Research Synthesis
Turn raw research data into actionable insights that drive product decisions
Your Progress
Section 1 of 5What is Research Synthesis?
Research synthesis is the process of taking raw research data and transforming it into clear, actionable insights. You have done interviews, run surveys, analyzed data - now what?
Raw data is not insights. You need to organize, analyze, and synthesize before you can make decisions or share findings with your team.
Why Synthesis Matters
🎯 Focus
Turn hundreds of data points into 3-5 key findings that matter most.
📢 Communication
Make research findings easy for stakeholders to understand and act on.
✅ Decision Making
Connect insights directly to product decisions and roadmap priorities.
🧠 Memory
Create artifacts that teams can reference months later.
Types of Research
Types of Research to Synthesize
🎤User Interviews
Qualitative conversations with users
- •User quotes
- •Pain points
- •Workflow descriptions
- •Feature requests
Many quotes and stories - need to find common themes
Common pain points, user needs, feature priorities
The Process
The Synthesis Process
Organize
Collect and structure all research data
- →Transcribe interviews
- →Tag survey responses
- →Collect screenshots
- →Create data repository
Analyze
Look for patterns and themes
- →Code qualitative data
- →Find repeated themes
- →Calculate statistics
- →Identify outliers
Synthesize
Turn patterns into insights
- →Create insight statements
- →Prioritize findings
- →Connect to business goals
- →Validate with team
Share
Communicate findings effectively
- →Create presentations
- →Write reports
- →Share recommendations
- →Drive decisions
Synthesis is Not Just Summarizing
Good synthesis goes beyond listing what users said. It finds patterns, prioritizes what matters, and connects findings to business decisions. Raw data tells you what happened - insights tell you what to do next.
Key Takeaways
- •Research synthesis transforms raw data into actionable insights that drive decisions.
- •The process includes organizing data, finding patterns, creating insights, and sharing findings.
- •Different research types require different synthesis approaches - qualitative vs quantitative.
- •Good synthesis focuses on what matters, communicates clearly, and connects to business goals.