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Reference Management apps: how they can help you

Referencing is the practice of acknowledging sources of evidence as you use them in your work. Accurate referencing is a hallmark of high-quality academic work and is the foundation of academia. There are many ways to reference which are known as referencing styles. At Cardiff Met, most of our Schools use one of the Cite Them Right styles, though always follow advice from your course leaders on which style is preferred.

Reference Management Apps are very popular with students and staff alike as they automate the sometimes tedious process of producing citations. Such Apps go beyond merely producing a bibliography, and have features including:

  • storing a personal full text library of references and corresponding documents.
  • collecting references from MetSearch and similar databases.
  • organising references in folders or groups making them easier to find and re-read.
  • citing references in Word or similar with a click of a button.
  • sharing your research with others on collaborative projects.

Benefits of using Reference Management apps

  • Time-saver: bibliographies are produced automatically.
  • Fewer errors: poor and inaccurate references can cost you marks and grades. There is less chance of typing mistakes or missing information with apps
  • Helpful functions: these are built into apps which assist with research and note-taking, such as the ability to annotate PDFs.
  • Be better organised: references can be stored in groups or folders, and found and used more easily.

Drawbacks of using Reference Management apps

  • Time-commitment: the software takes time to learn.
  • Technical issues: the apps are software which means that they are subject to data loss, device compatibility, upgrades and other foibles.
  • Purchase or subscription costs: most apps are known as ‘freemium’. In other words, there may be a cost involved, such as a subscription, after a free trial has ended, or to pay for extra storage.
  • Support: the quality of training and support for some apps you choose to use can vary.

EndNote and alternatives

Cardiff Met has purchased the full and latest version of EndNote 21 for you. It is one of the most feature rich of all the referencing software available. EndNote has been installed on all campus PCs and MACs. You can also install EndNote on your personal devices. For information on how to install EndNote please see Digital Service's Halo article.

Alternatively, there are also competitor products, such as Mendeley and Zotero. The features, functions and user interfaces of EndNote, Mendeley and Zotero are now very similar, and choosing between them is a matter of personal preference. However, Mendeley and Zotero only include the basic account which provides limited document storage. If you need more storage, you will need to sign up to a personal subscription plan and pay for it yourself.

There are two more notable reference management apps that you may wish to try, Papers and Paperpile. These involve a free trial followed by a personal subscription plan. Paperpile is slightly cheaper and is also tied into the Google ecosystem i.e. Drive, Docs and Chrome.

Getting started with Reference Management apps

Ultimately, unless your course leaders say otherwise, the choice is up to you whether you wish to use Referencing software or to carry on as you are with whatever method you currently use to record and store your research.

Try and use the software with a real-world exercise, but not with a near deadline. Remember the software will take time to learn and embed in your practice.

Use these excellent self-learning guides for Mendeley, EndNote Help Guides, EndNote YouTube, and Zotero, and Papers Training Center.

For EndNote, Cardiff Met Library Services has created a downloadable video presentation covering the main features.

Need help?

Installation: If you have any difficulty in installing Reference Management software on your personal device, please contact the IT Helpdesk.

Training: For help and training in using the software, please contact Library Services.

For more general guidance on referencing and related issues, please see the Academic Practice hub of our Library Services website, or StudySmart, the companion Library and Academic Practice Moodle module.