Citation & Research Tools

Elevating Your Scholarly Practice

At The University of Ontological Science, we recognize that effective research management is foundational to scholarly excellence. The tools and technologies you employ can significantly enhance your ability to discover, organize, analyze, and cite sources as you develop your contributions to ontological understanding. This guide introduces the comprehensive suite of citation and research tools available to TUOS graduate students, along with strategies for integrating these resources into your scholarly workflow.

Citation Management Systems

Institutional Subscriptions
Full-featured access to premium citation tools:

• EndNote: Comprehensive citation management with robust formatting capabilities

  • Desktop and online versions with synchronization
  • Unlimited storage for references and attachments
  • 7,000+ citation styles including specialized ontology journals
  • Manuscript matching feature for identifying appropriate journals
  • Word processor integration for seamless citation while writing
  • Group collaboration features for research teams

• Zotero: Flexible, open-source citation management

  • Browser extensions for one-click reference capture
  • PDF annotation and management
  • Unlimited personal library storage through institutional account
  • Group libraries for collaborative research projects
  • Tag-based organization for flexible categorization
  • Advanced search capabilities across your entire library

• Mendeley: Reference manager with social networking features

  • PDF reader with annotation capabilities
  • Suggestion engine for related research
  • Collaboration tools for research groups
  • Profile system connecting with other researchers
  • Statistics on your reading and citation patterns
  • Mobile app for on-the-go library access

Citation Style Support
Resources for accurate scholarly attribution:

• Custom TUOS citation style guide for dissertations and theses
• Style guides for major journals in ontological science
• Consulting service for unusual citation formats
• Template libraries for specialized reference types
• Workarounds for complex multilingual citations
• Validation tools to verify citation accuracy

Implementation Support
Assistance with citation tool adoption:

• Monthly workshops on each major citation platform
• Migration assistance when switching between systems
• Individual troubleshooting consultations
• Advanced feature tutorials for experienced users
• Best practices for maintaining reference libraries
• Workflow integration strategies

Literature Discovery Tools

Specialized Search Platforms
Beyond basic database searching:

• Connected Papers: Visual exploration of related research
• Semantic Scholar: AI-powered academic search engine
• Dimensions: Research metrics and connections platform
• Lens.org: Patent and scholarly work integration
• CORE: Aggregator of open access research
• Unpaywall: Legal access to paywalled articles

Alert Systems
Staying current with emerging research:

• Database search alerts for new publications
• Journal table of contents notifications
• Citation alerts when your work is referenced
• Author tracking for key figures in your field
• Topic monitoring across multiple platforms
• Preprint server notifications for early research access

Discovery Enhancement Tools
Browser extensions and plugins:

• Library link resolvers for seamless access
• Proxy bookmarklets for off-campus authentication
• Metadata extraction tools for web resources
• Open access finders while browsing paywalled content
• Research repository integrations
• Annotation layers for web-based scholarly content

Text Analysis & Research Tools

Qualitative Analysis Software
Tools for deep textual investigation:

• NVivo: Comprehensive qualitative data analysis

  • Coding systems for theoretical framework development
  • Pattern identification in philosophical texts
  • Mixed methods capabilities for interdisciplinary research
  • Visualization of conceptual relationships
  • Team collaboration features for joint analysis
  • Integration with reference management systems

• Atlas.ti: Visual qualitative analysis platform

  • Network views of theoretical connections
  • Sophisticated code co-occurrence tools
  • Multimedia analysis capabilities
  • Cross-platform synchronization
  • Collaborative coding and analysis
  • Extensive memo and annotation features

• MAXQDA: Mixed methods research software

  • Integrated quantitative and qualitative analysis
  • Visual tools for theory building
  • Document comparison features
  • Transcription integration
  • Statistical analysis capabilities
  • Team collaboration tools

Text Mining and Analysis
Computational approaches to textual research:

• Voyant Tools: Web-based text analysis environment
• AntConc: Corpus linguistics toolkit
• Lexos: Text preprocessing and analysis suite
• JSTOR Text Analyzer: Content-based recommendation
• Overview: Document clustering and visualization
• Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC): Psychological text analysis

Research Notebooks & Organization
Platforms for developing ideas and organizing findings:

• Notion: All-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, and knowledge base
• Obsidian: Knowledge graph approach to connected notes
• OneNote: Microsoft’s integrated note-taking system
• Roam Research: Bidirectional linking for knowledge management
• Evernote: Cross-platform note organization
• DEVONthink: AI-assisted document organization

Academic Writing & Collaboration

Writing Platforms
Specialized tools for scholarly composition:

