Information management: Enhancing research efficiency with reference management software at Rani Channamma University, Belagavi

AbstractReference Management Software(RMS) is crucial for researchers to handle the vast array of sources and maintain the integrity of their work by properly citing references, which is a fundamental aspect of scholarly communication. This study aims to evaluate the awareness and utilization of RMS among research scholars at Rani Channamma University, Belagavi, Karnataka. The researcher employed a descriptive survey method and selected a sample of 215 research scholars through simple random sampling. The findings indicate that most research scholars still rely on Microsoft Word for reference management, rather than specialised RMS tools. Among the RMS tools, Mendeley and Zotero were the most widely used. The primary reason for utilizing RMS was the preparation of manuscripts for publication in journals and conferences. However, barriers such as insufficient training and lack of technical support were identified as major obstacles preventing broader adoption of RMS. The study suggests that institutions should focus on providing comprehensive training, incorporating RMS education into academic curricula, and promoting user-friendly and collaborative RMS to enhance their adoption and usage among research scholars.