Do I need a literature review matrix?

A response to a reader's question in Office Hours

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Today I’m responding to this question from a reader in Office Hours:

I'm at the recruitment stage of my PhD (which is excruciatingly slow btw). As I wait for that to progress, I'm bouncing between my lit review chapter and research design chapter. Both chapters are really messy, and I'm ok with that. I also use Obsidian for organising my notes & making connections. My question is about the use of a lit review matrix. I flirted with one a long while ago and have my literature organised in Endnote, folders, groups, etc., which is working quite well, so I'm wondering about your thoughts on whether a LR matrix is crucial or not?

Thanks for writing with this great question! A literature review matrix can indeed be a helpful tool for organizing your thoughts and synthesizing the vast amount of literature you're engaging with.