Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles on Google Scholar: A Step-by-Step Guide
Google Scholar is a powerful search engine that can help you find peer-reviewed articles, academic journals, and books. In this article, we will guide you on how to find a peer-reviewed article on Google Scholar.
Understanding Peer-Reviewed Articles
Before we dive into the process, let’s quickly understand what peer-reviewed articles are. Peer-reviewed articles are academic publications that have undergone a rigorous review process by experts in the field. This review process ensures that the article meets certain standards of quality, validity, and relevance.
Step 1: Conduct a Basic Search
To find peer-reviewed articles on Google Scholar, start by conducting a basic search. Click on the Google Scholar button on the Google search engine page and enter the keywords you want to search for. You can also use the Advanced Search feature to refine your search.
| Keyword | Search Filter |
|---|---|
| The term you want to search for | None |
| By publication type | Academic journals |
| By subject area | Psychology, Biology, Engineering |
| By field of study | Medicine, Physics, Computer Science |
Step 2: Filter Results by Publishing Status
When you search for peer-reviewed articles, Google Scholar will automatically filter the results to only include articles that have undergone peer review. However, you can also filter the results manually to find peer-reviewed articles.
| Filter | What is filtered? |
|---|---|
| Published within 3 years | Only consider articles published in the last 3 years |
| Published on Google Scholar | Only consider articles published on Google Scholar |
| Published in journals | Only consider articles published in academic journals |
| Published in books | Only consider articles published in books |
Step 3: Use Specific Terms and Authors
Another way to find peer-reviewed articles on Google Scholar is to use specific terms and authors. For example, if you’re looking for an article on a specific topic, try using keywords like example or practice.
| Search term | Specific terms and authors |
|---|---|
| Impact of Climate Change | Impact of Climate Change |
| Mental Health and Technology | Mental Health and Technology |
| Diabetes Management | Diabetes Management |
Step 4: Explore Filter Options
Google Scholar offers various filter options that can help you narrow down your search results. Some of these filters include:
| Filter option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Citation Count | Count the number of citations in the article |
| Year | Select a specific year from 2000 to 2020 |
| Journal Type | Select a specific journal type from the list of available journals |
| Author Similarity | Compare your search results to your previous searches |
Step 5: Use Advanced Search Options
Google Scholar offers advanced search options that can help you refine your search results. Some of these options include:
| Advanced search option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Exclude | Exclude specific keywords or phrases from the search results |
| Invert | Invert the search results to find articles that do not match your query |
| Original cite | View articles with original citations instead of page numbers |
| Export | Export your search results to a spreadsheet or PDF |
Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles on Google Scholar
Now that you have the basic steps outlined, let’s walk through the process of finding a peer-reviewed article on Google Scholar.
Step 1: Search for Peer-Reviewed Articles
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| Conduct a basic search | Enter keywords or terms into the Google Scholar search bar |
| Filter results by publishing status | Use the Publishing Status filter to find peer-reviewed articles |
| Filter results by subject area | Use the Subject Area filter to find peer-reviewed articles in a specific field |
| Explore filter options | Use the Filter options to refine your search results |
Step 2: Use Advanced Search Options
| Advanced search option | What you do |
|---|---|
| Exclude specific keywords or phrases | Exclude keywords like practice or methodology from the search results |
| Invert the search results | Invert the search results to find articles that do not match your query |
| Original cite | View articles with original citations instead of page numbers |
| Export results | Export your search results to a spreadsheet or PDF |
Tips and Tricks
- Use quotes to search for exact phrases.
- Use the Context feature to search for articles that are part of a larger research paper or project.
- Use the Reference Search feature to search for references cited in a specific article.
By following these steps and tips, you should be able to find peer-reviewed articles on Google Scholar. Remember to always evaluate the credibility and reliability of the sources you find, and to cite them properly in your own research.