For decades, academic research has involved the use of books, encyclopedias, old periodicals, and primary sources. Specific primary documents include letters, journal entries, or historical papers. Academic researchers would often spend hours in public, state, or university libraries to have the best access to current journals, articles, and publications.

In addition to traditional printed research in academia, lab experiments, trials, interviews with sources, focus groups, surveys, and polls have also been used in academic research for years. The choice of materials used for academic research depends on the subject matter and topic. Researchers often captured their copious notes in notebooks or on recording devices.

The rise of using technology in everyday life, however, has significantly impacted how academic research is currently conducted, especially in education, education graduate programs, and universities. Instead of writing down research in notebooks, they are typed. Tape recorders have been replaced with phones or iPads. Technology software now enables individuals to easy collect, interpret, and analyze data. Email polls and surveys have replaced phone calls and boardrooms of focus groups. Lastly, the digital organization of newspaper articles, journal articles, and online encyclopedias, thanks to online internet search engines, makes academic research easy and convenient.

As long as a person has a device with internet capabilities, they can research and access academic research databases at home or on the go. You can even ask Alexa to provide you with a fact you instantly need to know. Yes, technology has made academic research a much less grueling and time-consuming process. However, it may not always be as simple as that.

Pros and Cons of Google for Academic Research

Lifelong readers and leaners have always been interested in looking up information and finding out facts on various subject matters. Instead of people now saying, “I need to look that up,” people say, “Google it,” and we know exactly what that means. Google is the most popular search engine of organization information on the web.

Pros

By typing a few strong key words in the search bar on Google, a person is given a countless number of links to click on and explore the information. A researcher can instantly receive pages of articles, publications, and news stories to read.

The pros of using Google for academic research include:

• Convenience
• Saving time
• Organization
• Relevancy
• Ease

Cons

While the pros certainly outweigh the cons, there are some negatives when it comes to relying on Google for academic research. Since Google organizes everything based on SEO or keywords, the search engine picks up anything related to the topic a person is searching for. This includes information from local news stories, blogs, and social media platforms.

Google does not discern through all of their information to determine if it a link is actually verified and vetted research or if it is simply someone’s opinion. Just because an article shows up in a Google search does not mean it is appropriate for academic research.

If a researcher puts all of their confidence in Google, it can be detrimental to their research. Primary resources, specific journal articles and publications, and books are still truly only available offline. For an academic researcher, libraries and bookstores are still an important part of finding valid research.

Tips for Using Google for Academic Research

There are several tips to consider when using Google for academic research.

Utilize Credible Sources

The first one is to remember to determine whether each link or source provided during a search is credible.

Use Google Efficiently

The second tip is to use Google efficiently and as a time saver since it can easily suggest book titles and publications on the topic to check out from the library. Another important tip is to determine if a provided article is relevant and supports your research.

Use Timely Sources

It is recommended that virtual research should only be considered timely within the last ten years.

Google Scholar

The best tip for using Google for academic research is to use Google Scholar, and other Google Tools. This more specific search engine created by Google was specifically designed for research. Google Scholar is truly a catalog of research-based and vetted journals and publications. It only contains cited articles, publication extracts, and case studies specific to your search bar topic. The researcher can sort articles in a custom time range or specific year.

When a researcher takes advantage of this special feature and combines it with books, primary documents, and historical or scientific data, the academic research is valid and useful. Google and technology has certainly changed academic research, but when it is used correctly and intelligently, it is only for the better.

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Academic research is a systematic approach to increase knowledge on a particular subject matter or topic. The deep exploration and study of a specific topic found through academic research are often used to explain particular facts, misconceptions, and opinions of a relevant topic about a field of study.

A person’s academic research is most often associated with a master’s degree, doctoral program, or professional contribution to journals, conferences, or internships.

Why is Academic Research Important in Graduate School?

Academic research is essential in graduate school because it is often the culminating project or final paper submitted to support a candidate’s complete understanding of a topic within a graduate program. The actual academic research usually takes a year or more to complete in addition to a two-year to five-year time period in an in-person or online program, depending on the field of study and amount of coursework required.

Academic research often indicates or proves that a candidate is qualified to be a leader in their field of study while also representing the graduate school. Academic research is an in-depth critical analysis of statistics, observations, literature, case studies, and theories closely related to a graduate school candidate’s professional interests and career path.

More often than not, the academic research conducted in graduate school is later published in a trade publication or periodical. It can also be submitted and used as a research-based presentation at a professional trade or industry conference. Sometimes, it is even used later to write and publish a book on the subject matter. In this instance, graduate school is the driving force behind academic research.

How Do I Know if Something is Credible?

Several factors can be used to determine if academic research is credible. The first question to ask is why the study was chosen in the first place to fully examine. Then, ask a variety of inquiry-based questions to support the reason behind the research:

• What is the purpose of the research?
• Why was this research so important to conduct?
• How relevant is this research?

It is important to identify the credentials of the person conducting the research, what school is backing or supporting the academic research, and if any particular organization or institution funds the research.

The sample size of the case study and the data collected are important to review for credibility in addition to understanding the measures and said outcomes of the conducted research. Finally, peer-reviewed and trusted resources are a good indicator of credible sources. 

Academic Research Tips: How to Find Trustworthy Research

When an individual is completing the actual research, it is imperative to ensure that trustworthy research is available to help create a substantial research paper to present. One of the best ways to do this is to be skeptical about everything you read. The tips to finding trustworthy research are similar to determining if something is indeed credible. Peer-reviewed papers and highly ranked trusted institutions and organizations often produce and publish the most trustworthy research.

Reviewing the identity of the researcher conducting the academic research and their credentials of the person conducting the research is vital to locate trustworthy research. Find out if a particular school, organization, or institution is backing, supporting, or funding the academic research.

Depending on the industry, a various institutions and organizations are nationally and internationally recognized as trustworthy research sources in their field. Check the sources cited by the author of the research as well. In addition to reviews, check if the research received any awards, accolades, testimonials, or endorsements.

Visit a university library, public library, or academic research library to begin the research process. Google Scholar is an online search that is primarily focused on housing academic journals, articles, and publications on a particular subject matter. Finding trustworthy research begins by finding and selecting relevant articles, journals, and publications that address the topic a student or candidate is researching.

It is recommended that sources published within the past ten years are the most reliable and relevant materials for up-to-date and current research. An exception would be when you are looking for historical pedagogy or theories to support the present-day research.

Once you find, read, and critically analyze the research that you have found, it is time to use it effectively to share and present your research. Organize and communicate information in a manner that allows you to write and express your research efficiently. Finally, you present and defend your research to your committee within the graduate program.

The ultimate goal of academic research is to make an impact, create a solution to a problem, or better a system within your industry or organization. When academic research can be implemented for a positive outcome, the purpose of completing the academic research in the first place is validated.

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