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Finding and Evaluating Information Sources: Google Scholar

Utilising accurate and authoritative sources your lecturer will love!

Ask us at the Library

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   askthelibrary@cdu.edu.au

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   Frequently Asked Questions

Pros

  • Friendly searching—tells you if your spelling is incorrect, and suggests other searches
  • Great for snow ball searching  (more about that later)
  • A very broad search across a lot of material 

Cons

  • No guarantee of full text access
  • Won’t search every database
  • Retrieves material that isn’t academic
  • Search algorithm may not bring back the most relevant results

Google Scholar

Google Scholar can be a handy tool to use to find additional information such as: scholarly literature, some of which can be found in the library collection and some freely available; conference papers or theses.

If you're unsure if an article you find in scholar is from a peer reviewed journal check in Ulrich's Periodicals Directory or the Directory of Open Access Journals or Publons

Link Google Scholar to CDU for Full-Text Access

On campus?
Links will automatically show "full text @CDU" for CDU-subscribed articles. Open link in new tab.

Off campus?
You need to change your settings so that Find it @ CDU links automatically appear within Google Scholar in your search results:

  1. Click the three horizontal lines (top left) then go to Settings (the cog at the bottom of the list)
  2. Click Library links
  3. Type in Charles Darwin University and click the search button
  4. Tick Charles Darwin University - Find it @ CDU
  5. Click Save

To retain these settings, you must turn on cookies in your browser settings

Helpful Links

CDU Library

The CDU Library homepage is your one stop shop for almost everything you need to succeed in your studies. Hosting Library Search, links to relevant databases, study guides, help and library services, as well as general information and frequently asked questions, this page is a must bookmark for your study needs.

Study Skills

A site containing a comprehensive range of study skills information to help you understand academic expectations and become a more confident student. Developing academic writing, critical thinking, and the ability to read and understand academic texts, is vital if you wish to succeed as a student and scholar.

Language and Learning Support

The Language and Learning Services team is here to support your academic development at Charles Darwin University (CDU). A free and confidential service to help you build skills including understanding assignments and work standards; how to get the grades you want; and developing your academic writing abilities.

CDU Student Homepage

Need some information or help about your time at CDU? Check out the current student's homepage, which has heaps of info about access to student services, how to find support and the services available and how you can explore your community and get involved!

Reading List

Reading Lists are a great way for your lecturers and unit coordinators to provide you with prescribed texts and recommended reading. Check out all of the Reading Lists you have access to here, and get a start on reading through your unit.

Distance Library Services

Distance Library Services are available to CDU students to help with accessing library services remotely. As a part of these services, you can request digitisation of chapters, or delivery of books to your home address. If you live near another university, reciprocal borrowing services are also available.

Recorded Workshops

Have a look at some of these recorded workshops by the CDU Library's Language and Learning team. These workshops are not live but can be played, paused, and rewatched to help you learn some key skills at University. You can book to attend live workshops through the library website.

Past Exam Papers

Using your CDU login, you can access past exam papers for your units to help prepare for upcoming exams. Exam papers can be searched for using the unit code. Not all lecturers choose to make exam papers available, please contact your lecturer if your exam papers are not listed.

Charles Darwin University acknowledges the traditional custodians across the lands on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders both past and present.
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