Workflow on Mac (Mountain Lion) for PhD Thesis

Posted by Alexander Deliyannis
Aug 17, 2012 at 08:53 PM

Peter wrote:
>The key point through all of this for me is that these
>modes/phases tend to overlap. For instance, note-taking/annotation is done during
>data analysis as well as reading, building creative associations, writing (and the
>other way too). This suggests the need to export/import across various modes/apps
>(in this case note-taking) as well as “googling inside out” in the apps/computer. So I
>suggest the more one can integrate this process, thereby limiting the number of apps
>needed to work the data, the more efficient, productive and creative one can work.
>This is the role I hope to give DT, if not now then perhaps eventually. But for DT to play
>“mother-brain” then all of its “child” apps need to export/import/sync with it! Here
>Dropbox might be an important component as well.

Like Hugh, I will agree with your conclusion that the various stages tend to overlap; in fact, I would say that the procedure is, to a significant extent, recursive. Sometime ago Dr Andus started a thread on a similar viewpoint http://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/3906

With this in mind, I would focus on minimising the number of apps used, and not so much ensuring import/export across a broad range of tools. My experience says that one can spend innumerable hours moving material from one program to another instead of doing real work.

A few years ago I did my MBA dissertation and was initially quite concerned about getting my software setup right and tried quite a few of the tools. Fortunately, quite early in my dissertation and in a rare display of maturity, self-discipline and CRIMP control (rare, and probably the last) I decided to stick with just two programs. What those were is probably irrelevant to you as they are both Windows programs, namely Brainstorm and Surfulater. However, the reasons for my choice might contribute to your own selection:

- I chose two programs that are completely complementary; Surfulater is very good for collecting existing material and organising it with folders, tags and in arbitrary order. As a ‘mother bin’, it could be the equivalent of DevonThink in your case (though without the ‘intelligent’ features). Brainstorm, on the other hand, excels in text manipulation and is a minimally styled but powerful writing environment; its text cloning feature means that I can write and rewrite stuff, while still maintaining the link to the original reference.

- I chose programs that I was already familiar with and could use transparently in my workflow. If you are not accustomed to the tools that you intend to use, you have an additional reason to use as few tools as possible.

Just my 2c.