth, encourages parents to be role models for their children by not dieting or vocalizing concerns about their body image. The first popular diet began in 1863. William Banting named it the “Banting” diet after himself, and it consisted of eating fruits, vegetables, meat, and dry wine. Despite the fact that dieting has been around for over a hundred and fifty years, parents should not diet because it hinders children’s understanding of healthy eating."
Structural Flaws:
The paragraph begins with one central idea (parental role modeling) and drastically shifts to another (the historical origin of dieting in 1863 under William Banting).
The text simply describes source content in isolation without comparing or contrasting the sources.
The discussion veers in an unrelated direction at the end, preventing the paragraph from articulating strong arguments or reaching sound conclusions.
Example 2: Effective Synthesis:
Sample Text: "Parents are always trying to find ways to encourage healthy eating in their children. Different scientists and educators have different strategies for promoting a well-rounded diet while still encouraging body positivity in children. David R. Just and Joseph Price suggest in their article “Using Incentives to Encourage Healthy Eating in Children” that children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they are given a reward (855-856). Similarly, Elena Pearl Ben-Joseph, a doctor and writer for KidsHealth, encourages parents to be role models for their children. She states that “parents who are always dieting or complaining about their bodies may foster these same negative feelings in their kids. Try to keep a positive approach about food” (Ben-Joseph). Martha J. Nepper and Weiwen Chai support Ben-Joseph’s suggestions in their article “Parents’ Barriers and Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating among School-age Children.” Nepper and Chai note, “Parents felt that patience, consistency, educating themselves on proper nutrition, and having more healthy foods available in the home were important strategies when developing healthy eating habits for their children.” By following some of these ideas, parents can help their children develop healthy eating habits while still maintaining body positivity."
Structural Strengths:
Places different sources into direct conversation with one another around a common theme (promoting healthy eating alongside body positivity).
Uses transition words (such as "Similarly") and explicit framing (such as "support Ben-Joseph's suggestions") to make relationships between sources clear.
Connects studies by David R. Just, Joseph Price, Elena Pearl Ben-Joseph, Martha J. Nepper, and Weiwen Chai to construct a cohesive summary statement that draws a clear conclusion.