> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nested-knowledge.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nested-knowledge.com/review-workflow/synthesis/navigate-synthesis-outputs/qualitative-synthesis.md). # Qualitative Synthesis Learn how to explore qualitative synthesis. Qualitative Synthesis (QLS) is where you explore what a set of studies actually found, organized by topic. As part of their workflow, reviewers "tag" each study with the topics, findings, or characteristics it covers (a step called Tagging); this page turns that work into an interactive diagram you can click through, rather than a spreadsheet you'd need explaining. Looking to build or edit the underlying tags rather than explore them? See [Configure Tagging](/review-workflow/tagging/configure-tagging.md) and [Apply Tags](/review-workflow/tagging/apply-tags.md) instead — this page covers reading the output, not creating it. ### Exploring The Diagram Qualitative Synthesis has two interchangeable displays, toggled from icons in the bottom right: * **Sunburst** (default) — think of it like an interactive pie chart, with topics arranged in rings from broad (center) to specific (outer edge). * **Dendrogram** — the same information as a branching tree instead, which more closely mirrors how the reviewer structured their topics. All sunburst features carry over, except embedding, which isn't currently available in dendrogram view. Click any segment to see the studies covering that topic, listed on the right. Toggle **Filter** to narrow that list down further. Hover a segment if you're not sure what it's labeled. Use **Zoom** to drill from a broad topic into something more specific.

Sunburst view in Qualitative Synthesis, showing topics as nested colored segments and a study list on the right. — Explore topics in the sunburst and view matching studies.

Selecting a specific study opens its abstract, full text (where enabled), topics, and extracted data — full text is only visible if the reviewer has enabled it and the review is set to private or protected sharing.

Study details panel in Qualitative Synthesis, showing a selected study's abstract, topics, and extracted data. — Select a study to view its details and extracted data.

### Insights On Qualitative Synthesis Reviewers can attach a short written conclusion to a specific slice of this diagram, so you see their finding and can immediately drill into the exact studies behind it — a shortcut to "here's what we concluded, and here's the evidence." See [Insights on Qualitative Synthesis](/review-workflow/synthesis/set-up-synthesis-outputs/insights-on-qualitative-synthesis.md) for how to find and read these.

Qualitative Synthesis diagram showing an insight attached to a selected topic and its supporting studies. — Insights connect a conclusion with the studies supporting it.

### Downloading And Sharing You can download a spreadsheet of whatever's currently shown — useful if you want the underlying data without navigating the interactive diagram yourself. Select the share icon in the top right, select **File** and **Download Filtered Studies.** If a reviewer has applied a filter that carries across the whole review, it affects this page too — see [Filters on Synthesis](/review-workflow/synthesis/navigate-synthesis-outputs/filters-on-synthesis.md). ### FAQs

Can I hide certain topics from appearing here?

That's a setting the reviewer controls, not something you can change as a reader — reach out to them if a topic you expect to see is missing.

Why can't I see full text for a study?

Full text is only shown if the reviewer has enabled it and the review is set to private or protected sharing rather than fully private.

Do I need a Nested Knowledge account to use this page?

No — if you've been sent a link, you can explore this page without signing up or logging in.

### Next Steps


Insights on Qualitative Synthesis	Read conclusions attached to this view.	Insights on Qualitative Synthesis
Filters on Synthesis	Filter the studies shown across Synthesis.	Filters on Synthesis
Quantitative Synthesis	Explore numeric findings.	Quantitative Synthesis

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