Step by step
Link quotes in the theme grid and see the mind map
Pick a quote, then a quote from another paper, say whether they agree, contradict or extend, and explore the links on the Map.
- Time
- 4 minutes
- Steps
- 6
Once your codes sit in themes, you can say how the papers within a theme relate. In the Network view, the List shows a theme as a grid: its codes down the side, its papers across the top, and the coded quotes in the cells. You link two quotes from two different papers, then see all the links drawn as a mind map.
Linking by hand works on every plan and uses no credits. To learn what each kind of link means, see Agree, contradict, extend.
Step 1Open the List
On the Synthesis map, choose Network at the top, then List.
Step 2Choose a theme
Choose the theme you want to work on from the Theme menu. The grid shows its categories and codes as rows, and its papers as columns. Each cell holds the quotes you coded, with their page.
A long quote is shortened: choose Show all to read it in full.
Step 3Pick two quotes
Click a quote. The note above the grid says 1 of 2 picked. Now click a quote from another paper.
You can also open a quote's ... menu and choose the quote to link it to, listed paper by paper.
Step 4Say how they relate
Under How do they relate?, choose Agrees, Contradicts or Extends. For a contradiction you can name the tension under Tension (X vs Y), for example "Data-driven decisions vs teacher judgement". Then choose Save link.
The link appears as a chip under both quotes. Open a chip to change the kind, add Your note, or Remove the link; choose Save link to keep your changes.
Step 5Focus on two papers
Turn on Focus on two papers to see only two papers side by side, with a line between each pair of linked quotes. If the theme has more than two papers, choose the First paper and Second paper to compare another pair.
Step 6See the links on the Map
Choose Map. Each theme starts closed: press it to spring out its categories and codes, and press again to draw them back in. The lines between codes are your links, one line for each kind.
Select a code to see its quotes, or a line to focus on it. Drag a theme, a category or a code to arrange the map the way you think about it; your layout is saved. Tidy up puts everything back in order.
What's next
- Send a theme to Writing: its contradictions can come across as flagged points.
- On the Student and Researcher plans, let AI suggest links for a theme or for all of them.