Synthesize and share

Last Updated: September 18, 2026

Once you’ve gathered data from your sessions, it’s time to make sense of it. Synthesizing data and turning them into actionable insights is important, but hard. Once you've completed your research sessions, synthesize what you learned to identify patterns, insights, and opportunities. Then share your findings so your team and others at VA can use what you've learned to inform their work.

Synthesize data

It's best to conduct synthesis as soon as possible after finishing your research sessions when everything is fresh in folks' minds.

As you synthesize your research:

• Involve other members of your team when appropriate. Including different perspectives can help identify patterns and build shared understanding of the findings.

• Choose a synthesis method that fits your research questions, the type of data you collected, and your team's needs.

• Keep your research questions and goals in mind as you identify patterns and themes.

• Distinguish between what participants said or did and the interpretations or conclusions your team draws from those observations.

• If you need help choosing a synthesis approach, reach out to other researchers or designers in your practice area.

• Share useful synthesis methods and approaches with other researchers when you find something that works well.

Share your findings with colleagues

It's important to share what you've learned in your research, not just with your team but also with your design colleagues and stakeholders. Many times, what you learn can be helpful for other current and future projects.

Focus your research findings on the digital experience. If you uncover something outside the digital experience that could improve Veterans' experiences with VA, share it with your product owner or government lead. They can help determine the appropriate next steps and whether the findings should be shared more broadly.

See the research checklist for more details and presentation templates.

Using AI to support research synthesis

Large language model (LLM) capabilities are continuing to evolve and may provide opportunities to support parts of the research synthesis process. VA is currently exploring how AI tools can be used appropriately and securely when working with research data.

Guidance for using AI to support research synthesis is still being developed. Until that guidance is available, follow current VA policies and approved research practices when handling and synthesizing research data.

This page will be updated as VA develops guidance and approved approaches for AI-assisted research synthesis.

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