Capture literature so it remains usable
A source becomes workable when bibliographic identity, exact locator, content and intended use are recorded separately. A literature matrix compares texts; a source log preserves the path from one passage into later prose. Notes need context because an isolated sentence can lose its condition or qualification.
Control citation scope and independent wording
A citation should let a reader identify which proposition it supports. Position, sentence structure and the required citation style interact. Several references in one sentence help only when each contribution is clear. A paraphrase is not independent because words were swapped; it must reconstruct meaning, qualification and relation accurately.
Protect citation chains and literature selection
A secondary reference is a route, not proof that the original says what is claimed. Follow a citation chain as far as access and purpose reasonably permit, then record where and why it stops. Prior selection criteria reduce the risk that a review quietly favours an expected answer. Criteria can change, but the date and rationale belong in the log.
Describe methods and qualitative decisions reproducibly
A methods section should let a knowledgeable reader understand the decision chain. Record material, timing, tool, version, parameters and justified departures at a proportionate level. A coding guide joins definition, example, counterexample and borderline case. Disagreement between coders is information about the guide, not merely a number to remove.
Handle sensitive materials and complete the final reconciliation
Anonymisation is a risk assessment, not a search-and-replace exercise. Direct and indirect identifiers combine, while a change log must not re-expose identity. For questionnaires and scales, distinguish origin, version, adaptation, rights and actual use. Before submission, a citation inventory reconciles prose and bibliography; the final check sets stop conditions for unresolved high-risk items.