Module 6: Comparision of Analytic and Synthetic Method

COMPARISON OF ANALYTIC AND SYNTHETIC METHODS

ANALYTIC METHOD	SYNTHETIC METHOD
Meaning: Analysis means breaking up into components	Meaning: Synthesis means combining the elements to get something new.
Leads from: v  Unknown to known v  Conclusion to hypothesis v  Abstract to concrete v  Complex to simple	Leads from: v  Known to unknown v  Hypothesis to conclusion v  Concrete to abstract v  Simple to complex
Method: v  A method of discovery and thought v  A psychological method	Method: v  A method for the presentation of discovered facts. v  A logical method
Time: Lengthy, laborious and time consuming	Time: Short, concise and elegant.
Sequence: Valid reasons to justify every step in the sequence.	Sequence: No justification for every step in the sequence.
Learning: Encourages meaningful learning.	Learning: Encourages rote learning
Easy to rediscover	Once forgotten not easy to recall
Encourages: Encourages originality of thinking and reasoning	Encourages: Encourages memory work
Learning: Informal and disorganized	Learning: Formal, systematic ad orderly
Thinking: Process of thinking	Thinking: Product of thinking
Participation: Active participation of the learner	Participation: Learner is a passive listener

          Though both analytic and synthetic method seems to oppose each other, they complement and support each other. Analysis leads to synthesis and synthesis makes the purpose of analysis clear and complete. The teacher while teaching can use analytic methods and can encourage the student to present them in the synthetic method. Ie. Analysis forms the beginning and synthesis follow up work.