RESEARCH COMPETENCY CIA-1

MBA 411 – Research Competency

RESEARCH TOOLS AND RESOURCES

By

HRITHIK KAPAL

REGISTER NUMBER

2328320

Under the Guidance of

DR. SAIBAL KUAMR SAHA

MBA PROGRAMME

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY),

BANGALORE

AUGUST 2024
1. Tools for Research Management

A.) Zotero:

• Description: Zotero is a user-friendly, free reference management tool that

helps scholars gather, arrange, share, and credit their sources.

Features: Web Integration: Zotero makes it easier to collect sources for

literature reviews by enabling users to save references straight from web

browsers. Citation Generation: Zotero is particularly helpful for upholding

academic integrity in research since it can produce bibliographies and citations

in a variety of formats, including APA, MLA, and Chicago.

B.) MENDLEY

• Description: Mendeley helps scholars organize their work and establish

connections with colleagues in the same field by acting as a social network

for academics and a manager of references.

 • Features:

➢ Document Organization: Mendeley's folder-based system simplifies

access to essential documents by allowing users to arrange research

papers and references.

➢ Citation Functionality: Mendeley's word processor integration makes it

simple to add citations to documents and guarantees that researchers

follow citation guidelines.

C.) EndNote

• Description: EndNote is a popular commercial reference management tool

that helps scholars effectively organize and manage their references and

bibliographies.

• Features:

➢ All-inclusive Reference Management: EndNote's comprehensive

bibliography management feature lets users tailor citation styles to meet

publication standards.

➢ Cloud storage and collaboration: EndNote ensures that research

materials are accessible from any location by offering cloud storage and

supporting collaboration with co-authors.

 D.) RefWorks

• Description: Developed to assist scholars in organizing references and

producing bibliographies, RefWorks is an online reference management

system.

• Features:

➢ Cloud-Based Storage: This feature enables researchers to retrieve their

references from any internet-connected device.

➢ Collaboration Tools: Facilitates managing group projects and the exchange of

references with collaborators.

➢ Integration with Writing Tools: Produces bibliographies and inserts citations

with ease into word editors.

2. Indexing Agencies

Indexing agencies provide access to a wealth of academic literature, essential

for conducting thorough literature reviews and understanding the current state

of research.

a. Google Scholar

• Description: Google Scholar is a freely accessible search engine that indexes

scholarly articles, theses, books, and conference papers across various disciplines.

• Features:
➢ Broad Access: Google Scholar offers access to a vast array of academic literature,
enabling researchers to find relevant studies on various topics.

➢ Citation Tracking: The platform allows users to track citations, providing insights
into how often a particular article has been cited by other researchers.
b. Scopus

Description: Scopus is a comprehensive abstract and citation database covering peer-

reviewed literature in science, technology, medicine, social sciences, and arts and
humanities.

• Features:

➢ Advanced Search Options: Scopus provides advanced search capabilities, allowing

researchers to locate specific articles related to their field of study.

➢ Citation Analysis: The database includes metrics for citation analysis, helping
researchers evaluate the impact and relevance of existing studies.

c. PubMed

• Description: PubMed is a free search engine accessing primarily the MEDLINE

database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics.

• Features:

➢ Specialized Access: Offers extensive coverage of biomedical literature, essential for

research in health sciences and related fields.

➢ Advanced Search Filters: Allows filtering by publication type, date, and more,
facilitating precise searches.

D. ERIC (Education Resources Information Center)

• Description: ERIC is an online digital library of educational research and

information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences.

• Features:

➢ Comprehensive Coverage: Provides access to education literature, including journal

articles, research reports, conference papers, and policy papers.

➢ Advanced Search and Retrieval: Offers robust search capabilities to find relevant
educational research materials.
3. Data Collection Tools
Data collection tools are vital for gathering qualitative and quantitative data,
providing insights necessary for research.

a. SurveyMonkey

• Description: SurveyMonkey is an online survey tool that enables researchers to

create and distribute surveys easily.

• Features:
➢ Customizable Templates: Researchers can create customized survey templates
tailored to gather specific insights.

➢ Data Analysis: SurveyMonkey offers built-in analytics tools to analyze survey

responses, helping researchers interpret data effectively and draw meaningful
conclusions.

b. Qualtrics

• Description: Qualtrics is an advanced survey platform used for collecting qualitative

and quantitative research data.

