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From codes to themes on the Synthesis Map

Sort your codes into categories on the Board, group them into bigger ones, and turn the top ones into themes written as sentences.

Time
5 minutes
Steps
6

Coding tells you what each passage is about. Synthesis is the next step: finding the patterns across your codes, and saying what they mean. On the Synthesis Map's Board you sort your codes into categories, group categories into bigger ones, and make the top ones your themes: your main findings, each written as a sentence.

Everything on the Board is done by hand and works on every plan. Nothing here uses credits.

  1. The Synthesis map tab in the Analysis lens, on the Board

    Step 1Open the Board

    In your project, open the Analysis lens and choose Synthesis map. Make sure Board is selected at the top.

    Your codes wait on the left under Unsorted codes, each with how many passages and papers it has. The right side holds your categories and themes. Open How synthesis works for a five-step reminder of the whole process.

  2. Pressing New category and naming it

    Step 2Make a category

    Press + New category and type a name for a pattern you see in your codes, for example "Teacher workload". Press Enter to keep the name.

    Tip: name categories in your own words. They are your interpretation, not a copy of the codes.

  3. Dragging a code from Unsorted codes into a category

    Step 3Sort codes into it

    Drag a code from Unsorted codes onto your category. Its counts are added to the category, so you can see how much evidence sits behind it.

    If you prefer the keyboard, open the code's menu and choose Move to…. To take a code out again, drag it back to Unsorted codes.

  4. Dragging one category onto another to nest it

    Step 4Group categories into bigger ones

    Drag a category onto another one to put it inside. Or open a category's menu and choose New category here to make one inside it.

    Keep going until a few top-level categories hold everything that belongs together.

  5. Selecting a category and choosing Convert to theme

    Step 5Make the top ones themes

    Select a top-level category. In the panel on the right, choose Convert to theme. It is now marked Theme.

    Themes are your main findings, and they sit at the top level. You can also use Convert to theme in the category's menu. Convert back to category undoes it.

  6. Writing the theme as a sentence and ticking research questions

    Step 6Write the theme as a sentence

    In the same panel, fill in The theme as a sentence, for example "Staff adopt analytics faster than they are trained to use it". Then tick the Research questions it answers.

    You can also add a Description, and a Memo with your own thoughts. Memos are never sent to the AI. Everything saves as you go.

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