Summary
Highlights
Google Scholar is an excellent starting point for research, offering a straightforward way to search extensively for scholarly literature, including academic articles and books. To begin, condense your topic into concise keywords and input them into the search bar.
Due to Google Scholar's broad nature, initial searches often yield many results. It's advisable to sort articles by relevance. If recency is important, narrow your search by publication date. If you find a particularly relevant article, click 'related articles' to discover similar sources. The 'cited by' option can also help identify publications that have referenced the article you're interested in, allowing you to search exclusively within those results.
To check for full-text availability, look for 'Full Text at Utah State' or other PDF full-text options on the right side of the page. Remember to sync your Google account with USC when searching from home to ensure the 'Full Text at Utah State' option appears.
Google Scholar often shows citations for items like books or articles without direct full-text links. If a book citation appears, search for it in your library's catalog. For articles without direct access, you can use the provided information to request them through interlibrary loan.
Like many research databases, Google Scholar offers a simple way to find citations for your discovered information by clicking the quotes icon beneath the description. If you're still struggling to find suitable resources, try adjusting your keywords or contact a librarian for assistance.