• Features:
➢ Sophisticated Survey Design: Qualtrics allows researchers to design complex
surveys with various question types, enabling comprehensive data collection.

➢ Integration Capabilities: The platform can integrate with other research tools and
databases, facilitating comprehensive data analysis and reporting.
c. Google Forms

• Description: Google Forms is a free tool for creating surveys and collecting data via
Google Drive.
• Features:

➢ Ease of Use: Google Forms enables researchers to create surveys quickly and share
them easily.

➢ Automatic Data Compilation: Responses are automatically compiled in Google

Sheets, allowing researchers to analyze data efficiently and identify trends.

d. SurveyGizmo

• Description: SurveyGizmo is a robust survey tool that allows for complex survey
creation and data analysis.
• Features:

➢ Advanced Survey Logic: Provides advanced logic features for creating complex
surveys.

➢ Data Export Options: Allows exporting survey data to various formats for further
analysis.

e. SPSS
 • Description: SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is a software package
used for statistical analysis.

• Features:
➢ Comprehensive Analysis: Offers a wide range of statistical tests and procedures for
data analysis.

➢ User-Friendly Interface: Provides an intuitive interface for performing complex

statistical analyses.

f. NVivo

• Description: NVivo is a qualitative data analysis software that helps researchers

organize and analyze non-numerical data.

• Features:

➢ Data Coding: Allows researchers to code qualitative data, identify themes, and gain
insights.

➢ Visualization Tools: Provides tools for visualizing data patterns and relationships.

4. Referencing Tools
Referencing tools help ensure proper citation and adherence to academic standards in
research, which is crucial for maintaining credibility in academic writing.

a. BibTeX

• Description: BibTeX is a reference management software used with LaTeX for

typesetting documents.
• Features:

➢ Structured Reference Management: BibTeX allows researchers to manage

bibliographies in a structured format.

➢ Compatibility with LaTeX: The tool integrates seamlessly with LaTeX, making it
suitable for researchers who prefer this typesetting system for their thesis or academic
papers.

b. Cite This For Me

• Description: Cite This For Me is a web-based citation generator that helps users
create citations in various styles quickly.
• Features:
 ➢ Rapid Citation Generation: This tool enables researchers to generate citations in
multiple formats, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago style.

➢ User-Friendly Interface: Its straightforward interface makes it easy for researchers

to input details and obtain accurate citations in a timely manner.

c. EasyBib

• Description: EasyBib is an online citation generator and bibliography creation tool.

• Features:

➢ Citation Creation: Supports various citation styles and formats.

➢ Bibliography Management: Allows users to create and manage bibliographies for

their research projects.

d. RefWorks

• Description: RefWorks is a web-based reference management tool designed to help

researchers manage references and create bibliographies.

• Features:

➢ Cloud-Based Storage: Allows researchers to access their references from any device
with internet connectivity.

➢ Collaboration Tools: Supports sharing of references with collaborators and

managing group projects.

➢ Integration with Writing Tools: Easily integrates with word processors to insert
citations and generate bibliographies.

e. EndNote

• Description: EndNote is a widely used commercial reference management software

that assists researchers in managing bibliographies and references efficiently.

• Features:
 ➢ Comprehensive Reference Management: EndNote allows users to manage
extensive bibliographies, enabling customization of citation styles based on
publication requirements.

➢ PDF Organization: Researchers can organize PDFs and notes within the software,
allowing for quick access to essential documents.

➢ Collaboration and Cloud Storage: EndNote supports collaboration with coauthors

and provides cloud storage, ensuring that research materials are accessible from
anywhere.

5. Indexing Agencies
Indexing agencies provide access to a wealth of academic literature, essential for conducting
thorough literature reviews and understanding the current state of research.

f. ScienceDirect

• Description: ScienceDirect is a leading full-text scientific database offering journal

articles and book chapters.
• Features:

➢ Extensive Coverage: Covers a wide range of disciplines, including physical sciences,

engineering, life sciences, health sciences, and social sciences.

➢ Full-Text Access: Provides access to full-text articles, facilitating comprehensive

literature reviews.

B. JSTOR

• Description: JSTOR is a digital library for academic journals, books, and primary
sources.
• Features:

➢ Archival Content: Offers access to archival content of academic journals, providing

historical context to research.

➢ Multidisciplinary: Covers a broad range of disciplines, making it useful for

interdisciplinary research.
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