Introduction
How to use Google Scholar to effectively do your assignment may not be something you think about when doing assignments. If this is true for you, you should. Think about it this way, if you were studying for an undergraduate degree, you will probably use Google Scholar for every written assignment. That’s a lot of usage if you were to consider how many assignments you would have done when you graduate. This means that it makes a lot of sense to have a strategy on how to effectively use it for any assignment. This article will give you some tips on how to use Google Scholar with other techniques to smash your assignment.
Specific Questions
The first step is to be specific about the articles or other materials you are looking for. You need a clear understanding of your assignment topic and questions to do this. The topic will provide the general context within which you can answer the assignment question(s). Clarity about the question will help you pull out what to specifically search on Google Scholar. In the questions below, there are three main topics, internet marketing, 7Ps and globalisation.
There are thousands of articles and materials about these topics in many different situations on Google Scholar. In this case, the specific search phrase to ask Google Scholar will include the benefits/opportunities of internet marketing. This will provide sources to read, cite and apply to the chosen business using examples. Other specific phrases will include ‘7Ps and internet marketing’ ‘globalisation challenges and internet marketing’ internet marketing and business performance’ principles of internet marketing’ challenges of internet marketing.
Google Scholar Usage
After having the specific search phrases ready the next step is to access Google Scholar via scholar.google.com. Typing the search terms in the search bar will produce good sources to pick from. However, you can make your search more specific by using the advanced search option via the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left corner of the home page. This will allow you to refine your search by specifying keywords, authors, publication dates, and more. Boolean Operators can also be used here for more specific searches.
Titles and Excerpts
Before you start to open the articles to decide on the suitable ones for your assignment, scan through the titles and excerpts. This will help you quickly identify the articles that are worth exploring further. For example, searching one of the search phrases will return the following articles:
The first article seems useful, and so does the part of the second that looks at business performance in general. However, the part that focuses on export may not be relevant if you are using a business that doesn’t export for the assignment. The third doesn’t seem relevant except the business that you chose for your assignment sells elderly products.
Abstract and Introduction
If an article seems relevant, click on the title to access the full text. Then read the abstract and introduction to be clear if it is definitely relevant. In some cases, the article may be freely available, while in others, you may be prompted to pay or log in through a university library system. Learn how to take advantage of your institution’s library resources to access paid articles here.
Citation List
One useful feature of Google Scholar is the “Cited by” link that appears below each search result. Clicking on this link will show you a list of other articles that have cited the original article. This can be helpful in finding additional relevant sources. There are 66 in the first and 473 in the second article.
Related Articles
Google Scholar also provides related articles and recommendations based on the article you’re currently viewing. These suggestions can lead you to other sources that may be valuable for your assignment. For more recent cited-by and related articles, you can customise the search result to the current year on the left-hand side.
Source Credibility
You can’t use all the suitable sources that you find. You have to use credible ones. The credibility of the sources used goes a long way in determining the standard of the perspectives, views, arguments in your assignment. The same for the standard of the analysis in your work as the assignment requires. Assess the credibility, relevance, and authority of the authors using the CRAAP and other techniques. Consider factors like the journal’s reputation, the peer-review process, and the author’s credentials.
Citation Trails
Once you find a useful article, explore its references to find additional sources that are cited within. This technique can help you discover more relevant articles and build a stronger foundation for your assignment.
Conclusion
Remember, Google Scholar is just one tool among many for academic research. While it can be a valuable resource, it’s important to explore other databases, library catalogues, and disciplinary repositories to ensure you have a comprehensive collection of relevant sources for your assignments. Finding the right sources is an excellent step towards doing your assignment the right way. However, how well you use the sources to answer the assignment question will determine the grade you get. This is why it is very important to learn how to answer assignment questions as your lecturer expects you to.
