Finding Sources – Basic: What About Google?

Google is a convenient and familiar starting point for researching a topic, especially when you're exploring new ideas or looking for general information. It offers fast access to a vast number of results, including websites, news articles, blogs, and some scholarly content. However, it has limitations when used for academic research.

While Google is useful for background information or finding current news and government content, it often surfaces results that aren't peer-reviewed or academically reliable. Ads and paid placements can skew the relevance of what appears first. In addition, some academic content is hidden behind paywalls, which can be frustrating—but your library can help you access those materials for free, so never pay out of pocket.

When using Google for academic work, it's important to carefully evaluate sources. Always consider who published the content, why it was published, and when it was published. Keep your assignment requirements in mind—especially if peer-reviewed sources are required—and assess whether Google or a library tool is the better fit for your research needs.

Pros

Easy to use
Great for background info
Access to news and government sources
Helpful for brainstorming and starting a search

Cons

Not all sources are credible or academic
Ads and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can bias results
Many scholarly articles are behind paywalls
Extra effort is needed to verify quality and credibility

Why does Search Engine Optimization (SEO) matter for academic research?

Because:

Pages with better SEO, not necessarily better quality, often show up first
Some sites pay or manipulate SEO to promote biased or commercial content
Academic sources may not use SEO techniques, so they might be buried deeper in results

So when using Google for schoolwork, always double-check who wrote the source and why—just because it's first doesn't mean it's the best!

"What Is Search Engine Optimization / SEO." Search Engine Land, 12 Sept. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFjvRpoCXKo.

Google Search Operators

Google Search Operators are special commands you can use to refine your searches and get more accurate results. Below is a list of common operators and examples of how to use them effectively.

Operator	Description	Example
site:	Search within a specific website	site:nytimes.com
~	Search related terms	~college
" "	Exact phrase search	"test scores"
-	Exclude a term	college -SAT
..	Date range search	2008..2010
filetype:	Search specific file types	research filetype:pdf
inurl:	Find pages with keyword in URL	inurl:blog
intitle:	Find pages with keyword in title	intitle:research
related:	Find similar websites	related:example.com
cache:	View cached version of a site	cache:example.com
OR	Search for either term	cats OR dogs
*	Wildcard placeholder	"best * practices"
author:	Search for specific authors	author:smith

Need more help with academic research?

Visit Clark Libraries or consult with a librarian for advanced search techniques and access to academic databases.