Strategy4_LearnNewTools

Strategy #4: Learn New Tools

LIB5TOP_Strategy 1.png Since a lot of research today is done electronically, it is helpful to learn to use some tools that will help you be a more effective researcher. This strategy page will introduce you to some tools you can use.

Knowledge

One tool you might want to learn to use a citation management tool like Endnote Basic or Zotero or Mendeley. All of these products are free, information provided below will help you find them, install them and use them. Here is a video that compares 2 tools (Mendeley and Zotero)

Video Link showing features of Mendeley and Zotero Links to an external site.

Basic Skills

More Information on Citation Management Tools

Citation management software is a tool that you use to gather citation information as you are doing research so in the end when you are writing your paper you can export out of the citation management website a full reference bibliography or works cited list. These tools will save you time! (Links to an external site.)

Zotero (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. is a tool that you can install on your computer. There is also a web-based version. This software also stores PDFs with the citation information
Mendeley (Links to an external site.)is a citation management software that works with science databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct.
EndNote Basic. Set up an account for managing citations (you must be on campus to set up the account, but after that you can use it anywhere since it is a web-based tool)

- Go the Research databases Tab, Select “E” for EndNote Basic (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. and create an account.
- You can use EndNote Basic from Google Scholar, the Library Usearch catalog and other Databases.
  - Endnote website (Links to an external site.) to set up an account and also access the application
  - Endnote web tutorials (Links to an external site.)
- There are 2 ways to import citations into EndNote:
  - A direct export from databases such Usearch, any EBSCOhost database, and Web of Science. Look for the Export to Endnote button or link click on that or check the box to send citation information directly to Endnote Basics
  - A 2-step process from other databases and Google Scholar
  - Look for the Export button or links in databases and select export to Endnote. If an Endnote option does not exist, use the RIS generic format whihc will also import into Endnote Basic. It will create a file in your download folder. Either an Endnote file (.enw) or a Refman RIS file (.ris) to export. Then you go to the import menu in Endnote Basic and select import a reference; select the file in your downloads folder, and the type of file (en endnote or ris file) and select the folder to import it to.

U Box for storing PDFs and keeping data and resources organized

Use BOX to store and organize research resources. Save PDFs to BOX! http://box.utah.edu (Links to an external site.)

You login with your unid and password
Can set up folders for different projects and upload files to your folder you can access from anywhere
Can share a link to a file or folder with others if you are doing a team project or want to share your research progress with your instructor.

Collaborative Tools

At the university you can use Microsoft Office 365 and U of U google drive (use your unid to login) to collaborate with others on projects or research.

Office 365 (https://o365cloud.utah.edu/ Links to an external site.)
U of U G Drive (just like Google Drive but with your unid as a login) https://gcloud.utah.edu/ Links to an external site.

Level Up to Advanced Skills

As you think about a large research project like a capstone or a thesis, additional tools and strategies can help you reflect on your progress, manage your progress, and visualize your research

Concept mapping to create. visual map of your research
- CMAP cloud Links to an external site. is a free cloud based tool to help you map out your topics, make connections between topics and help with outlining your writing
Trello Links to an external site. to help with project management, log in with your U of U login to track work to be done, work you are doing and work done.
One note (part of your Office 365 license) or Evernote Links to an external site. to journal and reflect on your progress
Organizational strategies:
- Come up with a naming convention for files and folders
- Track timelines and deadlines in a calendar or time management software
- Chunk your research and writing tasks - it is more manageable that way
- Set short-term task deadlines so you can see progress and get motivated to keep going

Additional Resources

Need tools to do qualitative research? Tools for transcribing, data analysis, and managing data can save you time.

The library owns copies of Nvivo and Atlas.ti that you can use in the library on both Macs and PCs. See this library guide for more information. This guide also contains information and tutorials for how to use Excel to do text analysis.
Tools for transcribing are not free but if you use transcription by software options it can be much less of a cost
- Rev.com Links to an external site.
- Temi.com Links to an external site.
- Otter Basic.ai Links to an external site.
- Record in zoom (must be to the cloud not your computer) to get a transcript

This course content is offered under a CC Attribution Share AlikeLinks to an external site. license. Content in this course can be considered under this license unless otherwise noted.