How To Use Google Scholar Efficiently For Academic Research

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Are you constantly struggling to find the right resources for your writing projects? Whether it's a research paper, a summary, or an article, we all know the importance of having reliable sources at our fingertips. That's where 'Research Tools' come in handy, making your writing smooth and efficient.

But how do you use them effectively to enhance your writing and get the best results? In this guide, we'll explore how to use one of the most powerful research tools out there - Google Scholar, and show you how to leverage it to write efficient papers, summaries, and articles effortlessly with the help of AI. Let's get started.

Unriddle has a valuable tool - the AI Writing Tool - that can help you improve your writing and produce efficient papers, summaries, and articles with AI. The AI Writing Tool takes your writing to the next level, making sure your content is top-notch every single time.

What Is Google Scholar?

Google Scholar offers a straightforward way to extensively explore scholarly literature, simplifying the search process for academic resources. This tool allows individuals to search various disciplines and sources, including articles, theses, books, abstracts, and court opinions from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities, and other websites. Google Scholar can assist you in discovering pertinent work across the world of scholarly research.

Is Google Scholar Free?

Although the resources you find in Google Scholar may be paywalled, the search itself is free. Articles available for free ("open access" articles) can often be immediately accessed.

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Unriddle.AI allows you to read faster and write better. Quickly find info in documents, simplify complex topics, take notes, and write with the power of AI. Unriddle is trusted by thousands of researchers and students, from the classroom to the boardroom. Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of any document so you can quickly find, summarize, and understand info.

Unriddle understands the meaning behind your writing and automatically links you to relevant things you’ve read and written about. Highlight text and Unriddle will show you the most relevant sources from your library using AI.

Never lose a citation again. Generate text with AI autocomplete to improve and expand your writing, with suggestions based on the context of your work. Step into a collaborative workspace where everyone can contribute and chat with the same documents in real-time and much more! Read faster & write better — try Unriddle for free today.

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How To Use Google Scholar Efficiently For Academic Research

Finding Recent Papers

When conducting research, finding the most recent papers is crucial to staying updated on the latest developments in a particular field. Google Scholar offers several options to help you easily find and access recent articles.

By clicking "Since Year," you can filter your search results to display recently published papers sorted by relevance. Alternatively, click "Sort by date" to view the new additions sorted by date. Furthermore, you can click the envelope icon to have new results periodically delivered to your email, ensuring you stay on top of the latest research in your area of interest.

Locating the Full Text of an Article

While Google Scholar typically provides abstracts for most articles, accessing the full text may require a subscription. There are several strategies you can employ to overcome this limitation. First, you can click on a library link (e.g., "FindIt@Harvard") to the right of the search result. Additionally, you can click on a link labeled [PDF] to access the full article directly.

If these options are unavailable, you can click "All versions" under the search result to explore alternative sources that may provide access to the complete text. Moreover, clicking on "Related articles" or "Cited by" under the search result can lead you to similar articles that may offer access to the full text, helping you delve deeper into the subject matter.

Getting Better Answers

When conducting research, it's essential to use the right terminology and references to navigate the complexities of scholarly articles effectively. If you're new to a subject, leveraging secondary sources such as Wikipedia can help you familiarize yourself with key terms and concepts. For instance, a Wikipedia article on "overweight" may suggest a Google Scholar search for "pediatric hyperalimentation."

Moreover, if your search results are either too specific or too basic, you can explore the references cited in the articles or click on "Cited by" to discover newer papers that offer more specific or general insights. By exploring related articles, cited works, or an author's body of work, you can gain comprehensive and nuanced answers to your research questions.

Complete Step-by-Step Guide On How To Use Unriddle's AI Research Tool

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Unriddle. I’ve also copied it below :)

From here, it's pretty simple.

Unriddle helps you read, write and learn faster.

Interact with documents via AI so you can quickly find and understand info.

Then start writing in a new Note and Unriddle will show you relevant content from your library as you type.

Get started by uploading a document.

Or read on for the full rundown.

Interact with documents

When you upload a document, Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of this data.

Click 'New' in the right sidebar and then select 'Upload' to get started.

Use this assistant to answer specific questions about the text, summarize content and simplify jargon.

The trick is to be super clear about what you want.

If you're summarizing a research paper, for example, instead of saying “Summarize” or “Summarize this research paper”, say something like “Explain this research paper to me in simple terms. What method did the researchers use? What did they find? Why does it matter?”.

The second prompt will produce a much better overview of the paper because we're giving the AI more hints about what we want.

