Worksheet
Literature-synthesis matrix
Compare several sources by question, context, design, claims and limits before turning defensible relationships into literature-review prose.
Compare sources before you draft
- Write the review question or sub-question that controls the comparison.
- Record each source's context, design or evidence type, relevant claim and important limitation in its own row.
- Use the theme or relationship column only after checking whether sources genuinely agree, extend, qualify or differ.
- Write a short synthesis note in your own words, then return to the original sources before drafting.
The file opens in a spreadsheet application and contains headers with blank working rows. Your completed matrix stays wherever you choose to save it; this page does not upload it.
Clearly fictional illustrative row
Fictional source F1 examines one first-year module using a randomised reminder comparison. Its relevant result concerns earlier page opening, not higher marks; the one-module setting limits transfer. A defensible relationship note would ask whether another source extends or qualifies that narrow result rather than labelling both sources as general agreement.
Use source identifiers and concise notes. Do not place confidential participant material, unpublished data or access credentials in a shared worksheet.
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