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    Google Scholar: Using Google Scholar

    How to use Google Scholar to access books and articles.

    Getting started

    There are three different ways to get to Google Scholar:

    1. Navigate directly to  Google Scholar  at  https://scholar.google.com/ .
    2. Navigate to  Google  at  https://www.google.com/​ . Search the term "scholar" or "Google Scholar." Google Scholar will be your first result.
    3. Navigate to the  GCU Library  home page at  http://library.gcu.edu/ . Select "Find Journal Articles." Scroll down to 'Browse Databases by Title," and select "G." Find Google Scholar in the list. Click the Google Scholar link for access.

    The pros and cons of using Google Scholar:

    Pros:

    • Familiar Google interface.
    • Can be linked to the GCU Library.
    • Searches for various types of resources in one place.
    • Provides automatic citation information.
    • Has the ability to export citations to citation management software.
    • Allows for the creation of search alerts.

    Cons:

    • Not everything in Google Scholar is freely available.
    • Search results are not easily sorted.
    • The type of resource is not always clear.
    • There is no filter for peer reviewed sources.

    Search Tips

    Get the most out of Google Scholar with some helpful tips on searches, email alerts, citation export, and more.

    Finding recent papers

    Your search results are normally sorted by relevance, not by date. To find newer articles, try the following options in the left sidebar:

    1. click "Since Year" to show only recently published papers, sorted by relevance;
    2. click "Sort by date" to show just the new additions, sorted by date;
    3. click the envelope icon to have new results periodically delivered by email.

    Locating the full text of an article

    Abstracts are freely available for most of the articles. Alas, reading the entire article may require a subscription. Here're a few things to try:

    1. click a library link, e.g., "Full Text@GCU", to the right of the search result;
    2. click a link labeled [PDF] to the right of the search result;
    3. click "All versions" under the search result and check out the alternative sources;
    4. click "Related articles" or "Cited by" under the search result to explore similar articles.

    If you're affiliated with a university, but don't see links such as "FindIt@Harvard", please check with your local library about the best way to access their online subscriptions. You may need to do search from a computer on campus, or to configure your browser to use a library proxy.

    Getting better answers

    • If you're new to the subject, it may be helpful to pick up the terminology from secondary sources. E.g., a Wikipedia article for "overweight" might suggest a Scholar search for "pediatric hyperalimentation".

    • If the search results are too specific for your needs, check out what they're citing in their "References" sections. Referenced works are often more general in nature.

    • Similarly, if the search results are too basic for you, click "Cited by" to see newer papers that referenced them. These newer papers will often be more specific.

    • Explore! There's rarely a single answer to a research question. Click "Related articles" or "Cited by" to see closely related work, or search for author's name and see what else they have written.

    Google Scholar can be linked to the GCU Library databases. Here’s how to do so:

    1. Start at the Google Scholar homepage: http://scholar.google.com

    2. Click on the Menu icon in the upper left corner.

    3. Click on Gear cog in the right corner of the menu or as Settings below Advanced Search. 

     4. Click on Library links to the left.

           5. Type Grand Canyon University into the search bar and click the search button.

           6. Click the box next to Grand Canyon University - Full-Text @ GCU to add a check mark.

           7. Once you see Grand Canyon University - Full-Text @ GCU listed with a check mark next to it, click the Save button.

    Now you will be able to see which results in Google Scholar are freely available through the GCU library. Review the Accessing Articles and Accessing Books tabs for examples. 

    To find the Advanced Scholar Search, click the Menu option located in the upper left corner.

    Click on Advanced Search.

    the google scholar menu has advanced search as an option

    A new box will pop up. 

    This Advanced Search is searching for articles on the benefit of teaching information literacy in schools.

    The words  benefit  and  teach  will both be found somewhere in the article.

    The phrase  information literacy  will also be in the article. 

    One of these words or a combination of these words-- school  or  education  or  college  or  university-- will also be in the article. 

    Articles will have been published from 2010to present. (Leaving the second box empty will automatically search until present day).

    This Advanced Search is searching for articles on the connection between academic success and libraries. 

    The phrase academic successwill be found in the article. 

    Either libraryor libraries(or both!) will also be found in the article. 

    Academic successand libraryor librarieswill be found in the titleof the article. 

    This Advanced Search is searching for articles written on social learning that were authored by Albert Bandura. 

    The phrase social learningwill be found in the article. 

    All articles will be authored by  Albert Bandura. 

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