Module 2: Question 2

I used endnote with much apprehension as I have heard that it is very time consuming and difficult to learn. There was some truth in those statements but I will attribute that to my novice abilities with high precision searching and data management tools. Nonetheless, I was able to appreciate the benefits of endnote through my frustration. I especially like that it is connected to several databases from which I can quickly and easily import references. I like having everything in one place as opposed to my current situation with everything scattered in files and folders between 2 computers and 2 thumb drives. I also like that both the full text article and the citation (in APA format if you so desire!) is saved and organized by author or date with a touch of a button. The most important feature for me is having multiple libraries for different projects and being able to drag and drop between them. Along that line, I often covet other people’s reference lists and I find it cumbersome to share. We usually end up cutting and pasting them. With endnote I can transfer references from a colleague’s paper into my library and allow endnote to organize the additions for me. In the end I think it is a great tool that makes research, organization, and data sharing more efficient. I hope to become more proficient with its use.