1. Importing Reference Data

How do you Import Reference Data

NVivo 12 can import a variety of reference files from four reference management tools. Getting the right file export from your reference tool is key to making sure that NVivo can successfully import it. NVivo can import reference data from:

• EndNote (.xml file format)

• Mendeley (.ris or .txt format)

• RefWorks (.ris or .txt format)

• Zotero (.ris or .txt format)

This module will not cover how to export those files from the reference management tool of your choice, but generally selecting the references you would like to export, and finding the export function in a "file" tab is the right way to go.

I recommend conducting your literature review in a separate project in NVivo, rather than your overall research project, as things can otherwise get quite messy.

Videos: Importing Reference Data into NVivo

Windows

Using NVivo for Lit Review by Linda Cureton (2018)

Mac

How to use NVivo for your Literature Review Part 1 by Dr. Alan Shaw (2017)

Reference Data in NVivo

Regardless of the tool that you use, NVivo will allocate your references to different parts of your project depending on their content. If there is no matching file in your project already, it will create a new file.

If your reference has an associated file (such as a .pdf attached in Zotero), then NVivo will create a new file for you. If not, NVivo will store the reference data as an "external".

Task: Importing Reference Data into NVivo

1. Using NVivo's reference import tool, import reference data from the reference management software of your choice

2. Make note of where NVivo has imported your files, and where it has imported your external files