Uppdaterad 2026-07-22
Synthesis Matrix
What a synthesis matrix is and how a source-by-theme table lets a literature review compare evidence across studies.
Definition
A synthesis matrix is a source-by-theme table used to plan a literature review, recording what each source says about each theme so evidence can be compared across studies.
In the review workflow
WriteGo's literature review matrix applies this structure with verbatim quotes and page locators, so each cell stays traceable to the exact passage it came from.
Related terms
See literature review, annotated bibliography, and evidence hierarchy: an annotated bibliography documents sources one at a time, the matrix synthesizes them across themes, and an evidence hierarchy helps weight what each source can support.
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What is a synthesis matrix?
A synthesis matrix is a table that organizes sources against shared themes, concepts, or research questions, typically with one row per source and one column per theme. It helps writers compare findings across studies instead of summarizing papers one at a time, which is the structural difference between a genuine literature review and a sequence of source summaries.
How does a synthesis matrix support a literature review?
Filling in the matrix forces a writer to state what each source says about each theme, so agreements, contradictions, and gaps become visible before drafting begins. Paragraphs can then be organized around themes with several sources per paragraph, rather than around individual papers, which is the structure literature-review readers and advisors expect.
What belongs in each cell of a synthesis matrix?
Each cell should record what one source contributes to one theme: a finding, a method detail, a definition, or a verbatim quotation with a page reference. Keeping quotations exact and locators precise protects citation integrity later, because every claim in the drafted review can be traced back to a specific passage in a specific source.
Vanliga frågor
Is a synthesis matrix the same as an annotated bibliography?
No. An annotated bibliography documents sources one at a time, while a synthesis matrix compares sources across shared themes.
Do I need special software to build one?
No. Any table works, though structured tools can keep quotations verbatim and page references attached to each cell.