CiteSource is a specialized open-source software tool built as an R package and an interactive Shiny web application. It helps researchers and data specialists plan, test, and improve their search strategies when gathering large amounts of literature.
Unlike a basic citation maker (like Scribbr or Citation Machine), CiteSource is not used to format standard bibliographies. Instead, it is used by experts doing systematic reviews to see which databases or search keywords give them the best, most unique results. Key Features
Custom Tagging: Users can attach tracking labels to their files. This tracks exactly which database, search phrase, or research stage a paper came from.
Smart Deduplication: Standard tools merge identical papers and throw away the background data. CiteSource safely removes duplicates while keeping your custom tags completely intact.
Visual Overlap Maps: It builds clear, interactive charts like heatmaps and diagrams. These show how much data overlaps between different research databases.
Data Export: Users can export their cleaned research files with all custom tracking information as .csv, .ris, or .bib files. Why Researchers Use It
Saves Time: Researchers can instantly test different search word combinations to find what works best.
Reduces Waste: It visually highlights if two different search engines are returning identical results. This tells researchers if they can drop a database to save effort.
Better Reporting: It automatically creates the data tables and audit trails required by academic reporting guidelines. How to Access It
You do not need to be a programmer to use it. You can write code using the main package via GitHub, or use the web-based CiteSource Shiny App to click and analyze your data visually. If you want, I can help you with: Finding installation guides for the R package Explaining systematic reviews
Recommending standard citation tools for basic bibliographies
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