There is a long list of software programmes available that commit to a better productivity in the thinking, writing and remembering of the research details. Not all of them live up to the promise that they make, however, there are a few of them that are worth the investment.
The key ones are:
Evernote: This is a tool that is quite in news for a while now. It offers options like typing of notes, collecting clippings, documents images, pdf and can be stored in the online account of Evernote and can be accessed anywhere from the smartphone. Different people may use it for different purpose. Some use it to note down their thoughts of PhD. It is found to have two main uses:
a) It brings together all useful things at one location
b) If the useful content ceases to remain accessible online then the backup remains with Evernote.
c) The expanding material on Evernote can be tagged in such a way that it remains accessible.
Mendeley: It is a superb tool that helps to simplify the tedious task of referencing. It helps in the storage and organisation of references and helps to annotate the pdf’s as well. Another beauty of this tool is that it is free of cost.
Paper2: This is another interesting programme and has some very sophisticated features and has its compatibility with pages as well. Unlike Mendeley, it is a paid tool and that too a pricy one. Whether it is worth spending money on or no, well, is an individual answer.
Scrivener: It us a combined tool for word processing as well and project management. The kind of feedback it is getting is nothing less than glorious. On a larger picture, it helps in the arrangement of research papers in separate sections, rearrange them in an easy fashion and keep along the summaries of each write up handy. But , again like paper 2 , it is hard on the wallet, justifying all the important features it has.
These tools do help in making the research process a bit more structured and organised, in a way that it easies the burden on the shoulders of the researcher.
