Formatting your in text citations, footnotes and bibliography correctly for your thesis or publication is a chore. Reference management software makes it easier and saves you time. This introductory session gives an overview of how reference management works, explores the pros and cons of a wide range of software packages and gives you the opportunity to try out five different packages (RefWorks, EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley and Papers) so that you can work out which one is best for you.

Objectives

• Understand how reference management software works and what it does
• Understand the pros and cons of a range of reference management packages
• Add, edit and organise references using a number of different tools
• Add citations to documents and create bibliographies using a number of different tools
• Make an informed decision about which reference management package works best for you

Intended Audience: Postgraduate students, researchers and university staff
Presenters:  Oliver Bridle, Pamela Stanworth, Gigi Horsfield & Angela Carritt
Format:  Practical exercises with a short presentation
What you will need? A computer will be provided. If you prefer to bring your own laptop, please read our guidance notes.

When: Friday 3 March 09.15-12.15
Where: 13 Banbury Road, Evenlode Room

Click here to book a place

A workshop outlining some of the key principles to bear in mind when working with sensitive or restricted research data obtained from a third party source such as a data archive. This session will also be of interest to those creating data they consider sensitive or confidential, who want to know how best to go about it. Examples of scenarios drawn from the research of participants are particularly welcome. The role of support services at Oxford will also be outlined and in particular the role of the Bodleian Data Librarian.

Objectives – By the end of the session you will:

Intended Audience: All DPhil students and research staff
Presenters:  John Southall and Cathy Scutt
Format:  Presentation with practical exercises
What you will need? A computer will be provided. If you prefer to bring your own laptop, please read our guidance notes.

When: Wednesday 1 March 14.00-16.00
Where: Social Science Library, Information Skills Training Room

Click here to book a place

RefWorks is an online tool which allows you to manage your references, insert them into your work as in text citations or footnotes and automatically generate bibliographies. This introduction to RefWorks is open to all, but the section on importing references will focus on Humanities examples.

Objectives – By the end of the session you will be able to:

• Understand the pros and cons of RefWorks
• Create a RefWorks account
• Add references to RefWorks from a range of sources
• Add in text citations and /or footnotes to your essays and papers
• Create bibliographies
• Get help with RefWorks

Intended Audience:  Oxford Students, researchers and other staff plus Oxford alumni
Presenters:  Helen Bond, Bethan Jenkins & Angela Carritt
Format:  Presentation and practical exercises
What you will need? A computer will be provided. If you prefer to bring your own laptop, please read our guidance notes.

When: Friday 24 February 9.15-12.15
Where: 13 Banbury Road, Isis Room

Click here to book a place

Google is often dismissed as being irrelevant to the academic literature search. However, changes to the nature of the dissemination of scholarly research and official information in recent years mean that a wealth of relevant information can be accessed via standard Internet search engines such as Google. Too often however such information is lost amongst thousands of irrelevant, spurious and misleading results. Based on an understanding of how the Google search engine works this practical workshop will show you the basic techniques to hone in on high quality academic material from Google searches. Given concerns about the privacy costs of a ‘free’ search within search engines such as Google, alternative search engines will also be explored and compared, including DuckDuckGo.

Objectives. By the end of the session you will:

• Be able to find high quality academic material using Google
• Understand how Google works
• Use alternative search engines including DuckDuckGo.

Intended Audience:  All DPhils and Research Students in the Social Sciences
Presenters:  Cathy Scutt
Format:  Presentation with practical exercises
What you will need? A computer will be provided. If you prefer to bring your own laptop, please read our guidance notes.

When: Wednesday 22 February 14.00-16.00
Where: Social Science Library, Information Skills Training Room

Click here to book a place

MANTRA is an acclaimed online independent learning course which provides guidelines for good practice in research data management. This workshop will discuss research data management as an integral part of the research process; give an introduction to MANTRA; and then give an actual opportunity to begin the online course.

Objectives:

• Understand key issues in research data management
• Use MANTRA to further your research data management practice

Intended Audience:  Postgraduates and researchers. This will be particularly useful for DPhil students and early career researchers who are starting a research project.
Presenters:  John Southall and Cathy Scutt
Format:  Presentation with practical exercises
What you will need? A computer will be provided. If you prefer to bring your own laptop, please read our guidance notes.

When: Tuesday 21 February 14.00-15.30
Where: Social Science Library, Information Skills Training Room

Click here to book a place

An introduction to Oxford Libraries including guidance on which libraries to use; finding and using books, journals and other materials in print and online; and making the most of Library services. This workshop will help you settle into searching for literature at Oxford with confidence.

Objectives – By the end of the session you will be able to

•  Find out which libraries are most relevant to your topic and study requirements
• Use SOLO to find printed and online books, journals and other materials
• Use OxLIP+ to access databases
• Use LibGuides to find key resources for your subject
• Access help and advice from the libraries on searching, current awareness, reference management, open access, research data management and more.

Intended Audience: All Oxford Library users
Presenters:  Angela Carritt
Format:  Presentation with practical exercises
What you will need? A computer will be provided. If you prefer to bring your own laptop, please read our guidance notes.

When: Monday 20 February 14.00-17.00
Where: Social Science Library, Information Skills Training Room

Click here to book a place

This session provides an opportunity for doctoral students to learn about using Social Science data archives to inform their research. It will also outline the workings of the University of Oxford’s institutional data repository, ORA-Data.

Objectives:

• Locate and cite data from a range of data archives
• Have an understanding of the benefits and operation of ORA-Data
• Provide feedback on the usability of ORA-Data deposit mechanism

Intended Audience: DPhil students and research staff (particularly in Social Sciences)
Presenters:  John Southall and Cathy Scutt
Format:  Presentation with practical exercises
What you will need? A computer will be provided. If you prefer to bring your own laptop, please read our guidance notes.

When: Thursday 16 February 15.00-17.00
Where: Social Science Library, Information Skills Training Room

Click here to book a place