Google Scholar, Search Engines, Databases, and the Research Process
 
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Google Scholar or PsycINFO?

You need to do a research paper for your abnormal psychology course, and remember that Mary Kay Olsen was treated for anorexia and Paula Abdul was treated for bulimia. So you decide to do your paper on eating disorders. You found out that Google Scholar is free and lists scholarly articles and books. Should you use it or a database like PsycInfo (sponsored by the American Psychological Association)?

Try them and find out!

Search for "eating disorders" in Google Scholar and PsycINFO (through the UCLA Library), in Basic or Quick Search and in Advanced Search.

Click Our Answers at the bottom of the page to see how these search engines differ.

Google Scholar Basic Search
(time frame unknown)


Launch Launch Google Scholar in separate window

  1. Number of results?
  2. In which year was the first item in the list published?
  3. In what order are the results listed and can you change the display?
  4. What does "relevance" mean?
    Hint: Check "About Google
    Scholar".
  5. How can you view separate lists of different types of materials?
  6. Which other subject words does it suggest for this topic?
  7. What is the first article in this list that you can find online for free, and how did you find an online copy?

Google Scholar Advanced Search
(time frame unknown)


Launch Launch Google Scholar in separate window

  1. Number of results?
  2. How can you focus your search? (List all ways.) Hint: Go back to the Advanced Search form.
  3. How can you get more results? (List all ways.) Hint: Go back to the Advanced Search form.

PsycINFO Quick Search
(1840-current) Restricted to UCLA users More information about this title


Launch Launch PsycINFO in separate window

  1. Number of results?
  2. In which year was the first item in the list published?
  3. In what order are the results listed and can you change the display?
  4. What does "relevance" mean?
    Hint: Click "Help & Support" > "Search Results" > "Sort Results".
  5. How can you view separate lists of different types of materials?
  6. Which other subject words does it suggest for this topic?
  7. What is the first article in this list that you can find online for free, and how did you find an online copy?

PsycINFO Advanced Search
(1840-present) Restricted to UCLA users More information about this title


Launch Launch PsycINFO in separate window

  1. Number of results?
  2. How can you focus your search? (List all ways.) Hint: Click on "Edit Search" and scroll down.
  3. How can you get more results? (List all ways.) Hint: Click on "Edit Search" and scroll down.