Why talk about Google Scholar?
Google Scholar results are changing rapidly with the rise in misinformation, disinformation, and the proliferation of Generative AI. You need to know how Google Scholar works to navigate this!
Best uses of Google Scholar:
Advantages over Library Research Databases:
Disadvantages over Research Databases:
Relies on web scraping [2] “publications deemed excluded elsewhere on the grounds of poor quality or integrity concerns are likely to be picked up by Google Scholar. Even when there is clear evidence of citation manipulation papers are not removed”, as evidenced in the case of Larry the Cat [3] and his impressive H-Index. As AI generated publications [4] proliferate, Google Scholar is particularly vulnerable to being swamped by fake research.
Ranked Search Results Algorithm: Google’s algorithm is not transparent
The “Google Scholar Effect”: Many users only at the first few pages of results, which means that highly cited works are likely to accrue future citations [5] and the bias towards English-language publications. [6]
Fig. 1. Larry the Cat. [1]
The information here was adapted from [1]
Fig 1. Quote. [1]
According to PredatoryJournals.org, "Predatory" publishers and journals are taking advantage of the way Google Scholar works. Here's how:
Paper Mills try to bribe journal editors to quickly accept papers for publication, employ their own editors and reviewers, and get their own agents on legitimate editorial boards to ensure the publication of their manuscripts.
Publishers are working hard to identify and shut down these Mills, but the task can be overwhelming. [8]
The information here was adapted from [7]
Know your professor's policies on AI use!
If you're not sure, ask! Is it ok to use AI to write an assignment? Is using Grammarly [10] ok? Can you use AI to create an image or audio? If you use AI to create an image, do research, or edit your own writing, this is not your work! You need to note that AI was used.
An example from a recent newsletter article had 2 parts:
Example
Title: When your Gig is Tragic: Using AI to Reclaim Your Time*
End of the paper: * ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2024) was used to help develop this newsletter entry.
Remember, academic and research integrity is critical! You need to disclose your research method and properly cite when incorporating other’s work. Using AI is "incorporating other's work"! As an author you are responsible for your writing and the evidence supporting it, including attribution of sources such as generative AI. Use AI to facilitate your learning, not as a replacement for doing the work.
If Google Scholar and Internet browsers are so vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation, How do you know the site you found is accurate, and reliable?
The article Verifying Facts in the Age of AI [9] recommends these 5 steps:
Cited in IEEE Style.