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Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale Community College Library

Google Scholar

What is Google Scholar?

Google Scholar is a search engine for scholarly information published as articles, books, theses and court opinions. Whereas the standard Google search engine finds links to Web pages, Google Scholar results are citations for mostly scholarly articles that are not necessarily available for free on the Web.

Description of Google Scholar

How to search Google Scholar

Use the same type of keyword search in Google Scholar that you use with the standard Google search engine. In the left column of the results page you can choose to change the display from a relevant sort to a date sort; you can also limit the results by date range.

Google's search tips

Search results

Google Scholar is not a database with full-text articles and books; when you click on a search result, you are usually taken to a page that offers options for paid access. If Google has identified Web sites that offer free access to the resource, you will find a link to the Web site or PDF file in the right column.

Fortunately you can link your Google Scholar search to SCC Library's databases, which will significantly increase the number of search results that give you free full-text articles. Watch the video below or read how to link SCC library databases to Google Scholar.

Video demonstration