Reference Management Programs
You must cite your sources when writing scientific texts. This allows your readers to check the validity of the information on which the text's arguments are based and to understand the author's basic assumptions. If you reference a source anywhere in your text, you must list that source in your bibliography. You should follow an existing citation method, such as MLA, APA, etc. Reference management programs help you to ensure that all the information you refer to in the text is also included and organized in the bibliography - without any manual effort. A reference management program therefore ensures consistency with references.
Basics of a Reference Management Program
A reference management software makes it easier for you to manage a larger number of references, e.g. when writing a term paper or thesis. We highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with a reference management tool during your first semester at Leuphana so that you can use this tool for all of your research projects. This will save you a lot of time.
Which Resource Management Program works for you?
There are various literature management programs. Each program has its own specifics that you have to adapt to. There is therefore no "one right program." We have compiled some information here to give you an initial insight.
The ➚ MIZ at Leuphana supports students dealing with reference management by offering training courses, consultation hours, and reference management softwares such as Citavi, Mendeley and Zotero.
| Citavi | Zotero | Mendely | Endnote | BibTeX | Word | |
| Description | Citavi is provided by Leuphana free of charge to all students and staff. The desktop version requires a Windows operating system. (So if you have a Mac, Zotero might be a better option.) However, all operating systems can access Citavi via the web version. | Zotero can be installed as an app (such as on an iPad) or used via a browser. The free version includes 300 MB of memory. If you need more, you have to take out a subscription. | Mendel is an Elsevier product and can be used by Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems. There are "Premium Packages" with more memory. It is not clear on the website how much memory is included in the free version. | A program from Clarivate. There is simple, free, online version, but for the sophistocated desktop version, you must pay a one-time fee of €178. | BibTeX is a tool and a file format that is used in combination with LaTeX. | Word offers a small, minimalist, but integrated reference management system. If you only have a few sources, this feature is enough to get you started. It is included in an MS Word subscription |
| Official Website | https://www.citavi.com/en | https://www.mendeley.com/ | https://endnote.com/ | https://www.bibtex.org/ | ||
| Handbook | Citavi Handbook | Zotero Support | Mendeley Guides | Endnote Training Resources | BibTeX User Guide | |
| At Leuphana | Leuphana MIZ Reference Management Tools Access to the program (for Windows and Mac)
| Leuphana MIZ Reference Management Tools | Leuphana MIZ Reference Management Tools | Leuphana students and staff can received a free year-long MS Word subscription. |
The Technical University of Munich can also help with the selection of a literature management system: ➚ Comparison of Reference Management Software.
Archiving (long-term storage of texts and reading results)
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Advisor
Meurer, Peter/ Schluchter, Manfred (2017): Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten mit Citavi 6. Hinweise zum Schreiben wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten mit der Software »Citavi – Literaturverwaltung und Wissensorganisation«. Auf Basis des Duden-Buchs »Die schriftliche Arbeit – kurzgefasst« von Jürg Niederhauser. Wädenswil.
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