Perceptions of Postgraduates Towards Using Citation Management Software in Academic Writing: A Case Study in a Vietnamese University

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54855/paic.2463

Keywords:

citation management software, Mendeley, academic writing, perception, bibliographic information

Abstract

Citation management software (CMS), especially Mendeley, has been suggested for researchers to automatically manage bibliographic information thanks to its complementary version with significant space for data storage. However, little research has been conducted regarding the applicability of Mendeley to the academic writing of postgraduates, especially in Vietnam. This study examined postgraduates’ perspectives toward utilizing Mendeley in academic writing during their language master’s programs at a public university in Vietnam using a mixed method. Data was collected through pre- and post-survey questionnaires of 45 postgraduates majoring in foreign languages and in-depth interviews for a thorough investigation. The findings indicated that Mendeley enhanced the participants’ research productivity and quality, but technological issues and a lack of training limit its use. Also, the study recommended that the institution organize workshops, seminars, and fundamental training courses in Mendeley for postgraduates to use it efficiently.

Author Biographies

Nguyen Hai Linh, FPT Polytechnic College, FPT University, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Ms. Linh Nguyen is an English teacher for non-English-major students at FPT Polytechnic College, FPT University, Vietnam. Her research interest is language teaching methodology, especially for teaching listening and speaking skills. She always tries her best to help non-English-majored students enhance their English competency.

Nguyen Thi Luong, FPT Polytechnic College, FPT University, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Ms. Luong Nguyen is an English lecturer at FPT Polytechnic College, FPT University, Vietnam. She is interested in applying technology in teaching and classroom management.

Pham Thuy Quynh, Hanoi University of Industry, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Ms. Thuy Quynh Pham is currently a lecturer working for EMI group, Faculty of English Language at School of Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry. She has been involved in developing syllabus and teaching materials for EMI courses. Her professional interests include English for Occupational Purposes, English as the medium instruction and ICT in Language Teaching and Learning.

Le Duc Hanh, Hanoi University of Industry, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Ms. Le Duc-Hanh has been working as an English lecturer at the School of Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry, Vietnam since 2007. Besides teaching, she currently works as the deputy director of the center of training and partnership development at her school. She has taken responsibilities of designing, teaching EOP blended programs for technical students. Her areas of professional interest include professional development, EMI, and ICTs in education.

References

Agustini, N. L. P. R. E. (2021). Undergraduate EFL Students’ Perception towards the Use of Microsoft Word References on Students’ Thesis (Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha). https://repo.undiksha.ac.id/6700/

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Berkenkotter, C., & Huckin, T. N. (2016). Genre knowledge in disciplinary communication: Cognition/culture/power. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315538747

Bhuasiri, W., Xaymoungkhoun, O., Zo, H., Rho, J. J., & Ciganek, A. P. (2012). Critical success factors for e-learning in developing countries: A comparative analysis between ICT experts and faculty. Computers & Education, 58(2), 843-855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2011.10.010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2011.10.010

Butros, A., & Taylor, S. (2010). Managing information: evaluating and selecting citation management software, a look at EndNote, RefWorks, Mendeley and Zotero. In Netting knowledge: two hemispheres/one world: proceedings of the 36th IAMSLIC Annual Conference (pp. 17-21). USA: IAMSLIC.

Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational Research. Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. London: Pearson Education.

Eppich, W.J., Gormley, G.J., Teunissen, P.W. (2019). In-Depth Interviews. In: Nestel, D., Hui, J., Kunkler, K., Scerbo, M., Calhoun, A. (eds) Healthcare Simulation Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26837-4_12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26837-4_12

Fazilatfar, A. M., Elhambakhsh, S. E., & Allami, H. (2018). An investigation of the effects of citation instruction to avoid plagiarism in EFL academic writing assignments. SAGE Open, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018769958 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018769958

Freysteinson, W. M., Krepper, R., & Mellott, S. (2015). The Language of Scholarship: How to Rapidly Locate and Avoid Common APA Errors. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 46(10), 436-438. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20150918-14

Gilmour, R., & Cobus-Kuo, L. (2011). Reference management software: A comparative analysis of four products. Issues in science and technology librarianship, 66(66), 63-75. https://doi.org/10.29173/istl1521 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29173/istl1521

Hensley, M. K. (2011). Citation management software: Features and futures. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 50(3), 204-208. https://journals.ala.org/index.php/rusq/article/viewFile/3962/4448 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.50n3.204

Hicks, A. (2011). “Mendeley”: a review. Collaborative Librarianship, 3(2), 127-128. https://doi.org/10.29087/2011.3.2.10 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29087/2011.3.2.10

