The practice of synthesizing quantitative research via meta-analysis hasand will very likely continue to gain momentum in second language acquisition (SLA) just as it has throughout much of the social and medical sciences. This course is designed for graduate students in SLA interested in learning the conceptual motivations and hands-on techniques for (a) conducting research synthesis and meta-analysis and for (b) embracing and practicing a synthetic approach to both primary and secondary research. Throughout the semester, course participants will interact and engage with a variety of readings, both methodologicaland substantive in nature, towards arriving at a conceptual and practical understanding of the synthetic approach. The main assignment for the course will be a synthetic research study. This project may takeone of several forms including a research synthesis, a meta-analysis, a methodological synthesis, or combination of these