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Dissertation & Research Project Hub

Dissertation & Research Project Hub

Introduction

As you get started on the dissertation journey, it's helpful think through which tools or applications you may use for organizing your citations, taking notes, keeping track of search strategies, managing your project, or analyzing your data. Below you'll find some suggestions and resources to get you started:

Citation Management

Citation managers help you to quickly create, store, organize and access your citations and notes, auto-generate bibliographies while you write, annotate and highlight stored pdf's,  and more.

 

Popular Citation Management Tools: 

Not sure which tool to use?

For more information on choosing, accessing, and using citation management tools, use these resources to help you decide: 

Project Management & Notetaking

Using note-taking, and project management/ organization apps will help you with organizing and easily accessing your notes, sources, task management and more, so you save time and increase efficiency.

Data Analysis Tools

Quantitative

Quantitative Data Analysis software can help you save time and support data analysis:

See the library's Data Analysis Software guide for more options and resources

Qualitative

Qualitative Data Analysis tools or software can help you save time and support all stages of your research, from collecting, organizing, and processing qualitative data, to coding, annotating, querying, and visualizing your analyses.

Full-Feature Options:

The following full feature software packages are not free, but all offer significant discounts to student researchers. Most also offer a free trial.

For more software options, including free tools and resources on qualitative data analysis, see the library's guide on Qualitative Research Methods

Survey Tools

  • Qualtrics – An online survey platform used for creating, distributing, and analyzing surveys. It allows researchers to collect and manage survey data efficiently, with tools for customizing surveys and exporting results for analysis.
  • SurveyMonkey - An online tool for designing and distributing surveys, collecting responses, and analyzing data. 
  • Microsoft Forms – A simple, web-based tool for creating surveys, quizzes, and polls. While not recommended for primary data collection in research studies, it is useful for preliminary tasks such as screening participants, interest forms, or scheduling research-related meetings.
  • Google Forms – A free tool for creating surveys, sign-up sheets, and questionnaires. While not recommended for primary research data collection, it is helpful for preliminary tasks like participant screening, interest forms, or coordinating research logistics.

Tracking Keywords, Search Strategies, Search Alerts

Create a Search Alert

Search alerts are a time saver! You do not need to perform the same search again and again to determine if any new articles have been published on your topic. Instead, articles matching your search parameters will be sent to you. This feature is available in most databases, as well as Google Scholar. 

The first step in creating a search alert is to create a search that returns results similar to what you'd like to receive alerts for. On the page that displays your results list, most databases provide a link to create an alert.

EXAMPLE:

Create an alert in PsycINFO:

 

Track search terms, databases searched, or search strategy.

Use a Word document or a spreadsheet to keep track of your keywords, search terms, or databases searches: 

Examples:

 

Visualization Tools 

Venn Diagrams

Examples:

  • Miro (free for first 3 boards)

 

Mindmapping

Communication Tools

Zoom
  • Zoom download – on this page, you can download Zoom desktop client and Zoom plugin for Outlook.
  • Zoom tutorials – step-by-step instructions for downloading, installing, and accessing Zoom through The Chicago School system.