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Research methodEstablished researchAdvanced

Research Synthesis

Turning raw observations into findings, which is where most of the value and most of the bias enters.

Definition

Synthesis codes raw research data, groups it into themes, and derives findings that can inform decisions. It is the step where quality is won or lost, and the step most often skipped under time pressure.

Established research. Originates in published research and has been replicated. The effect is real. Its size in your product still needs measuring.

On this page
  1. Definition
  2. A workable process
  3. Continue from here

A workable process

  1. 1

    Capture observations atomically

    One observation per note, in the participant's words, with a session identifier.

  2. 2

    Code inductively first

    Let categories emerge from the data before applying your existing framework.

  3. 3

    Group into themes

    Cluster related codes. Name each theme as a statement, not a topic.

  4. 4

    Count

    State how many participants exhibited each theme. 'Three of eight' is meaningfully different from 'users said'.

  5. 5

    Separate observation from interpretation

    Keep what happened distinct from what you think it means, so others can disagree with the second without discarding the first.

  6. 6

    Include disconfirming evidence

    Report what contradicted the theme. Its absence is a signal that the analysis was not neutral.

Continue from here

Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.

Principles behind this

The reasoning this solution is an application of.

Often used with

These usually appear in the same screen or the same decision.

Short definition

The one-paragraph version, for when that is all you need.

Related concept

Connected closely enough to change how you apply this.