Final answer:
The third step in the research process involves synthesizing findings, which equates to combining various sources of information to generate new insights. This critical step lays the groundwork for further stages like peer review and revisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The third step in the research process is often considered to be testing a hypothesis by experiment. In the context of writing and research for English, one could analogize this step to the synthesis of information. During synthesis, a researcher takes findings from various sources and combines them to create a new depth of understanding on a topic.
It's during this synthesis stage that a researcher can make connections that previously were not apparent, leading to the potential significance of the topic for an audience and for further inquiry. Such synthesis is the foundational work upon which later steps such as peer review and revision are based, and thus it's an essential part of developing a well-rounded and thoroughly researched thesis or main argument.