Sing a song of synthesis

Abstract

One of the key expectations of doctoral research is that it must contribute original knowledge. Systematic reviews can demonstrate authoritatively where gaps to be filled exist. This chapter describes a partnership between a doctoral researcher and her supervisor (the authors) as they sought to comprehensively map and evaluate the field of existing intervention research on the effects of singing songs with young language learners on their substantive linguistic outcomes. It will describe the thought processes behind conducting a methodologically robust and ethically sound review, outline the methodological challenges and solutions encountered while locating, classifying, appraising and synthesising a heterogenous body of research, and recount their experiences when submitting the review for publication, where careful communication of their contra-orthodox findings was required to satisfy a review panel of established researchers.