Google Scholar: bias, settings, advanced search, alerts

Inclusive searches & sources @FMG Library (26)

1. Bias
«Google Scholar has been shown to heavily bias its ranking toward English-language publications even when there are highly cited non-English publications in the result set, although selection of  interface language may influence the ranking […] While Google Scholar may be biased toward English-language publications, so are many bibliographic databases». [Fagan, J. C. (2017). An evidence-based review of academic web search engines, 2014-2016: Implications for librarians’ practice and research agenda. Information Technology and Libraries, 36(2), 7-47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v36i2.9718]

«Classification systems, then, are part of the scientific approach to understanding people and societies, and they hold the power biases of those who are able to propagate such systems. […] Search engines, like other databases of information, are equally bounded, limited to providing only information based on what is indexed within the network. Who has access to provide information in the network certainly impacts whether information can be found and surfaced to anyone looking for it […] Ranking is itself information that also reflects the political, social, and cultural values of the society that search engine companies operate within». Noble, S. U. (2018). Algorithms of oppression: How search engines reinforce racism. New York University press. [online at the UvA Library]

2. Settings
Click on the triple bar menu in the upper left-hand corner and open the settings via the gear icon.

Select and change the default language also according to the topic you are working on, as it might affect your results. Keep in mind that also other factors, such as your browser, search habits and history (cookies?) all play a role in the ‘mystery box’ that are Google Scholar search algorithms.

Search and select University of Amsterdam at Library links to have the icon of UvA-linker displayed also off campus, as this will tell you at once whether an (online or print) article or book can be found (at the UvA or elsewhere).

3. Advanced search (operators)
Use ‘Advanced search’ and search operators such as the following:

• AND OR (far-right OR fascism) AND freedom
• author author: “F Fanon”
• exclusion “cultural capital” -Bourdieu
• file format filetype:pdf
• phrase searching “social media”
• website site:books.google.com, site:ac.uk…

Please keep in mind that brackets can be used only once in the same search query, and, wildcards such as *?!# and word truncations are not allowed.

4. Alerts
Email alerts based on your searches are a great way for keeping up-to-date with new publications on your topic or field of study.

More on Google Scholar (and diversifying search results)
UvA Library video How do you use Google Scholar outside the UvA?; McMaster University Library infographic Google vs Google Scholar vs Library Databases. Previous posts in this series:

• Finding scholarly literature in languages other than English
• Finding scholars working elsewhere than in Europe, North America and Oceania
• Grey literature: A tentative overview of (mostly) open access resources