Step 5 Data Analysis and Classification

Analysis and Classification

Analysis and classification

The first stage of analysis is to carefully read through abstracts in your found set. If there are abstracts that seem to be inaccurate in terms of your inclusion and exclusion criteria, pull the full text of those articles first. Read the full text before deciding to exclude an article. Record the citation and reason(s) for excluded articles on your Systematic Mapping Guide Template.

Coded Data from Full-text Articles Activity

Next, access the full text of your remaining articles. If you chose to use a citation management tool, you can download full text through the tool. Powernotes is a web-based tool for gathering and keeping track of source materials, staying organized, and creating a research outline (see https://www.blog.powernotes.com/powernotes-help for more detail and instructions; with the free account you are allowed one project).

You want to code for characteristics (publication date, methodology, population studied, setting, data source(s), and discipline) and content (free code content for themes).

Once you have coded each full-text document in Powernotes, QDA Miner Lite, NVivo, or another free/low cost coding tool, export your notes and outline and share them with a colleague or mentor to give you suggestions.