Automatic relations

Unriddle grasps the context behind each Note and Document in your library and automatically links them based on meaning.

Let's say you have a collection of nuclear physics papers in your library.

When you start writing a note about The Manhattan Project, simply mentioning "The Manhattan Project" will prompt Unriddle to find the connection between this note and the nuclear physics papers.

Even if you didn't explicitly mention the research papers, Unriddle's knowledge of Oppenheimer, his work, and the significant relevance of these papers means it understands the connection and automatically links them together.

In short, Unriddle shows you relevant content from your library at the exact moment you need it, even if you haven't explicitly mentioned it.

Citing your sources

Writing is hard when you have a ton of sources to track.

So we made it easy.

Highlight some text, click ‘Cite’ and you’ll see items from your library that contain information related to the selection of text you just highlighted as determined by our AI.

When you select an item Unriddle inserts a link into highlighted text that, when clicked, takes you to the referenced item.

Writing with AI

Click ‘New’ in the sidebar and hit ‘Note’ to open up a new note.

Here you’ll find all the text formatting options you’re used to and more.

Type ‘++’ to generate text based on the context of what’s already written.

Highlight text and click ‘Ask AI’ to open up the AI menu where you’ll find options to improve, expand, summarize and explain.

You can type custom prompts too!

Finally, you can open any note in a pane on the right side of the screen while interacting with documents. Just click the orange pencil icon at the top of the chat window.

Chat Settings

Adjust the model, temperature and response length in the Setting sidebar.

Click the cog icon in the top right corner of the screen and look for "Chat Settings".

These apply across all documents but you can easily flip between them regardless of settings at the time of upload.

Model: the machine learning model used to generate responses.

Temperature: the amount of creative license you give to the AI.

Max length: the maximum number of words generated in a response.

Got feedback or questions? Send us an email and we'll get back to you within a day.

— Naveed

9 Best Alternatives To Google Scholar For Academic Research

1. Unriddle.AI

Unriddle.AI is a powerful tool designed to enhance the academic research experience. It allows users to read faster and write better by simplifying complex topics, taking notes, and generating text with AI autocomplete. Unriddle.AI can also link users to relevant sources and notes, making the research process more efficient and effective.

Pros

Speeds up the research process with AI assistance

Helps users understand complex topics and find relevant sources

Generates text with AI-accelerated autocomplete

Facilitates real-time collaboration and document sharing

Cons

It may require some time to learn how to use all the features effectively

It could be more expensive compared to other tools on the market

Pricing

Free plan available, Premium plan available for $X/month, Teams plan available for $X/month

2. Consensus

Consensus is an enhanced search engine that provides users with evidence-based answers to academic queries. By focusing on Yes/No questions, Consensus offers consensus-based responses supported by peer-reviewed, published sources. It ensures the quality and reliability of information by using natural language processing to extract key findings from research papers.

Pros

Speeds up the search process with consensus-based answers

Relies on peer-reviewed, published sources for information

Saves time and effort by summarizing key findings

Ensures unbiased results by being 100% ad-free

Cons

It might not cover all desired topics due to the research paper's availability.

May lack contextual information on complex or controversial topics

It could be slow to reflect the latest research findings

Pricing

Free plan available, Premium plan available for $8.99/month, Teams plan available for $9.99/month

3. Jasper

Jasper is an AI-powered writing assistant that excels in helping users improve their writing skills. Jasper streamlines the writing process by providing outlines, titles, introductions, conclusions, and more. With advanced editing functions, templates, and a collaborative workspace, Jasper is a valuable tool for researchers and students.

Pros

Simplifies writing tasks with AI-generated content

Offers basic editing functions and templates for quick results

Facilitates a collaborative workspace for real-time editing

Supports users in writing cover letters and emails with personalized tones

Cons

Requires user guidance for optimal performance

It might have a learning curve for some users

Limited paraphrasing function for longer texts

Pricing

Creator plan available for $39/month, Pro plan available for $59/month

4. Avidnote

Avidnote is a user-friendly tool streamlines research processes with time-saving templates and a friendly interface. While it may not be suitable for highly specific research, Avidnote offers valuable features such as free plans and online support to enhance the research experience.

Pros

Provides time-saving templates for efficient research

Offers a free plan for users to explore the tool

Features a friendly user interface for easy navigation

Cons

Might not cater to highly specific research needs

Could lack advanced features compared to other tools

Pricing

Free plan available, Professional plan available for $19, Premium plan available for $59

5. Zotero

Zotero is a versatile tool that automates research by detecting and organizing research from various sources. With collaborative features, citation plugins, and free cloud storage, Zotero is a comprehensive research tool that caters to various academic needs.

