Google Scholar for Research

1. Go to the Google Scholar homepage located at http://scholar.google.com

2. Type in your search term. It will return a list of links similar to a Google Search.

To access the articles available, click on the link to the right of the title. Clicking only on the title will often bring you to only the abstract. 

Advanced Searching

1. Go to the Google Scholar homepage located at http://scholar.google.com

2. Click on the hamburger menu () on the top left corner of the page 

3. Select the Advanced search button 

4. Fill out the information that you're looking for:

• with all of the words = Search using keywords 
  • For example - Substance abuse among older adults
• with the exact phrase = Search exact phrases
  • For example - "rocks are pointy because" returns literature that has that EXACT phrase in the article or title
  • 
• with at least one of the words = Add synonym keywords to your search query 
  • For example - children OR adolescents OR youth
• without the words = Search this, NOT that
  • For example - You're looking for articles that use the word "children" NOT "adolescents". You would add adolescents to that field
• Return articles authored by = Search using the Author's full name
• Return articles published in = Search a specific journal 
• Return articles dated between = Enter in the dates you are searching within

If you come across a piece of literature but you can't tell if it's scholarly or good information, you can always contact the library. But there are a few things to look at to evaluate the resources yourself:

1. Is it peer-reviewed?
   • Who's the author?
   • What journal is it published in?
2. Does it pass the CRAAP test?
   • Currency: The timeliness of the information.
     • When was the information published or posted?
     • Has the information been revised or updated?
     • Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic?
     • *Are the links functional?
   • Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.
     • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
     • Who is the intended audience?
     • Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
   • Authority: The source of the information.
     • Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
     • Are the author’s credentials or organizational afiations given?
     • What are the author’s qualifications to write on the topic?
     • Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?  
     • *Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? (examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net)
   • Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the informational content.
     • Where does the information come from?
     • Is the information supported by evidence?
     • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
     • Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
     • Does the language or tone seem biased or is it free of emotion?
     • Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
   • Purpose: The reason the information exists.
     • What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
     • Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
     • Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
     • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
     • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases? 

CRAAP Methods provided by Purdue University and the Purdue Online Writing Lab: https://www.pfw.edu/offices/learning-support/documents/evaluating-information-crapp-test.pdf