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Searching for Resources

One way of finding information and one that you probably use every day, is to use a search engine such as Google.  A search on Google will return many thousands of results, many of which may be irrelevant, or at worst, incorrect.  Just like social Media, the internet is not quality checked in the same way as academic databases; anyone with access can create credible looking websites and publish content online.

It's really important that you understand how to get the best from an internet search; the videos and help guides below will provide more information about using Google.

It's also really important that you develop critical evaluation skills as you use web-based content.  You can find more about this on our guide to being critical on the internet.

 

Google Scholar is a free search engine that searches across a range of academic material including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports.  In many cases it indexes the full text of items, rather than merely bibliographic information, although the full text will not necessarily be available. Google Scholar is a great starting point for any academic search

Google Scholar can be a useful research tool particularly if you are familiar with using Google as the interface is very similar. It is also a good tool for carrying out a scoping search to see what is out there on your topic.

  • It has a familiar interface (looks like Google) and is easy to use
  • Unlike Google, it only retrieves academic type material 
  • It searches Open Access resources
  • It  searches across many different disciplines and subjects

However, although Google Scholar can be a useful research tool, it is important to bear several things in mind: 

  • Not all material will necessarily be peer-reviewed. There is no editorial process within Google Scholar, so you need to be careful what you rely upon.
  • Google Scholar’s search options aren’t especially sophisticated - it is limited in terms of options to filter and refine results. The coverage is also broad. 
  • Some articles may not appear as they do in the final published work. Preprints and drafts are all indexed by Google Scholar as well as open-access final articles.
  • Not everything is immediately available in full text. However, you can install Lean Library, free of charge, on your own device.  This links Google Scholar and our library resources together and can really help speed up searching.

 

The tabs on the box below provide further help and guidance on getting the most from Google and Google Scholar.  These are a mix of videos and PowerPoint slides.