What method is used to lay out summaries of findings in framework analysis?

Framework analysis is a systematic method for analyzing qualitative data that is often used in health and social care research. One of the key features of framework analysis is the organization of data into a structured format that allows for easy comparison and contrast. The method that is specifically employed to present summaries of findings in framework analysis is a matrix chart.

A matrix chart visually organizes data by displaying the key themes and subthemes along one axis and the data sources or participants along the other. This format allows researchers to systematically compare the responses across different participants and identify patterns, variations, and key insights within the data. It supports the analytical process by making it easier to highlight how different cases respond to particular themes and facilitating the synthesis of findings.

Employing a narrative summary, while valuable in other contexts, does not provide the same structured comparison that a matrix chart offers. Similarly, a statistical table primarily deals with quantitative data rather than qualitative insights, which is not the focus of framework analysis. A thematic map serves to illustrate the relationship between different themes but does not provide the same matrix-style organization of summary findings as a matrix chart does. Thus, the matrix chart is the most appropriate tool for laying out summaries of findings in framework analysis.