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Finding full text

Google Scholar

Image of Google Scholar logo

Google Scholar is a search engine that searches scholarly literature across all areas of research. It searches across academic sites including publishers, universities, research organisations, pre-print repositories, and professional organisations to give you access to a wide range of scholarly content. 
 

Use Google Scholar, in addition to FiNDit and library databases to discover:

  • open access resources
  • resources outside the library collection that you can request via our Document Delivery and Inter Library Loan service (link below).

Google Scholar has a significant coverage of open access publications however you may not always find free full text. You do not need to pay for articles, instead, link Google Scholar to Notre Dame library to access full text resources held in our collection through Google Scholar. See step-by-step instructions below.

 

Get access to full text by linking Google Scholar to the Notre Dame library databases

To ensure that you’re able to quickly access more articles in full-text, link Google Scholar with the Library’s research databases. Set your preferences with the following steps.

1. Go to Google Scholar Go to Google Scholar

2. Click on the menu icon at the top left of the screen Click on the menu icon at the top left of the screen

3. Click on Settings Click on "Settings"

4. Click on Library links Click on "Library links"

5. Search for "The University of Notre Dame Australia" in the search box Search for "The University of Notre Dame Australia" in the search box

6. Check the box for "The University of Notre Dame Australia - Findit@NDA" Check the box for "The University of Notre Dame Australia - Findit@NDA"

7. Click on Save Click on "Save"

8. Type your keywords and click on the Search icon Type your keywords and click on the "Search" icon

9. Click the Findit@NDA link next to the result to gain access to the full text from Notre Dame Library


FiNDit@NDA links appear next to a result when it is available on a Library database.

If you don't see the FiNDit@NDA link, click on the article title, and if you have LibKey installed, it will search for full text and provide you with a download button if found.

Click the "Findit@NDA" link next to the result to gain access to the full text from Notre Dame Library

10. Sign in using your Notre Dame credentials "Sign in" using your Notre Dame credentials

11. You will be directed to the resource in the library You would be directed to the resource in the library

12. Look for the PDF icon to download a copy

PDFs may be slow to load, but include page numbers for citing, and are already formatted for printing.

Look for the PDF icon to download a copy

Use Google Scholar in addition to library databases to discover resources beyond the library's collection

Google Scholar screenshot

Google Scholar offers...

 Multidisciplinary content:

  • A broad research coverage area and gives you access to a wide range of scholarly content including journal articles, e-books, conference proceedings, theses, government reports and more
  • A significant coverage of open access publication
  • Access to "grey literature"  that is not always included in journal databases
  • Multiple versions of the same document in a single record
     

Database features:

  • Full text search or free-text search, Google Scholar examines all the words stored in the documents and tries to match your search terms
  • "Cited by" and "Related articles" search options to identify influential research and related research 
  • "Cite" option to copy and paste your preferred citation style
  • Citation export to EndNote, RefWorks and other reference management software
  •  Save search results and set up alerts
  • Researcher profiles to promote your work and track your citations

Tips on finding full text in Google Scholar

  •  See all version screenshotSee all available versions of a document to find a free version (pre or post print, author version etc.)

     
  • Setting PDF filetype screenshotYou can track down full text resources by limiting your search results to PDFs by adding filetype:pdf to your search in Google Advanced Search.

Use the Google Advanced Search to make the most out of Google Scholar

Watch the video below by American University Library to learn how to use the advanced search options in Google Scholar.

Not every publication in Google Scholar is scholarly

Results cannot be searched or filtered by peer-review status. If your resources are not retrieved from the library's databases, then closer scrutiny of the resource is required. The suggestions below will help you decide about the credibility of resource you found in Google Scholar and if you would want to use it in your paper.

 

Check if the article is published in a peer reviewed journal by checking these resources:

  • FiNDit: Search for the article title in FiNDit, click on the "Expand your search" link above the search results and verify if it is peer reviewed  
     
  • Ulrich's Periodicals Directory: Search for journal title in Ulrich's to see if it is peer reviewed
  • The journal's website and verify if it is a peer reviewed journal

 

Use the following modules and checklists to evaluate the resources you found:

 

Ask a librarian if you are still unsure!