Guides: Google Scholar: Other Resources

Learn More About Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a great tool to use to get started with research. It is easy to use and searches a multitude of different disciplines as well as formats of research. However, like with everything, there are pros and cons about using this resource. Many articles and studies have been published that focus on how credible of a source Google Scholar is and its good and bad qualities. To learn more about Google Scholar, check out the sources listed below.

Google Scholar Blog
Google Scholar's blog includes information on updates, new features, and data on metrics and usage. The blog is infrequently updated, but does have a few gems of information that could be helpful to learn about how Google Scholar started and how it got to where it is today.
Comparing Google Scholar and Academic Library Discovery Systems
Using an online survey, this study compares how and why academic researchers use Google Scholar and academic library discovery sources. You will need to login with your Gordon username and password to access this resource.
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Google Scholar
While this article focuses mainly on the use of citations on Google Scholar to evaluate candidates for promotion, tenure, and hiring in academic settings, it gives a good overview on how citations can be used. It allows for the reader to get an inside look on how Google Scholar citations can be used both to benefit scholarly research as well as the pitfalls that scholarly research faces on Google Scholar.
How Scholarly is Google Scholar?
A study conducted to compare how scholarly Google Scholar is against other library databases. It specifically looks at how materials vary across different disciplines. It is short and easy to follow.