Boost Your Productivity: The Ultimate Guide to Apps for Researchers

Have you ever thought about how apps can help researchers?

We use apps every day, sometimes for fun and sometimes for business, but when it comes to research, they can be an impressively efficient tool that allows us to do our work more easily and productively. In academia, there are always deadlines to meet, papers to write, and experiments to run – in other words, plenty of opportunities for apps to help you simplify matters. That’s why we decided to put together a handy guide to apps for researchers, so you can sit back, relax, and ruminate on which one of these technical tools is going to help you streamline your work process.

Ready to start managing your workload, get organised, and boost your productivity?

Make a cup of tea, pull up a chair, and let’s get started.

 

The Benefits of Using Apps for Research

 

Before we dive into the top apps for researchers, let’s first discuss some of the benefits of using apps for research.

At the top of the heap has to be organisation. With so many different sources of information available to us, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. Websites, journal articles, webinars, and all those evasive little internet links that can pop up at any moment – the list is a long one. Note-taking and reference management apps can help here by allowing you to keep all of your information in one place.

Another big benefit is the ability to collaborate with others. Research is often a team effort, and apps that allow for collaboration with colleagues can help streamline the process.

Additionally, using apps can save you time. Instead of manually searching for sources or organising your notes, you can use apps to automate these tasks, freeing up time for more important work.

 

Top Productivity Apps for Researchers

 

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of using apps for research, let’s take a closer look at our picks for organisation, collaboration and time-saving.

Note-taking Apps for Researchers

One of the most important aspects of research is taking notes. Note-taking apps can help you keep all of your notes in one place (and save paper), making it far easier to find and reference them later. Some of them even include several nifty features that set them apart from the competition:

1. Evernote – Evernote is a popular note-taking app that allows you to create notes, to-do lists, and reminders. You can capture notes (including hand-drawn ones!) across an array of media. It also allows you to organise your notes into themed notebooks and tag them for easy searching.

2. Google Keep – Google Keep is a note-taking app developed by Google. It allows you to create notes, to-do lists, and reminders. It also allows you to colour code your notes for easy organisation – a great one for visual learners.

1. Audemic – Audemic lets you drop any academic paper into the app, breaking it down into sections and giving you a complete audio version as well as text. You can switch between sections on the fly, and if you hear something you need to make a note on, simply click the corresponding part of the text. Easy sharing options and a slick interface complete the package.

 

Reference Management Apps for Researchers

 

Referencing can be a beast, but it’s something that we researchers need to keep on top of almost every day. Reference management apps can really help you keep track of your sources and ensure that you’re citing them correctly. Some of the top reference management apps include:

1. Zotero – Zotero is a reference management app that allows you to collect, organise, and cite your sources across almost all media types, in most cases with a single click. It also has a plugin for Microsoft Word that allows you to easily insert citations into your papers.
2. Mendeley – Mendeley, just like Zotero, allows you to collect, organise, and cite your sources. If that makes them sound identical, then think again, as there’s a fairly vicious rivalry between users of both over which has the better features. Mendeley features a nice social networking component that allows you to connect with other researchers in your field.
3. EndNote – Don’t forget EndNote! More than just a third wheel in the ongoing scuffle between Zotero and Mendeley, EndNote has a comprehensive set of features that have made it the go-to referencing app for some. It comes equipped ready to cover an enormous range of citation styles – a useful bonus.

 

Writing and Editing Apps for Researchers

 

Once you’ve collected your sources and taken your notes, it’s time to start writing. Writing and editing apps can help you streamline the process and sharpen your style, ensuring that your papers are well-written and error-free. Some of the top writing and editing apps for researchers include:

1. Grammarly – Probably the most popular editor, Grammarly is a writing and editing app that checks your grammar and spelling. It also provides suggestions for improving your writing. This can be a big help for researchers whose second language is English, as careful observation of the app’s suggestions should improve your own skills over time.
2. Hemingway Editor – Hemingway Editor is a writing and editing app that helps you simplify your writing. It highlights complex sentences and suggests simpler alternatives. Helpful for those who have a hard time getting out of ‘academic mode’ when you need to write something more general.
3. Scrivener – Scrivener is a writing and editing app that allows you to organise your writing into sections and chapters. In a nice touch, it also has a distraction-free mode that can help you focus on your writing.

 

Collaboration Apps for Researchers

 

As I mentioned earlier, research is often a team effort. Collaboration apps can help you work with others more efficiently. Some of the top collaboration apps for researchers include:

1. Slack – The relaxed, colourful and intuitive Slack is a messaging app that allows you to communicate with your team in real-time. It also allows you to share files and collaborate on projects.
2. Trello – Trello is a project management app that allows you to organise your projects into boards, lists, and cards. It also allows you to assign tasks to team members and track their progress. Naturally, the Japanese-inspired kanban element of the app works well for those who favour efficiency.
3. Asana – Asana is a project management app that allows you to divide your projects into tasks and subtasks. It offers you the chance to view the progress of your projects through multiple lenses and filters, so you can choose the perspective that suits you most.

 

Productivity Hacks for Using Research Apps

 

To close our guide to the top apps for researchers, let’s talk about some productivity hacks for using them.

First, make sure you’re using the right apps for your research needs. Not all apps are created equal, and it’s important to choose apps that align with your research goals.

Second, take advantage of app integrations. Many apps have integrations with other tools and software, such as Microsoft Word or Google Drive. Audemic, for example, has full integration with Zotero to make things double quick. These integrations can help streamline your workflow and save you even more time.

Finally, don’t forget to take breaks. It’s important to give your brain (and eyes) a rest and recharge. Use apps like Pomofocus to remind you to take breaks and stay focused.

 

Final Thoughts

 

So there you have it – there are a host of apps on the market that can help you to sharpen up your day-to-day research tasks, many of which are free to use (or at least to trial). They all have the capacity to make your work quicker and easier, each one bringing a different set of features to the table.

What are you waiting for? Be inspired by our guide and start investigating all these impressive app options – it won’t take long before you find the ones that work for you. Choose the right apps for your research needs and you’ll be powering towards your goals in no time.

Keep striving, researchers! ✨