From: Xiaotian Chen <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:02:29 -0500

I did two empirical studies comparing Google Scholar and
subscription-based databases.  My findings/conclusions are that there
are virtually no journals GS does not cover, and that traditional
indexes and abstracts have lost their value.

Here are the citations of the 2 studies:

Chen, Xiaotian. (2010). Google Scholar’s Dramatic Coverage Improvement
Five Years after Debut. Serials Review. 36 (4), 221-226.

Chen, Xiaotian. (2010). The Declining Value of Subscription-Based
Abstracting and Indexing Services in the New Knowledge Dissemination
Era. Serials Review. 36 (2), 79-85.

---
Xiaotian Chen
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois, USA
http://hilltop.bradley.edu/~chen/



On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 5:48 AM, LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Ken Masters <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:13:00 +0400
>
> Hi All
>
> When conducting literature reviews, especially systematic literature
> reviews, academic researchers usually consult a number of data bases
> (Medline, EBSCO, etc.).  Given that Google Scholar indexes so much, is
> there any reason to use these other data bases at all, rather than to
> simply go to Google Scholar?
>
> I am aware that some of these data bases allow for a more detailed
> type of search (e.g. terms found in abstract only, etc), but if I were
> doing a search for all articles that have, for example, "mobile
> learning" in the their text, would it not make more sense to simply
> perform that initial search in Google Scholar, and ignore the other
> academic databases?  What reference could they offer me that Google
> Scholar doesn't?
>
> (And yes, I'm aware, that Google Scholar will pull up far more grey
> literature, but that is part of the manual sifting process that I
> would have to perform anyway.).
>
> Does anyone know of a comparison study that has been performed?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Regards
>
> Ken
>
> Dr. Ken Masters
> Asst. Professor: Medical Informatics
> Medical Education Unit
> College of Medicine & Health Sciences
> Sultan Qaboos University
> Sultanate of Oman
> E-i-C: The Internet Journal of Medical Education