Citation Management & Citation Screening

Table of Contents

1. Secondary Research  2. Citation Management 3. Citation Screening

Introduction

This guide accompanies an in-class workshop about methods for secondary research, specifically: processes and tools for citation management and citation screening.

OBJECTIVE: get started using tools to manage your sources while reviewing literature.

Question: Do you currently use citation management software (e.g. Mendeley, Zotero)?

1. Secondary Research

Secondary research = how you identify and work with existing studies.

Example: When you review existing literature about your thesis topic/research question.

Methods for secondary research = the strategies, tactics, processes, techniques, and tools you use to identify and work with existing studies. Methods need to fit the project goals.

Example: When you undertake a literature review for your thesis and need to be comprehensive.

Question: Reflecting on how you've done literature reviews so far, what do you think are some of your methods?

Literature Review Example

• A traditional (or narrative) literature review is part of a research project/research paper.
• This type of review can also be carried out as a standalone research project/paper.
• In the Methods section of the narrative review below, the researchers mention that they screened articles. Today we'll talk about what that means.

2. Citation Management

This is the part of your methods for secondary research that involves planning how to deal with all the articles, books, reports, etc., you want to track and save. It's the part that comes before screening (i.e. deciding what to actually cite in your literature review).

In any project, you wouldn't want to collect lots of data without having a plan for how to store and access it.

• Saves time.
• Facilitates topic development.
• Keeps you accountable.

Software to Manage Sources

• Mendeley and Zotero are free tools.
  • Manage all sources in one place.
  • Create folders and subfolders for projects.
  • Add notes.
  • Store, read, annotate PDFs.
  • Access sources from any browser.
  • Create group libraries.
  • Create and update in-text citations and references automatically.

Note: Mendeley Reference Manager

"Mendeley Desktop" is now "Mendeley Reference Manager." This new version of the tool has a number of issues.

1. The Word plug-in is difficult, if not impossible, to install. It is available through the Windows store and works with Word 2016 or 365, but ICT has configured Office 365 to prevent downloads.
2. On a Mac, the latest IOS is required (OSX 10.10 and above).

Citing with Zotero Example

Set-up Steps

Zotero

1. Register for a Zotero account.
2. Download Zotero. Register for a free account.
3. Install the Zotero Connector for your browser.

Mendeley

1. Create a Mendeley account.
2. Download Mendeley Reference Manager.
3. Install the Mendeley Web Importer for your browser.

3. Citation Screening

Citation screening involves assessing all the sources you've identified as relevant to your topic/research question and deciding which sources to include in your final project.

Covidence

Covidence is a screening tool. It's particularly useful for evidence synthesis projects (e.g. systematic, scoping, rapid review), which often involve thousands of references and require control for bias.

• Import references from citation management software.
• Screen titles/abstracts with single or dual screeners and keep voting records.
• Bulk import PDFs
• Easily track reasons for exclusion during full-text review.

Set-up Steps

You need an @wlu.ca email account to join our institutional license for Covidence. Students can get access if faculty create a review and invite them.

1. Request an invitation to Covidence.
2. Enter your information and click “Request Invitation” link.
3. Accept the invitation in your email.
4. Log in to your existing Covidence account or sign up for a new account, which will automatically link you to Wilfrid Laurier University Library.