Referencing without tearsthe why, the when and the how of reference management

Dr Emma CoonanResearch Skills Librarian, Cambridge University Library

Cambridge University Library

What’s in this session

• Tips on good reference management practice – and why to bother

• Software tasters:

o EndNote(Web)

o Zotero

o Mendeley

© evaxebra www.flickr.com

WHY?

Outsourcing your memory

"[I do not] carry such information in my mind since it is readily available ....

“The value of a college education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think.”

Albert Einstein via www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/building-your-own-memex

• Keep track

• Keep your sources safe

• Keep sane …

Referencing: boring but important

Löfström, Erika. “‘Does Plagiarism Mean Anything? LOL.’ Students’ Conceptions of Writing and Citing.” Journal of Academic Ethics 9.4 (2011): 257–275.

Löfström, Erika. “‘Does Plagiarism Mean Anything? LOL.’ Students’ Conceptions of Writing and Citing.” Journal of Academic Ethics 9.4 (2011): 257–275.

Ceci n’est pas une référence(This is not a

reference)

Miller & DeJoy, 2010

“Referencing helps create a map of knowledge, a web of pathways in knowledge; and each researcher helps extend that knowledge .... referencing

multiplies knowledge exponentially.”

Monash University Learning Support via http://theuniversityblog.co.uk/2012/07/24/need-references/

WHEN?

Your personal knowledge base

L: ‘Knowledge base’ by Mediadeo, flickr.com, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0R: ‘Victorian mindmapped man’ by LukePDQ, flickr.com, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Time tip

Bad time of day for creativity, synthesis, original thought

= good time of day for data management ...

o proofreading

o weeding references

o organising folders and tags

HOW?

Have a system that’s …

• Consistent

• Safe (back-up-able)

• Flexible enough to meet your needs

• Compatible with your workflow

Word file or spreadsheet

Reference management software

EndNote: for systematic researchers (worker ants)

Pros:

• Clear display

• Flexible and powerful

• Hundreds of output styles

Cons:

• Time-consuming to learn

• Cost

• Single machine access

EndNoteWeb: basic ‘starter’ software

Pros:

• Free (but expires!)

• Web access

• Nothing to download

Cons:

• Least flexible/customizable

• Limited storage space

• Tied to Web of Knowledge

Zotero: for impulsive researchers (squirrels)

Pros:

• 1-click saving!

• Web access

• Easy interfacing with other packages

Cons:

• Requires download

• Cluttered visual display

Mendeley: for gregarious researchers (meerkats)

Pros:

• Free

• Web access/cloud backup

• File management

Cons:

• Two-part setup

• Requires download

• Bias towards scientific content

Reference management software

Pro:

• Powerful organisational tools

Con:

• Not a magic bullet

Explore!

www.myendnoteweb.com

www.mendeley.com

http://search.lib.cam.ac.uk (for Zotero)

• Please don’t change login/password details

• Remember to email yourself useful references!