Citation Management Tools, Practices and Challenges Among Research Scholars: An Analytical Study of Mahatma Gandhi Central University

This scholarly article examines awareness, utilization, and obstacles about citation and reference management tools (CMTs) among doctoral candidates at Mahatma Gandhi Central University. Given the escalating significance of digital applications such as Mendeley, Zotero, EndNote, RefWorks, and JabRef in the realm of academic writing, precise citation management has emerged as a critical component for upholding scholarly integrity. Data obtained from 96 research scholars indicate that, although a substantial majority are cognizant of and have undergone training in CMTs, the frequency of usage varies, with Zotero and Mendeley identified as the most favored tools. The citation styles most prevalently employed are APA and MLA. Principal challenges encompass software compatibility, installation difficulties, intricate features, and inadequate institutional support. The investigation emphasizes the necessity for ongoing training and enhanced institutional facilitation to improve proficiency in the utilization of these tools, thereby fostering efficient and precise academic referencing.