# Literature review matrix desk: every source, method and finding side by side

> For Postgraduate and honours students, researchers and anyone writing a literature review or thesis chapter.

the matrix is a Table — one row per source, columns for method, sample, key finding, theme and gap — grouped by theme so the synthesis is written theme by theme in the Page beside it. Distinct from research-paper (drafting with data) and essay-plan (an argument with word counts).

## What goes on the desk

- Table ‘Matrix’ (Source, Year (number), Method (single select), Sample, Key finding, Theme (single select), Gap, Page or quote reference)
- Browser on the library database (/help/widget-browser)
- File or link widgets for the key PDFs (/help/widget-file-or-link)
- Page ‘Synthesis by theme’ (/help/widget-page)
- Mind map ‘Themes’ (/help/widget-mind-map)
- Markdown ‘Reference list’ (/help/widget-markdown).

## Set it up

import a CSV exported from your reference manager and map its columns (/help/widget-table-import); group rows by Theme (/help/widget-table-filter-group); switch to Cards to read one source at a time (/help/table-views).

## Use it day to day

one row per reading, the finding in your own words with its page number; each week write one theme’s paragraph.

## Where Plexii helps

Plexii finds the quote and page number and shows its sources; it does not write the review (the line the site holds on /university-students); Build a table with AI can propose the matrix columns (/help/widget-table-ai); the Mind map’s AI Expand proposes branches with your own Anthropic key (/help/widget-requirements).