10. Classification and Attributes

With classifications, you can find patterns in your data based on attributes, e.g., demographic data about the sample described in the article. 

This example will describe the addition of such attributes to the reference classification sheet. 

The reference classification sheet, is the bibliographic information imported automatically when you import your references from your reference manager.

You can use the classification sheet tp to record descriptive information about the files in your project. To set up your classification structure, you need to open the reference classification sheet and add the attributes and values you want to describe.

How to: 

Open the Reference classification sheet: In the Navigation View, Choose "File Classifications" (blue menu to the left). Two finger click on "Reference" to open the classification sheet. You'll see two tabs - "Attributes" and "Classification Sheet". 

View a list of all attributes:  Click on the "Attributes" tab. A list of all the attributes describing your files is presented, such as Author, Title, Year, and more. 

Tidy up in the attributes: Remove any attributes that do not contain any useful information by two finger-clicking on the attribute name and choose "delete".

Define a new attributes: Let's say you want to note down the method used in each article in your review. Right-click "Reference" and choose "New Attribute". A dialogue box pops up.

• On the "General" tab, give your new attribute the name "Method" and describe which information you will collect in the method attribute.
• On the "Attribute Values" tab, click on "+" and add the types of methods your articles use, eg. Survey, Interview, RCT, mixed Methods.

Click "Done" when you have added all the values you need.

Classify your files: 

Click on the "Classification sheet" tab. Scroll through to your new "Method" attribute. You can see that the rows in the Method column are empty. 

Add values to each file. There are two ways to assign attribute values to your files:

1. Work directly in the classification sheet. Click on the magnifying glass in each cell to add attribute values.
2. Alternatively, two finger click on the file name in the file List View, and choose "Get Info". Now it is easier to see which file your are working with.
   

Analyse your articles: When you have defined the attribute values in each of your articles you can use this information in visualizations and tabulations of the data in your review. A simple visualisation is to two finger click on the name of the attribute in the list of attributes and choose "visualize" and choose the "Hierarchy Chart by Attribute Combinations". In this example you will see your files grouped by the method they use to collect their data.