Personal Information Management

Researchers manage information in an infinite number of ways. Methods used may be unique, may change over time, or be specific to a research project. This guide compares efficient digital information management tools, and effective personal information ma

Selected Tools

Obsidian
Obsidian is a note-taking app with an extensive number of plugins to support different PIM methodologies. It uses Markdown rather than a proprietary format, supports local storage and optional cloud syncing, and is capable of backlinking notes to create knowledge graphs.
Notion
Notion is another note-taking app with advanced PIM capabilities. It provides an all-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, databases, and calendars. As opposed to Obsidian, Notion is purely cloud-based, but both Notion and Obsidian have extensive integrations and extensions. Notion also features templates, "AI" writing support, and collaborative elements.
OneNote
OneNote is the note-taking app that comes with M365. As a result, you already have access to OneNote as UW student, faculty, or researcher. OneNote seamlessly integrates with other M365 tools. It is a digital notebook and free-form text editor. It is primarily cloud-based (there is a local version) and it supports multimedia content.

Pros and Cons

Feature	Obsidian	Notion	OneNote
Beginner Friendly	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mind Mapping	Yes	No	Yes
Unique Features	Graph view, community plugins	AI tools, templates	MS Word-like formatting features
Integration with OneDrive	Yes	No	Yes
Cloud Sync	Yes (paid) (Integrates with services like Dropbox).	Yes	Yes
Mobile App	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audio Notes with Transcription	Yes (with plugin)	Yes	Yes
Cons	Paid features, complex for beginners	Limited free blocks, distraction from add-ons	Hard navigation for pages

Recommendations

Obsidian is ideal for researchers who need robust linking and visualization of their notes, particularly useful for complex, interconnected research projects following the Zettelkasten and QEC methodologies.
Notion offers the most flexibility and is perfect for implementing the PARA method and GTD, making it an excellent choice for organizing extensive research projects, collaborative work, managing tasks and deadlines.
OneNote is a solid option for those who prefer Microsoft integration, offering multimedia support and good basic functionality for GTD and BASB. It is particularly suitable for researchers who already use Microsoft Office Suite extensively.

These tools and methodologies can significantly enhance the efficiency and organization of research work, aiding in the management and synthesis of vast amounts of information.