Iskandar, & Patak, A. A. (2019). The significance of Mendeley usage on the accuracy of citation and references. International Journal of Humanities and Innovation (IJHI), 2(4), 108–114. https://doi.org/10.33750/ijhi.v2i4.51 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33750/ijhi.v2i4.51

Keck, C. (2014). Copying, paraphrasing, and academic writing development: An examination of L1 and L2 summarization practices. Journal of Second Language Writing, 25, 4-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2014.05.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2014.05.005

Liando, N. V. F., & Tatipang, D. P. (2022). English or Indonesian Language? Parents’ Perception Toward Children’s Second Language Learning Context. Jurnal Lingua Idea, 13(1), 61–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3514498 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.jli.2022.13.1.5749

Lipson, C. (2011). Cite right: a quick guide to citation styles--MLA, APA, Chicago, the sciences, professions, and more. University of Chicago Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226484655.001.0001

Lorenzetti, D. L., & Ghali, W. A. (2013). Reference management software for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: an exploration of usage and usability. BMC medical research methodology, 13, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-13-141 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-13-141

Mhokole, E. L., & Kimaryo, C. (2022). Usage of Reference Management Software by Postgraduate Students at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal, 17(2), 188-203. https://doi.org/10.4314/udslj.v17i2.12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/udslj.v17i2.12

Mukhedkar, M. V. (2021). Reference Management Using MS-Word Software: A Practical Approach. Technology, 3(4), 223-231. https://doi.org/10.26761/ijrls.7.1.2021.1375 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26761/IJRLS.7.1.2021.1375

Nitsos, I., Malliari, A., & Chamouroudi, R. (2022). Use of reference management software among postgraduate students in Greece. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 54(1), 95-107. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000621996413 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000621996413

Parabhoi, L., Seth, A. K., & Pathy, S. K. (2017). Citation management software tools: A comparison with special reference to Zotero and Mendeley. Journal of Advances in Library and Information Science, 6(3), 288-293.

Phan, T. N. L. (2023). Students’ Perceptions of the AI Technology Application in English Writing Classes. Proceedings of the AsiaCALL International Conference, 4, 45–62. https://doi.org/10.54855/paic.2344 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54855/paic.2344

Shi, L. (2006). Cultural Backgrounds and Textual Appropriation. Language Awareness, 15(4), 264–282. https://doi.org/10.2167/la406.0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2167/la406.0

Vezzosi, M. (2009). Doctoral students' information behaviour: an exploratory study at the University of Parma (Italy). New library world, 110(1/2), 65-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800910928595 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800910928595

Vijai, C., Natarajan, K., & Elayaraja, M. (2019). Citation tools and reference management software for academic writing. GIS Business, 14(6), 586–596. https://doi.org/10.26643/gis.v14i6.14788 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26643/gis.v14i6.14788

Vu, T. B. N. (2022). Application of technology in teaching and learning at the University - Opportunities and challenges for lecturers and students in Vietnam today. AsiaCALL Online Journal, 13(5), 100–111. https://doi.org/10.54855/acoj.221357 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54855/acoj.221357

Willett, P. (2013). Readers’ perceptions of authors’ citation behaviour. Journal of Documentation, 69(1), 145–156. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411311295360 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411311295360

Zhang, Y. (2012). Comparison of Select Reference Management Tools. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 31(1), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2012.641841 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2012.641841

Downloads

Published

2024-11-01

How to Cite

Nguyen, H. L., Nguyen, T. L., Pham, T. Q., & Le, D. H. (2024). Perceptions of Postgraduates Towards Using Citation Management Software in Academic Writing: A Case Study in a Vietnamese University. Proceedings of the AsiaCALL International Conference, 6, 35–53. https://doi.org/10.54855/paic.2463

Issue

Vol. 6 (2024): Proceedings of the 21th AsiaCALL International Conference

Section

Research Article

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Nguyen Hai Linh, Nguyen Thi Luong, Pham Thuy Quynh, Le Duc Hanh

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The copyright of all articles published in the Proceedings of the AsiaCALL International Conference (paic) remains with the Authors, i.e. Authors retain full ownership of their article. Permitted third-party reuse of the open access articles is defined by the applicable Creative Commons (CC) end-user license which is accepted by the Authors upon submission of their paper. All articles in the aicp are published under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license, meaning that end users can freely share an article (i.e. copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt it (i.e. remix, transform and build upon the material) on the condition that proper attribution is given (i.e. appropriate credit, a link to the applicable license and an indication if any changes were made; all in such a way that does not suggest that the licensor endorses the user or the use) and the material is only used for non-commercial purposes. 

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.