Reference software: EndNote and similar

In a recent post [Formatting the thesis], I commented about a friend’s struggle to cope with some technological resources that can be handy for someone writing a gigantic academic essay, as is the case of a thesis. Although one major principal of a doctorate thesis is originality, which can mislead to the idea of a completely creative production disconnected from existing ideas; the reality is that any original idea needs to draw on current knowledge, even if thesis statement is a negation or refutation of that same knowledge. Therefore, the more consistent and original the dissertation, the more theoretical or epistemological background needs to be presented to the reader. Which is commonly done by drawing on earlier studies which have been made accessible through the literature on that field of interest.

Bearing the above in mind, the literature review can become an enormous task that involves critically reading and cataloging a great amount of information. Organisation and discipline are therefore crucially important skills for the researcher. However, I found it a significant challenge which I tackled with the help of a reference management software (EndNote). I have tried at least two different software available through my university, and decided for the one I felt more comfortable with. The beginning was not easy. EndNote is a great help after you master it. I found a great encouragement from the practical help of a more experienced researcher who volunteered to give me a hand with it. I also attended a brief training session with one of our librarians, which helped a great deal. I think it took me about a month to finally feel confident that I had mastered EndNote. Soon after I found Worldcat.org, which is a great resource combined with most of the reference software, EndNote inclusive. The advantage of a reference software is that you only have to type a certain reference once, and every time you quote that source, you use to software to insert it in your text. In the case of EndNote, it works integrated with MS Word. There is a feature called ‘cite while you write’ [CWYW], which is simple and efficient. Once you have chosen the reference and inserted it in the right place, EndNote automatically updates the bibliographic list in your document. There is no hustle to keep the list ordered in the way you need, in the style of your choice (ranging from Harvard, ISBN, and many others, to a customized style if you need).

Some people I know say they do not see much advantage in using EndNote (or other reference software) because one still needs to type the references into it, which is true, but my argument is that without the software you may type the same thing several times, you may lose track of what you quoted and the source reference, and on top of it, there is the formatting of the bibliography. In addition to all that, another point to my argument, I believe, comes from Worldcat.org, which allows you to export complete references to EndNote and similar. If you are quoting a certain book, instead of typing its data in your word processed text or reference software, you just export the reference and check it for possible inaccuracies (usually very little and easily fixed).  When referring to from journals the help comes from the journal publisher itself, as most of the well reputed journals allow  ‘export citation’ (to several different reference software).

I could go on and on defending the use of reference software, but my sense of  déjà vu is stopping me. I already said all the above so many times when speaking in induction sessions for new researchers that it feels like I have already said it here several times too (I know I haven’t though).