Aarhus University Seal

Reference management for researchers

  • Cite your sources correctly

Why is reference management relevant to me?

Managing references is highly relevant to researchers. To manage your references is to organize the sources you are working with and to cite them correctly in your research publications.

If you choose to use a reference tool for your reference management, you can optimize your time. A reference tool can help you keep track of large amounts of literature. It can also control the process of referring to sources in your texts so that your sources are compiled in relation to established requirements and standards from various publishers.

Standardes/output styles

Regardless of you handling your sources manually or using a reference management tool you have to choose a method or a standard for how your references will appear in your research publication.

An output style defines which information your references and your citations will include. The style also defines how this information will be presented in your written work - both in the running text or in the footnotes and in the bibliography.

There are a lot of different styles. As a researcher you often have to follow specific styles according to the journal you are writing an article to. Otherwise the publisher has usually published a guide on how to cite references in your article. 

Examples of styles: 

Reference management tools

Make handling your references easy - use a reference management tool!

Employees and students at AU are able to use the following tool - for free: EndNote.
AU Library supports this tool.

Need help?

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the liason librarian associated with your field, who will be happy to assist you with your questions.

Alternatively, you are always welcome to contact your local library in AU Library.

AU related matters

  • Arts, Department of Education: the department uses American Psychological Association (APA) standard in written assignments. Read more