Organizing research articles

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Like many of you, I have a ton of research articles to read. I prefer to print them out so that I can write my own comments on them. Then they sit in a pile. Surely there must be a better way. I have considered filing them in binders, but then I picture hundreds of binders stacked in a pile. Perhaps I *should* read them electronically and keep them in a virtual folder with typed comments, but again, writing directly on the paper works well for me. I would hate to give that up, but maybe I just need to get over it. Suggestions?

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.

I bought a bunch of colored "file pockets" http://tinyurl.com/6zggre.

In general, one will hold all the articles for a course, and the color coding keeps things straight. And unlike binders, they stack flat.

Now that I am truly drowning in articles (PhD program, dissertation phase), I've been putting all of the most relevant articles in a file drawer, alphabetically by first author. Having all of the articles in EndNote (see other thread on APA), I can look it up in a variety of ways if I forget or don't have access to the 1st author's name.

I also have kept all of my .pdfs, and have them linked through EndNote for quick finding.

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The file folders look like a good idea, especially with being able to have them in different colors. And yes, I do need to get EndNote. Do you know if there is a difference between the student version and the academic version?

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.
The file folders look like a good idea, especially with being able to have them in different colors. And yes, I do need to get EndNote. Do you know if there is a difference between the student version and the academic version?

I don't think there is a difference. I got v.8 for students and later upgraded to X and there was no problems.

Oh, another reason to extol the virtues of EndNote support -- when I was talking to them about something else, I asked about upgrading to the next version and he told me not to bother! Appreciated the honesty

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
I bought a bunch of colored "file pockets" http://tinyurl.com/6zggre.

In general, one will hold all the articles for a course, and the color coding keeps things straight. And unlike binders, they stack flat.

Now that I am truly drowning in articles (PhD program, dissertation phase), I've been putting all of the most relevant articles in a file drawer, alphabetically by first author. Having all of the articles in EndNote (see other thread on APA), I can look it up in a variety of ways if I forget or don't have access to the 1st author's name.

I also have kept all of my .pdfs, and have them linked through EndNote for quick finding.

OMG- I have done all of the above (except linking my .pdfs through Endnote yet. Was advised to do so, though). I even bought a big 4 drawer file cabinet for that very purpose. I am so glad I'm not alone in my anal-retentiveness.

:rotfl:

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

dianacs- Check to see if your school has a user agreement with Endnote. Mine does, and I just downloaded it for free from my schools IT page (version X2).

Another reason why I love Marachne. :chuckle

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.

You got it for free? That is so cool! :yeah:

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
You got it for free? That is so cool! :yeah:

Yep- it was totally free. I'm glad you suggested Endnote- it looks very cool!

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.

Well that makes you 2 versions ahead of me. One thing that I know has changed is that it used to be they recommended you make one big library. Now you can have separate libraries and search across them.

Someone mentioned another product, Ref something I don't know it. I know there is an on-line citation manager called Refworks, and our library bought it and it is free to all students but, while I appreciate being able to access the library from any computer, having it all on-line (and therefore inaccessible when on connected) made me uncomfortable, plus, I will leave this institution eventually. I have heard good things about the program however.

As for file cabinets, a friend who did not pass her proposal defense (chair had gotten ill, she was left leaderless, wound up changing her approach radically), one of her first comments was "well I guess I have to go out and buy another file cabinet." :(

My file cabinets are far from full, but I have to buy a new one b/c I need a locking cabinet for my data (something to think about if you don't get office space/equipment from your school).

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