This two-part series introduces Zotero, a free reference management tool, and demonstrates its integration into reproducible research workflows. Part 1 covers essential features for organizing literature and citing sources in traditional word processors. Part 2 addresses advanced integration with RStudio, RMarkdown, and Quarto for computational research. Each one hour and 15 minutes training includes hands-on practice. No prior experience with Zotero is required.
In this one hour and 15-minute introductory online training, attendees will learn to use Zotero to manage records, organize PDFs, and generate citations for scholarly writing. The training covers configuring Zotero, building a personal reference library, and automatically creating formatted bibliographies in Microsoft Word. Attendees will gain a functional Zotero library and the skills necessary to manage their citations and references.
By the end of this training, attendees will be able to:
- Import records from journal websites, databases, and PDFs.
- Organize records using collections and tags.
- Edit and standardize metadata for accurate citations.
- Generate in-text citations and bibliographies in Word using multiple citation styles.
Attendees should complete the following before this training:
- Create a Zotero online account.
- Install the latest version of Zotero (desktop)
- Install the Zotero Connector for at least one web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge). Have one scholarly PDF available for practice (Optional but recommended). The instructor will provide a sample PDF if needed.
- Supported platforms: Windows and macOS.
The following official Zotero resources may be helpful if you encounter issues during setup:
- Creating a Zotero account
- Installing Zotero and the Zotero browser connector.
- Installing and troubleshooting the Word plugin.