The advantages of using reference management software Zotero in Social Science Research and the methods to install and use the same. Lecture - Demonstration delivered at Short-term Course for Research Guides in Social Science, August 26, 2014, UGC Academic Staff College, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. India.
Use of Reference Management Software in Social Science
1. Use of Reference Management
Software in Social Sciences
VV.. SSrriirraamm
Chief Librarian, K.N. Raj Library
Centre for Development Studies
Thiruvananthapuram
email: vsrirams@gmail.com
2. Contents
Literature – What and How to manage
Basics of referencing – What and Why
Reference management software
Zotero – Features
Zotero –– WWoorrdd iinntteeggrraattiioonn
3. Literature
Research requires engagement with
literature at each and every stage starting
from exploring the topic to submission of the
paper / theses / report.
Researchers gather a huge mound of
literature in the research pprroocceessss aanndd aarree
often shocked to find that they are not able
to manage it well.
Making literature manageable involves
assessing their relevance, systematically
keeping track of the sources, and maintaining
notes / annotations
4. Managing Literature
Systematic gathering of sources:
Using proper tools to gather literature –
Google Scholar, Journal Databases, …
Creating bibliographic records and making it
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Organizing by topic, subject, research area…
Linking the soft copy full text for easy
retrieval
Assigning a unique primary-key for print
items.
5. Managing Literature
Annotation / Notes:
Incorporating the following -
Author and the audience
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Critical comments
Notes on relevance
6. Referencing
What is referencing?
It is a method used by the researchers to
demonstrate that they have conducted a
thorough and appropriate literature search,
and reading. To accurately aacckknnoowwlleeddggee
other people's work and ideas when writing
your own work, you need to use a
referencing style. There are many types of
referencing style such as Chicago Style, MLA,
MPA …
7. Referencing
Need for referencing
Accurate referencing reflects good academic practice
and enhances the presentation of your work: it
shows that your writing is based on knowledge and
informed by appropriate academic reading.
You need referencing to ensure that anyone reading
your work can trace the sources you have used in the
development of your work, and give you due credit
for your research efforts and quality.
If you do not acknowledge another writer's work or
ideas, you could be accused of plagiarism.
8. Reference management software
To record the details of all the information
you find. You will need these details to
provide accurate references, and to enable
you to locate the information again at a later
date
BBeenneeffiittss::
search easily for a particular reference to
which you need to refer back
print or save lists of references
insert citations into your document and
automatically produce a bibliography in
whatever style you require
10. Reference management software - Evolution
MS Word: References. Citation and
Bibliography
Beginner: Zotero
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LaTex users: JabRef
11. Zotero
Free – Open Source
Platform independent
Works Offline and Online
Over 6700 rreeffeerreenncciinngg ssttyylleess
Data Sharing
26 fields
34 Types of Sources
Linking full text / pdf
Integration with MS-Office / Open Office
12. Conclusion
Organizes your research materials
Long term storage
Reduces data entry and formatting
Helps to develop yyoouurr rreesseeaarrcchh