How to search PubMed, Google Scholar, PMC, ScienceDirect and Crossref: a step-by-step guide for students

How to search PubMed, Google Scholar, PMC, ScienceDirect and Crossref: a step-by-step guide for students

This guide shows clear, practical steps for searching PubMed, Google Scholar, PMC, ScienceDirect, and Crossref. You will learn how to find articles, check free full text, use DOIs, and link these tools with your university library.


Quick overview of each tool

  • Google Scholar: Broad coverage across journals, books, theses, conference papers, preprints, and repositories. Use for wide searches and citation tracking.

  • PubMed: Focused biomedical literature indexed by MEDLINE and PubMed Central. Use for health and life sciences.

  • PMC (PubMed Central): Free full text archive of biomedical and life science articles.

  • ScienceDirect: Platform for Elsevier journals and books. Access may require a library subscription.

  • Crossref: DOI and metadata lookup service. Use to find article identifiers and publisher links.


Strategy before you search

  1. Define a clear research question.

  2. List a few keywords and synonyms.

  3. Identify key authors or journals in your field.

  4. Decide whether you need peer reviewed articles, open access articles, or both.


Step 1 — Search with PubMed for precise biomedical results

  1. Go to PubMed.

  2. Start with short keywords. Example: diabetes AND "gestational diabetes".

  3. Use field tags:

    • [tiab] for title and abstract, e.g., hypertension[tiab].

    • [au] for author, e.g., Smith J[au].

    • [dp] for publication date, e.g., 2020:2024[dp].

  4. Search MeSH Terms for controlled vocabulary.

  5. Apply filters like “Free full text” or “Review.”

  6. Export results with the Send to menu in RIS or CSV for your reference manager.




Step 2 — Search Google Scholar for broader coverage

  1. Open Google Scholar.

  2. Use quotes for exact phrases: "gestational diabetes prevention".

  3. Search options:

    • author: to find an author, e.g., author:"Smith J".

    • site: to limit domains, e.g., site:edu.

    • intitle: to search titles only, e.g., intitle:"systematic review".

  4. Filter by year in the left panel.

  5. Look for PDF links on the right for free copies.

  6. Turn on Google Scholar Library Links to connect to your university’s library.


Step 3 — Find free open access articles in PMC

  1. Go to PubMed Central.

  2. Search by keyword or article title.

  3. Click PDF or Full Text links for free access.

  4. If searching in PubMed, use the “Free full text” filter or click the PMC free article link.


Step 4 — Check ScienceDirect for Elsevier content

  1. Visit ScienceDirect.

  2. Search by keyword, author, or DOI.

  3. If blocked, log in with your library proxy or VPN.

  4. Note the DOI if you need to request it through your library or find it via Crossref.


Step 5 — Use Crossref for DOIs and metadata

  1. Go to Crossref Search.

  2. Paste an article title, author, or DOI.

  3. Collect the DOI and metadata.

  4. Open articles directly with DOI.org.


Step 6 — Combine searches for full coverage


Step 7 — Export citations

  • From PubMed: use Send to → Citation manager.

  • From Google Scholar: click Cite then export in BibTeX, EndNote, or RefMan.

  • From ScienceDirect: use the Export citation tool.

  • Import into Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote.


Step 8 — Link Google Scholar to your library

  1. Sign in to Google Scholar.

  2. Go to Scholar Settings → Library Links.

  3. Search your university and check the box.

  4. Save settings.

  5. You will now see “Full text at [Your Library]” when available.


Practical tips

  • Use quotes in Scholar to find exact matches.

  • Use MeSH in PubMed for accurate subject searches.

  • Use site:gov or site:edu to filter by domain in Google Scholar.

  • Always capture DOIs in Crossref for citations.


FAQs

Q: Which should I use first for health research?
Use PubMed first, then expand with Google Scholar.

Q: How do I find free articles?
Filter by “Free full text” in PubMed or use PMC. In Google Scholar, look for PDF links.

Q: How do I get a DOI?
Search the title in Crossref or paste the DOI into doi.org.

Q: How do I export to Zotero?
Export RIS or BibTeX files from PubMed, Scholar, or ScienceDirect and import into Zotero.

Q: Can I use Google Scholar without a university account?
Yes, but you get more full-text access if you link it to your university library in Scholar settings.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Set Up Google Scholar for Sam Houston State University (SHSU) Library Full-Text Access

Image
Google Scholar is one of the most widely used research tools for students and faculty. It searches across scholarly literature, including articles, theses, books, conference papers, and reports. While it is free to use, much of the content indexed in Google Scholar is locked behind paywalls. This is where linking Google Scholar with your university library becomes valuable. If you are a student, faculty member, or researcher at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), you have access to thousands of journals and databases through the Newton Gresham Library. By connecting Google Scholar to SHSU Library, you can see which results are available in full text through the library’s subscriptions. This guide explains how to set it up, why it matters, and how to troubleshoot issues. Why Connect Google Scholar to SHSU Library? When you search Google Scholar without connecting it to SHSU, you might see abstracts of articles but run into paywalls when you try to read them. Many journals charge $30...
Read more

Understanding PubMed and the National Library of Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide

Image
PubMed is one of the most widely used online databases for medical and life sciences literature. Managed by the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) , it provides free access to millions of journal articles, research studies, and clinical reports. Researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and academics rely on PubMed to locate high-quality information quickly. This article explains how PubMed works, its relationship with the National Library of Medicine, how to effectively search its resources, and answers common questions about its usage. What Is PubMed? PubMed is a free online search engine that indexes biomedical and life sciences literature. It covers a broad range of materials, including: Peer-reviewed journal articles Clinical research reports Systematic reviews Case studies Guidelines and policy statements Key Features Access to MEDLINE MEDLINE is NLM’s curated bibliographic database, which...
Read more

How to Log In to Google Scholar: Step-by-Step Guide for Researchers and Students

Image
Google Scholar is one of the most useful tools for students, lecturers, and researchers who need access to academic papers, journals, and citations. It helps you track your research impact, organize publications, and connect with other scholars across the world. To use these features, you need to log in using your Google account. This guide explains how to log in to Google Scholar, fix common login problems, and manage your profile securely. 1. Understanding What Google Scholar Login Does When you visit Google Scholar , you can search academic papers freely. But logging in gives you more control and access. Once logged in, you can: Create and manage your Google Scholar profile Save papers to your personal library Receive email alerts about new research in your field Track who cites your work Export references in various citation formats Logging in connects your research activities with your Google account, making your academic work easier to manage. 2. How to Log ...
Read more