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Finding Primary Sources, Evaluating & Using Websites, Avoiding Plagiarism: Using Google

Advanced Google Searches

Here are two sample searches using Google Advanced Search: 

This first search is looking for the words health AND innovation but is limiting it to the pwc.com website (so it only searches the PricewaterhouseCoopers site)

This second search is looking for the phrase "hospital innovation" and (system or computer or technology.)

Creative Commons LicenseThis screenshot taken from Vanderbilt University under Creative Commons License 4.0

Google Scholar

 
  • ALWAYS enter Google Scholar through the library's Research Databases page! This will give you access to the library's subscriptions and allow you to read the full text of articles without paying.
  • Google Scholar is a search engine that allows you to search content such as articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions.
  • When Google uses the word "scholarly," it doesn't always mean the same as when librarians use it. You should evaluate any result you find using Google Scholar or any other online resource to be sure it is current and appropriate for academic research.

Google

  • Google is an index of content on the Internet. You can search the full text of publicly available web pages.
  • Google has its own shortcuts and wildcard symbols for advanced searching. Boolean Operators will not work in Google! See the graphic on the left for examples of how to improve your searches.
  • If you use Google, be sure to go beyond Page 1 of the results. The sites with the most clicks rise to the top, but you might find some hidden gems on the following pages.