Library Databases vs. Google Scholar

Many graduate students are told by faculty that they need to be familiar with both library databases and Google Scholar -- but are not told the differences and similarities between these two resource types.

Google Scholar is a search tool that identifies scholarly research materials from journal publishers, university repositories, and other websites that are considered scholarly. These materials include peer-review articles, dissertations and theses, books, reprints, abstracts, and technical reports from a variety of disciplines. 

Google Scholar provides some basic and advanced search options, like a library database. However, it doesn’t have the ability to focus searches by subject area, nor is it designed for conducting a comprehensive search of scholarly literature.

In some cases, Google Scholar is a great option for finding scholarly materials because it's a familiar search engine that provides easily-accessible information on citations counts. In other cases, it's a less precise tool for research, and runs the risk of missing essential content because of paywalls or information overload.

Importantly, it is possible to configure Google Scholar so that it displays access information for full-text material already paid for by UW Libraries. To view subscription-based content through Google Scholar, you will need to add University of Washington Libraries to your Google settings. 

Learn how to connect Google Scholar with UW Libraries by visiting our Libraries Research FAQ.