research-synthesis

name	research-synthesis
description	Transform scattered research materials into structured, synthesized documents. Use when consolidating notes, PDFs, and sources into coherent research summaries with proper evidence tracking.
metadata	{"author":"core-team","version":"1.0.0"}

Research Synthesis

Your Task

When given research materials (notes, PDFs, sources, or raw evidence), transform them into a structured, synthesized document that:

1. Organizes evidence by theme, argument, or methodology
2. Synthesizes related findings into coherent narratives
3. Tracks all sources with proper citations
4. Identifies gaps in the research coverage
5. Maps evidence to paper sections

---

Core Process

Step 1: Inventory Sources

Before synthesizing, catalog what you have:

| Source | Type | Key Topics | Quality | Gaps |
|--------|------|------------|---------|------|
| Smith (2023) | Journal | Topic A, B | High | Missing X |
| Jones (2022) | Book | Topic B, C | Medium | Outdated |

Step 2: Extract Evidence

For each source, extract:

• Direct quotes (with page numbers)
• Paraphrased findings (with attribution)
• Data/statistics (with context)
• Arguments/claims (with supporting evidence)

Step 3: Organize by Theme

Group evidence thematically, not by source:

## Theme: [Topic Name]

### Key Finding 1
- Evidence from Smith (2023, p. 45): "direct quote..."
- Corroborated by Jones (2022, p. 12): "supporting quote..."
- Contrasted by Brown (2021): different perspective...

### Key Finding 2
...

Step 4: Synthesize

Transform grouped evidence into coherent narrative:

Before (grouped evidence):

Smith says X. Jones says X too. Brown disagrees.

After (synthesized):

The consensus view holds that X (Smith, 2023; Jones, 2022), though Brown (2021) offers a compelling counter-argument based on Y.

Step 5: Map to Paper Structure

Connect synthesized content to paper sections:

| Paper Section | Themes Covered | Evidence Strength | Gaps |
|---------------|----------------|-------------------|------|
| §2 Background | Theme A, B | Strong | None |
| §3 Methods | Theme C | Weak | Need more sources |
| §4 Results | Theme D, E | Medium | Conflicting data |

---

Synthesis Patterns

Pattern: Thematic Synthesis

Use when: Multiple sources discuss the same topic from different angles.

Structure:

1. State the theme/question
2. Present dominant view with evidence
3. Present alternative views
4. Identify points of agreement/disagreement
5. Note implications for your paper

Pattern: Chronological Synthesis

Use when: Tracing the evolution of ideas or research over time.

Structure:

1. Establish the starting point
2. Trace key developments
3. Highlight turning points
4. Show current state of knowledge
5. Indicate future directions

Pattern: Methodological Synthesis

Use when: Comparing how different studies approached a problem.

Structure:

1. Categorize by methodology
2. Compare strengths/weaknesses
3. Identify methodological gaps
4. Justify your chosen approach

Pattern: Argumentative Synthesis

Use when: Building a case from multiple sources.

Structure:

1. State your thesis/claim
2. Present supporting evidence
3. Address counterarguments
4. Strengthen with additional evidence
5. Draw conclusions

---

Evidence Quality Assessment

Rate each piece of evidence:

Quality	Criteria	Usage
High	Peer-reviewed, recent, directly relevant	Primary support
Medium	Reputable but older or tangential	Secondary support
Low	Non-peer-reviewed, outdated	Use cautiously or note limitations

Quality Checklist

• Is the source peer-reviewed?
• Is the publication reputable?
• Is the research recent (within 5-10 years)?
• Is the methodology sound?
• Are findings replicated elsewhere?
• Is there potential bias?

---

Gap Identification

Actively look for:

1. Topic gaps: Areas not covered by existing sources
2. Temporal gaps: Recent developments missing
3. Methodological gaps: Approaches not represented
4. Population gaps: Groups not studied
5. Geographical gaps: Regions not covered

Document gaps explicitly:

## Research Gaps Identified

1. **Gap**: No studies examine X in context Y
   - **Impact**: Limits applicability to our domain
   - **Action**: Flag for discussion in limitations

2. **Gap**: Most studies pre-date 2020
   - **Impact**: May miss recent developments
   - **Action**: Search for newer sources

---

Citation Tracking

Maintain a citation log during synthesis:

## Citation Log

### Used in Synthesis
- Smith (2023) - §2.1, §3.2
- Jones (2022) - §2.2
- Brown (2021) - §4.1

### Pending Review
- Davis (2020) - Need to extract quotes
- Miller (2019) - Relevance unclear

### Rejected
- Wilson (2018) - Superseded by Smith (2023)

---

Output Format

Your synthesized document should include:

# Research Synthesis: [Topic]

## Executive Summary
[2-3 paragraph overview of key findings]

## Themes

### Theme 1: [Name]
[Synthesized narrative with inline citations]

### Theme 2: [Name]
[Synthesized narrative with inline citations]

## Evidence Map

| Paper Section | Supporting Evidence | Confidence |
|---------------|---------------------|------------|
| ... | ... | High/Medium/Low |

## Gaps and Limitations
[List of identified gaps]

## Source Quality Summary
[Table of sources with quality ratings]

## Citations Used
[List of all citations for bibliography]

---

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Source-by-source summary instead of thematic synthesis
2. Dropping citations during paraphrasing
3. Over-relying on a single source
4. Ignoring contradictions between sources
5. Losing page numbers for direct quotes
6. Mixing synthesis with interpretation (keep them separate)

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Quick Reference

Task	Approach
Multiple sources on same topic	Thematic synthesis
Historical development	Chronological synthesis
Comparing methods	Methodological synthesis
Building an argument	Argumentative synthesis
Assessing evidence	Quality checklist
Finding gaps	Gap identification framework
Tracking citations	Citation log