Reference Management Tools And Referencing Styles A Study On Perception And Usage Among Faculty Members And Research Scholars Of University In Tamilnadu
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigates the perception and usage of reference management tools and referencing styles among faculty members and research scholars in universities across Tamil Nadu, India. The research aims to assess awareness, adoption rates, and preferences for various tools and styles, as well as to identify challenges and impacts on research productivity. Data collected from 250 participants reveal high awareness (90%) and adoption (70%) of reference management tools, with Mendeley emerging as the most popular tool (36%) and APA as the preferred referencing style (36%). The study highlights discipline-specific trends in tool and style preferences, with sciences favoring Mendeley and APA, humanities preferring Zotero and MLA, and social sciences leaning towards EndNote and Harvard. Factors influencing tool choice include user interface (84% agreement) and available features (88% agreement). While 72% of respondents reported positive impacts on research productivity, challenges such as compatibility issues (30%) and lack of institutional support (24%) were identified. The findings underscore the need for enhanced training programs and institutional support to maximize the benefits of reference management tools in academic research.