Finding Sources Advanced: What About Google Scholar?

What About Google Scholar?

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Vocabulary:

• • • Search engine
    • Limiters
    • Academic materials

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Introduction

Similar to regular Google, Google Scholar is a free search engine, but it's used primarily for academic materials. Instead of searching everything that's been published online (like Google does), Google Scholar finds materials from publishers, universities or scholarly websites. Some of the search building strategies we've learned for Summon such as keyword and phrase searching and limiters such as date range will work for Google Scholar, too!

Read the infographic below to get a better understanding of what's great about Google Scholar and what some of its limitations are. 

 

Link to: Alternative Versions of the Google Scholar Pros and Cons Infographic

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Connecting Google Scholar to UBC Library

You may have noticed that one of the cons of Google Scholar is that you may not have access to the full text. One great workaround is to connect Google Scholar to UBC library.

This will let you know which of the results can be found through UBC and even includes a UBCelink. Generally, you only need to connect it to the library once. Click through the slideshow below for instructions. 

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Practice:

1. 1. 1. Open two internet browser windows side by side.
      2. In one window, open Summon from the library website.
      3. In the other window, open Google Scholar Links to an external site..
      4. Complete a search in both search engines using exactly the same wording.
      5. On your worksheet, answer the following three questions.

• • • • What are some differences you notice about the format of the search results lists?
      • What are some differences you notice about the types of materials coming up in your search results?
      • When might Google Scholar be appropriate to use?  When might Summon be the better option?

(Need the worksheet? Finding Sources Advanced Worksheet.docx Download Finding Sources Advanced Worksheet.docx

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