Pros

Offers a wide range of features for organizing research

Supports collaboration and group libraries for shared work

Provides easy citation management with plugins for popular text editors

Features free cloud storage

Cons

Requires a desktop application for full functionality

Offers limited free cloud storage options

Lacks professional customer support services

Pricing

Free plan available, Paid cloud storage upgrades available starting from $20/year

6. Scite.AI

Scite.AI stands out by helping users assess article credibility through AI-driven answers and real citations. Despite some limitations in full-text access and subscription costs, Scite.AI is a valuable tool for researchers seeking evidence-based answers to academic queries.

Pros

Assists users in assessing article credibility efficiently

Provides AI-driven answers for evidence-based insights

Offers a handy Chrome extension for quick access

Cons

Subscription costs might be a barrier for some users

Limited full-text access due to publisher agreements

Pricing

7-day free trial available, Monthly Plan priced at $20/month, Yearly Plan priced at $12/month (paid annually)

7. Research Rabbit

Research Rabbit is a transformative tool that leverages AI to enhance research quality and save time for researchers. With features like AI-assisted recommendations, interactive graphs, and personalized digests, Research Rabbit streamlines the research process and improves the quality of academic work.

Pros

Uses AI to help researchers save time and improve research quality

Visualizes papers and author networks with interactive graphs

Offers personalized digests of the latest papers

Supports citation management and article summarization

Cons

It might not cover all relevant sources for specific research topics

May lack customization options for user preferences

Pricing

Free

8. ChatPDF

ChatPDF is an AI-powered tool that simplifies the research process by offering a user-friendly chat interface for interacting with PDF documents. With multilingual support and a generous free plan, ChatPDF caters to a global audience seeking efficient ways to read and analyze research papers.

Pros

User-friendly chat interface for interacting with PDFs

Strong multilingual support for global users

Generous free plan for regular document processing

Cons

Absence of a Chrome extension for enhanced accessibility

Lack of private document functionality for increased data privacy

Pricing

Free plan available, Plus plan priced at $5/month

9. Semantic Scholar

Semantic Scholar is a free AI-driven search tool that offers comprehensive access to scholarly publications and advanced filtering options. With features like recommendations based on search history and author tracking, Semantic Scholar helps researchers quickly understand, discover, and claim publications for their academic work.

Pros

Comprehensive access to scholarly publications

Advanced filtering options for refined search results

Recommendations based on search history for personalized results

Ability to claim publications and track their impact as an author

Cons

Less popular than other search engines like Google Scholar

Limited user interface customization options

Pricing

Free

These Google Scholar alternatives offer unique features that can enhance the academic research experience for students, researchers, and professionals. Whether you seek evidence-based answers, AI-powered writing assistance, or comprehensive research tools, these platforms cater to various academic needs. Experiment with these tools to find the ones best suit your research style and preferences.

6 Tips For Searching Google Scholar

1. Google Scholar searches are not case-sensitive

You don’t need to worry about case sensitivity using Google Scholar. In other words, a search for "Machine Learning" will produce the same results as a search for "machine learning.”

2. Use keywords instead of full sentences

Let's say your research topic is about self driving cars. For a regular Google search we might enter something like "what is the current state of the technology used for self-driving cars". In Google Scholar, you will see less than ideal results for this query.

The trick is to build a list of keywords and perform searches for them like self-driving cars, autonomous vehicles, or driverless cars. Google Scholar will assist you on that: if you start typing in the search field you will see related queries suggested by Scholar!

3. Use quotes to search for an exact match

If you put your search phrase into quotes, you can search for exact matches of that phrase in the title and the document's body text. Without quotes, Google Scholar will treat each word separately.

This means that if you search national parks, the words will not necessarily appear together. Grouped words and exact phrases should be enclosed in quotation marks.

4. Add the year to the search phrase to get articles published in a particular year

For example, a search using “self-driving cars 2015” will return articles or books published in 2015.

Using the options in the left-hand panel you can further restrict the search results by limiting the years covered by the search, the inclusion or exclusion of patents, and you can sort the results by relevance or by date.

6. Use Boolean operator to better control your searches

Searches are not case-sensitive. However, you can use several Boolean operators to control the search, and these must be capitalized.

