There are a number of ways to organize your research and many different rubrics or synthesis matrices to help you do it. Using a rubric or matrix can be helpful to see where your articles overlap and where there might be gaps in the available research.
In the example below, if you had four articles and the one thing they had in common was Talking Point 3 (the need for diversity training for first responders), that might be an area on which you decide to focus. Perhaps your contribution to the field would be developing diversity training program for first responders.
| Citation (with peer review & ranking) | Summary | Talking Point 1 | Talking Point 2 | Talking Point 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones, R. T., Immel, C. S., Moore, R. M., & Hadder, J. M. (2008) Hurricane Katrina: Experiences of psychologists and implications for future disaster response. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39(1), 100-106 Status: Peer-reviewed | Studies challenges faced by mental health workers during relief efforts; makes recommendations … | Methodology (met with various agencies; primary interviews with storm victim of all ages) … | Recommends screening, assessment & intervention strategies for children & adolescents … | Diversity training for responders |
You need to choose an organizing style that works best for YOU. Some people are more visual than others. Some are more compulsive about writing down every detail than others. No one knows what works for you better than you do.
This is the point where you sort articles by themes or categories in preparation for writing your lit review. You may find a synthesis matrix, like the ones in the box on the left, helpful in understanding how this works.
You can sort the literature in various ways, for example:
By themes, concepts, or talking points
Historically or chronologically (tracing a research question across time)
By methodology