PhD synopsis evolved from review of literature or a PhD thesis evolved from review of literature elaborate?

 In the context of academic research, both the Ph.D. synopsis and the Ph.D. thesis evolve from the review of literature, but in different stages and scopes of the research process. Here's a detailed explanation:

 Understanding the Role of Literature Review in Ph.D. Research

The review of literature (RoL) is the foundation of any doctoral research. It involves a critical and systematic analysis of existing studies relevant to the proposed research topic.

 1. Ph.D. Synopsis Evolved from Review of Literature

 What is a Ph.D. Synopsis?

A Ph.D. synopsis is a concise document (usually 10–20 pages) submitted to a university or research committee to:

·         Propose the research problem

·         Justify the need for the study

·         Outline the research design and methodology

 How is it evolved from the Literature Review?

·         Identification of Research Gaps: Through the literature review, the scholar identifies gaps, inconsistencies, or underexplored areas in the existing finance literature.

·         Formulation of Research Problem: The review enables the researcher to clearly define a problem statement rooted in empirical or theoretical voids.

·         Development of Objectives & Hypotheses: Based on the review, the researcher constructs research objectives and, where applicable, hypotheses.

·         Theoretical/Conceptual Framework: The review helps in building or selecting a framework/model for the research.

·         Justification of Methodology: The RoL often reveals best practices and methodological limitations in past studies, which guide the selection of appropriate methods.

Example in Finance: After reviewing literature on capital structure theories (Modigliani-Miller, Pecking Order, Trade-off), the synopsis may propose to examine how Indian SMEs align with these theories post-COVID.

 2. Ph.D. Thesis Evolved from Review of Literature

 What is a Ph.D. Thesis?

A Ph.D. thesis is a comprehensive research document (often 150–300+ pages) that includes:

·         Theoretical framework

·         In-depth literature review

·         Research methodology

·         Data analysis

·         Findings and conclusions

 How is it evolved from the Literature Review?

·         The thesis extends and deepens the review introduced in the synopsis.

·         It builds upon the theoretical insights and gaps explored earlier, to interpret findings and position new knowledge within the broader academic discourse.

·         The literature review informs:

o    Variable selection

o    Measurement indicators

o    Benchmarking models (e.g., CAPM, DCF, Altman's Z-score)

o    Comparative frameworks

Example in Finance: If the literature reveals conflicting findings about the relationship between ESG scores and firm value in emerging markets, the thesis may evolve to test this empirically using Indian firms, filling the contextual gap.

 Summary Comparison

Aspect

Ph.D. Synopsis

Ph.D. Thesis

Purpose

Proposal stage document

Final, comprehensive report

Relation to RoL

Derives research questions, gaps, and framework

Builds upon RoL to analyze, interpret, and justify findings

Scope of RoL

Concise, focused on gap identification

Exhaustive, critical, comparative, and analytical

Evolution from RoL

RoL defines the "what" and "why"

RoL sustains the "how", "so what", and "what next"

 Conclusion

The review of literature is the backbone of both the synopsis and the final thesis.
The synopsis evolves from the RoL to define the research blueprint,
while the thesis evolves from the RoL to build knowledge, test hypotheses, and advance theory or practice.

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