AND requires both words or phrases on either side to be somewhere in the record.

NOT can be placed in front of a word or phrase to exclude results that include them.

OR will give equal weight to results that match just one of the words or phrases on either side.

Try Unriddle For Free Today!

Unriddle.ai allows you to read faster and write better. Quickly find info in documents, simplify complex topics, take notes, and write with the power of AI. Unriddle is trusted by thousands of researchers and students, from the classroom to the boardroom. Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of any document so you can quickly find, summarize, and understand info.

Unriddle.ai understands the meaning behind your writing and automatically links you to relevant things you’ve read and written about in the past. Highlight text, and Unriddle will show you the most relevant sources from your library using AI. Never lose a citation again.

Generate text with AI autocomplete to improve and expand your writing, with suggestions based on the context of your work. Step into a collaborative workspace where everyone can contribute and chat with the same documents in real-time and much more! Read faster & write better — try Unriddle for free today.

Limitations Of Google Scholar

Google Scholar may be a powerful tool for researchers, but it also has limitations. For starters, Google Scholar does not search the entire universe of scholarly publications. While unofficial estimates suggest that the search index is around 160 million items, it grows yearly. Google Scholar does not provide all the resources you would find in a local library catalog.

For example, library databases can return resources such as podcasts, videos, articles, statistics, or special collections - something Google Scholar lacks. It is also important to note that Google Scholar's information is not cataloged by professionals, and the quality of metadata depends on the source from which Google Scholar pulls the information. This process differs greatly from how information is collected and indexed in scholarly databases like Scopus or the Web of Science.

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Read Faster & Write Better With Unriddle for Free Today

Unriddle is a cutting-edge tool designed to enhance your research capabilities and streamline the writing process. It acts as your AI assistant, allowing you to quickly find, summarize, and understand document information. With Unriddle, you can avoid the endless skimming process and delve straight into the heart of your research materials. This tool comprehends the meaning behind your writing, automatically linking you to relevant sources you've previously read or written about.

Unriddle.ai helps you never lose a citation again, a common issue that can impede the quality of your work. By generating text with AI autocomplete, Unriddle enhances and expands your writing, tailoring its suggestions to the context of your current work.

Lastly, the collaborative workspace feature of Unriddle enables real-time contributions and discussions on shared documents, fostering efficient teamwork and knowledge exchange. So, if you want to read faster and write better, you should undoubtedly try Unriddle.

The Benefits of Using Unriddle for Research and Writing

Unriddle offers numerous benefits for researchers, students, and professionals. Its ability to help you quickly locate information in documents can significantly boost your efficiency and save precious time. By simplifying complex topics, Unriddle enables you to understand challenging concepts more easily, leading to higher-quality work.

The tool also allows you to take notes seamlessly, ensuring that you capture essential details during your research process. Moreover, Unriddle's AI-powered writing assistance can enhance the quality and scope of your writing, making it more comprehensive and engaging. The platform's intuitive linking system helps you stay connected to past research and writing, allowing for a seamless flow of ideas and references.

Regarding citations, Unriddle's automatic generation feature ensures that you never miss a source, contributing to the accuracy and credibility of your work. With Unriddle, you can enter a collaborative environment where sharing and discussing documents in real-time is effortless, fostering teamwork and collective knowledge building.

How to Get Started with Unriddle: A Quick Guide

Getting started with Unriddle is a simple and straightforward process. Begin by signing up for an account on the Unriddle platform, which will grant you access to its full research and writing tools suite. Once logged in, you can upload your documents to Unriddle, where the AI assistant will begin its magic.

Highlight text within your documents to prompt Unriddle.ai to display the most relevant sources from your library, making it easy to reference past materials. As you interact more with the tool, its AI-autocomplete feature will enhance your writing by providing context-specific suggestions.

Unriddle's collaborative workspace is ideal for sharing documents and working together in real time with your peers or colleagues. This guide will help you embark on your journey with Unriddle, enabling you to unlock its full potential for your research and writing needs.

A Game-Changer for Research and Writing

Unriddle represents a significant advancement in research and writing tools, offering many features to enhance productivity and efficiency. By harnessing the power of AI, Unriddle enables users to read faster, write better, and collaborate seamlessly with others. Whether you're a student, researcher, or professional, Unriddle's intuitive interface and robust features can significantly elevate the quality of your work.

So, if you're looking to take your research and writing to the next level, it's time to give Unriddle a try. Sign up today and experience the difference this enhanced tool can make in your academic and professional pursuits.