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How to manage your sources

Reference management software

There are many products available which you can use to collate your references. These differ in functionality, ease of use and availability method, as you might expect.

The simplest products are known as reference generators - they generate the reference for an item from the details entered on a one-off basis. These products are usually of limited benefit as they do not offer storage and are often limited in the number of referencing styles they support.

More sophisticated products - reference managers - collate the details of items, offer option to add notes, can be compatible with MS Word and can generate references to conform to a number of referencing styles, including Cite Them Right (Harvard). 

As is the case with apps in general, access option vary for reference management software packages. Some products are free but offer limited functionality; others are free to a point but you need to subscribe to save multiple lists or to access advanced features or long-term storage. The more comprehensive packages , including EndNote and RefWorks, are offered on a subscription-only basis.

UWS subscribes to EndNote - you can access this free of charge if downloading via the Library

Similarly, NHS Scotland and local authority staff in Scotland can access RefWorks if registered with the Knowledge Network

Why should I use a reference management package?

Reference managers will become more useful as you progress through the levels of study and work with ever greater numbers of sources. You can use them to:

  • Keep the details of all of your sources in one place.
  • It doesn't matter if you have included these in an assignment or just used them for background reading.
  • No need to remember if you have bookmarked a website or where you have saved a PDF.
  • Add reminder notes as to usefulness, purpose, focus ...
  • Generate references in the appropriate referencing style

Is there a particular product I should use?

No, this is a matter of personal choice.

Many students use Mendeley, Zotero, MyBib or RefWorks. 

At UWS, we use and support EndNote. This product offers lots of flexibility in its usage and is particularly suited to those doing literature reviews and research projects.