• Overleaf: Collaborative LaTeX editor with TUOS thesis templates
• Scrivener: Long-form writing software for complex documents
• Microsoft Word: Standard word processor with TUOS templates
• Google Docs: Collaborative writing with reference tool integration
• Manuscripts.io: Structured academic writing platform
• Authorea: Collaborative document editor for research

Collaboration Tools
Platforms for research teamwork:

• Open Science Framework: Complete research project management
• Slack: Channel-based communication for research teams
• Microsoft Teams: Integrated collaboration environment
• Trello/Asana: Project management for research workflows
• Box/OneDrive: Document sharing with version control
• GitHub: Code and text version control system

Writing Enhancement Tools
Resources for refining your scholarly writing:

• Grammarly Premium: Advanced writing assistance (institutional access)
• ProWritingAid: Style and grammar improvement tool
• Academic Phrasebank: Resource for scholarly expression
• Hemingway Editor: Clarity and readability enhancement
• Writefull: Academic language feedback
• AntWordProfiler: Vocabulary profiling for academic writing

Data Visualization & Presentation

Visualization Tools
Creating compelling visual representations:

• Tableau: Powerful data visualization platform
• VOSviewer: Bibliometric network visualization
• Gephi: Network analysis and visualization
• RAWGraphs: Framework for vector-based visualizations
• Flourish: Interactive data visualization
• Prezi: Spatial presentation platform

Concept Mapping Software
Tools for visualizing theoretical relationships:

• CmapTools: Concept mapping for knowledge representation
• MindMeister: Collaborative mind mapping
• XMind: Mind mapping and brainstorming
• Coggle: Simple collaborative mind maps
• IHMC CmapTools: Advanced concept mapping
• Miro: Visual collaboration platform

Presentation Enhancement
Resources for effective scholarly communication:

• Canva: Design platform with academic templates
• Beautiful.ai: AI-powered presentation design
• Piktochart: Visual storytelling platform
• Slidesgo: Free presentation templates
• Haiku Deck: Simplified presentation creation
• PowerPoint Designer: AI-assisted layout suggestions

Research Metrics & Impact

Impact Tracking Tools
Monitoring the influence of your work:

• Google Scholar Profile: Citation tracking and research visibility
• Web of Science: Comprehensive citation analysis
• Scopus: Abstract and citation database
• Altmetric: Alternative impact metrics
• PlumX: Comprehensive impact metrics
• ORCID: Persistent digital identifier for researchers

Journal Evaluation Resources
Assessing publication venues:

• Journal Citation Reports: Impact factor and metrics
• Scimago Journal Rank: Alternative journal metrics
• Cabell’s: Journal quality metrics and evaluation
• Think. Check. Submit.: Framework for journal evaluation
• DOAJ: Directory of legitimate open access journals
• Journal Finder Tools: Manuscript-journal matching

Research Identity Management
Building your scholarly presence:

• ORCID iD: Persistent digital identifier integration
• ResearchGate: Academic social networking
• Academia.edu: Platform for sharing research papers
• LinkedIn: Professional networking for academics
• Publons: Recognition for peer review contributions
• ImpactStory: Showcasing the online impact of research

Accessing Research Tools

Most citation and research tools are available through institutional subscriptions accessible via the Research Tools Portal at tools.tuos.edu. Many applications offer both web-based access and downloadable desktop versions for offline use.

The Library’s Research Technology Center (located in the Merleau-Ponty Building, Room 302) provides dedicated workstations with all supported research tools pre-installed and configured. Technology specialists are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, for hands-on assistance with tool selection and implementation.

Monthly workshops on various research tools are offered through the Graduate Research Skills Program. The schedule and registration information can be found on the Library website at library.tuos.edu/workshops.

For individual assistance with selecting or using research tools, schedule a consultation with the Research Technology Librarian at libtech@tuos.edu or through the appointment system on the Library website.

Strategic Implementation

Rather than attempting to master all available tools simultaneously, we recommend a strategic approach to research technology adoption:

1. Foundation Stage: Begin with a citation management system and basic organizational tools that integrate well with your writing process

2. Discovery Enhancement: Add specialized search tools and alerts relevant to your specific research interests

3. Analysis Expansion: Incorporate analytical tools as your research progresses and specific needs emerge

4. Collaboration Integration: Adopt team-based tools as collaborative projects develop

5. Dissemination Focus: Implement visualization and presentation tools as you prepare to share your research

At TUOS, we view research tools not merely as conveniences but as extensions of your scholarly thinking—technologies that can enhance your cognitive processes, strengthen your methodological rigor, and amplify the impact of your contributions to ontological understanding. By thoughtfully integrating these resources into your research practice, you establish a foundation for sustained intellectual productivity and innovative scholarship.