title: Synthesis: implementing a complex process.
abstract: Synthesis is a complex task required in many scholarly activities, such as literature reviews for various projects or concept analyses. A process for synthesizing materials is described, beginning with the preliminary task of constructing a summary of the selected references. Synthesis is posited as a task that can benefit from an approach similar to content analysis used in qualitative research methods. A detailed description of the process is provided using a literature review as an example. Strategies for writing the synthesis product conclude the discussion.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Pinch
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008606:Mental Processes; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D014956:Writing