Horizon Scholars

Databases are the best place to find reliable, quality sources for your research because they include materials that have been carefully reviewed and selected for academic use. While Google Scholar can also be a helpful backup tool, it should be used with caution. If you find something on Google Scholar that looks useful, make sure to check it against our library catalog to confirm it’s a credible and appropriate source. 

Here are some tips that may help you run an educated Google Scholar search, 

1. Enter a couple of key terms on your search bar. 

2. Custom your date range 

3. Select sort by relevance 

4. Select the "include citations" filter (this helps you observe how many times the article has been cited). 

5. On the right hand side of your search results list you may notice that some records link back to Pepperdine's library. This means we have access to these articles. In addition these would be credible options. If you find an article that does not trace back to Pepperdine's Library, run a title search here to check its credibility. For any doubts or questions feel free to reach out to me.