What is Google Scholar and How to Use It

What is Google Scholar and How to Use It

In today’s era, where studies and curiosities are always at the top of the trend, there is one good partner to support scholars and students with the best study materials in a single click.

In this article, we will discuss Google’s tool for scholars named Google Scholar. Scholar is a place where all the academic-related articles and research papers are available easily. Google Scholar is a powerful tool that makes research easy for scholarly literature and academic courses. The best part is that the tool is completely free of cost.

An Overview at What is Google Scholar

An academic search engine by Google that allows you to search and gather information for all the scholarly literature. Searching for abstracts, full-text articles, thesis, and books becomes much easier with Google Scholar. The users get all their study materials from Publishers, universities, and other scholarly websites. It is one of the best ways to get organic and true information for all the in-depth topics like conference papers that have yet to be published in organized matters.

Why to use Google Scholar

In the AI-driven world where everything is available with just a single click, the major question arises: why must one use Google Scholar? The answer to the question is very simple. The easy-to-use application, along with free access to scholarly study materials, has made Google Scholar the best choice for users.

Google Scholar also helps students and researchers to study thoroughly with citations and more. It has features that include visuals and memes that make the text concise, precise, and easy to understand.

The other key factor that attracts users to search through Scholar is that it includes those sources that are not even available at standard searches or any other academic website.

Why is Google Scholar better than Google for finding research papers?

Now, the point that might make you curious is why Google Scholar is a good choice over Google for scholars and researchers. Many reasons make Google Scholar the first choice of students.

The interface of Google Scholar is as simple as browsing through the Google search engine. Apart from this, other beneficial points make Google Scholar better than Google-

• Copy a citation in different academic styles like MLA APA.
• It exports the bibliographic data to use the following reference management software.
• Delivers the full-text versions of the articles.

How to search and view items in Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a great source of information for those who want to accomplish their research and paperwork. But the question arises: how do you search for the topics on Google Scholar?

Follow these very simple steps to make your searching experience easy in Google Scholar-

Step 1- Open Google Scholar:

Launch the Google Scholar search tab in your browser to begin your research.

Step 2- Open SHSU’s Google Scholar:

Go to the Library’s homepage and locate SHSU’s dedicated Google Scholar search.

Step 3- Navigate to “Articles and More”:

Click on the “Articles and More” tab within SHSU’s Google Scholar interface to refine your search.

Step 4- Locate the Search Box:

At the bottom of the page, find the Google Scholar search box where you’ll input your research keyword or topic.

Step 5- Enter Keyword or Topic:

Based on your research, type the relevant keyword or topic into the search bar to initiate the search process.

Key point- Google Scholar delivers the most relevant results at the top. The results are based on the prompt that the user puts downs in the search bar- full text, author, sources. Searching on Scholar is simple but different from Google.

How to find full-text documents in “My Search” results?

Step 1- Enter Citation or Keyword:

Input the citation details or relevant keywords into the search bar on Scholar.

Step 2- Identify PDF or HTML Preview:

Look for a PDF or HTML preview displayed on the right side of the article in the search results. Alternatively, find an “Online Resources @ SHSU” link associated with the article.

Step 3- Click on PDF/HTML Preview or Online Resources @ SHSU Link:

Click on the PDF or HTML preview to access the article directly. If there’s an “Online Resources @ SHSU” link, clicking on it will lead you to the full article.

Step 4- Access Full Article:

You will be redirected to the full article, allowing you to read, download, or save the content as needed.

Note Point: In case the links do not appear, then contact the Library Service Desk. The support desk will help you find the full article.

What are Google Scholar citations?

Google Scholar Citations is a free service that allows authors to track citations to their publications. Authors can use Google Scholar Citations to:

1. Make a profile that entitles their publications and citation metrics.
2. Have a track on who is citing their publications.
3. Graph the citations from time to time.
4. Tally the citation metrics, like counts, h-index, and i15-index.

How do you set up a Google Scholar Citation profile?

Step 1- Login to Scholar:

Access your Scholar account by logging in with your credentials.

Step 2- Go to “My profile”:

Locate and click on the “My profile” option at the top of the Scholar page.

Step 3- Add affiliation and email:

Within your profile, update your affiliation information and email address as needed.

Step 4- Click “My citations”:

After making the necessary updates, click the “My citations” button to save your changes.

Step 5- Update publications:

You can choose to update your list of publications either automatically or manually, depending on your preference and the available options.

How to use Google Scholar as a student

Google Scholar is one of the best tools students can utilize for research and study. Follow these simple steps to use Google Scholar-

Step 1- Enter the Keywords in the Search Box:

Put your query in the search box using the appropriate keywords to start the search.

Step 2- Use Quotes for Precision:

With some specific quotes and phrases, it becomes much easier to get accurate search results.

Step 3- Specify Year for Publications:

Specific dates and years will help you get the precise results of research papers and articles published that year.

Step 4- Use Sidebar Options:

Check out the options on the left to narrow down your search results based on things like date, relevance, and the reliability of the source. It will make your search go more quickly.

Step 5- Search for Authors, Titles, and Dates:

You can find exact scholarly articles and papers relevant to your research by searching for authors, titles, or release dates.

Step 6- Organize with Labels:

Using the labeling tool in the Google Scholar library will help you organize and categorize your research results in a way that makes them easy to find and manage.

Tips to Improve Google Scholar Searching

• Browsing and surfing on Google Scholar is easy and convenient. But, to make your search more appropriate and precise, here are some tips to improve your Google Scholar search.
• The searches at Scholar are not case-sensitive, and you can rephrase your topics as a question.
• The articles can be saved as per reading status.
• In case you are unable to access any article, then you can read it if you have access to the Library or any institution that has a subscription to its rights.

FAQ’s

How does Google Scholar benefit you?

In addition to showing you articles related to the one you’re looking for, you can also see how many times an article has been cited, as well as citations in various styles. ECU Libraries can display links to articles and books in Google Scholar.

What is the best way to use Google Scholar?

To get the best results, enter the article title in Google Scholar and click Search: Put quotes around the title to improve results. In most cases, your article will appear among the first few results. Clicking on an article title may lead you to a publisher’s website, where you must pay to read the article.

How is Google Scholar useful for students?

Google Scholar is a free search tool that students can use to find scholarly writing. It can look in a lot of different fields and places. Hence, helps students to find better results data and work properly on their research papers and other academic study materials.

What are the benefits of having a Google Scholar profile?

Google Scholar lets you see articles related to the one you’re interested in, as well as how many times and by whom an article has been cited, and it does this in several different styles. Google Scholar can show links to books and articles held by ECU Libraries. More people can find your work in Google Scholar.

Can anyone use Google Scholar?

Yes, Google Scholar can be used by anyone. It is a database for academic research that anyone with an internet connection can use.