Tip # 4 : Use your technology wisely!

I am guilty of not using enough technology in my life (despite the fact that I’m in the Vancouver social media and tech scene). Not because I don’t want to, but because right now my budget doesn’t allow for all those tech gadgets that would make my life oh-so-much-easier. But let’s assume that YOU can buy or acquire or gain access to the technology.

In my case, I started using EndNote, a reference manager for Windows. My brothers (who also have PhDs) use LaTeX, but since I am not as mathematically-inclined as they are (they do really complex modeling) I decided against it. LaTeX would allow you to write your papers and create the PDFs really quickly, with awesome equations and endnotes/footnotes.

Since I am a Windows/MS Word kind of guy, I opted to use EndNote to insert the references into my conference papers and journal articles. I also used my EndNote libraries as a way to organize all my readings and index cards. I saved notes on each one of the articles and books I read, and to this day, it is a wonderful resource, with over 1,700 entries so far. I also create libraries for each article I write, because it allows me to really know what I’ve read in a minute.

If you are a mathematically-oriented researcher (or quantitative) invest in good statistics or econometrics or computer modeling program. If you are a qualitative researcher, invest in Nvivo or Atlas Ti (qualitative research software). If you do geographical information systems, learn to use ArcView and MapInfo, and stuff like that.

Technology is not a goal, it’s a means to an end. Use it wisely, and to your advantage! Don’t be a luddite and embrace it! This is also true for social media tools. I’ve embraced Twitter and I’ve been even more productive because of it. For me, it’s not a waste of time, it is a tool that allows me to learn more about a world that I’m not used to, and to strengthen my tech skills.

Let me know how the implementation of these tips is going for you!