An Evaluation of the Usefulness of Multi-Search Engines in Scholarly Communication

  • Mirosław Górny Department of Information Systems, Institute of Linguistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
  • John Catlow Department of Information Systems, Institute of Linguistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
  • Rafał Lewandowski Department of Information Systems, Institute of Linguistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań

Abstract

Academics often use publications from a wide range of sources. Multi-search engines enable simultaneous online searching of these distributed resources, which is claimed to make working easier for users interested in publications on a given topic. Because some multi-search engines are sold as commercial software, often at considerable cost, it may be asked whether the use of such software in an academic environment is beneficial and economically justified. Does the academic community in fact perceive a need to use these programs? Is their function not performed equally well by Google Scholar? Is it not more effective to make exclusive use of specialist databases? These questions are investigated by comparing the effectiveness of searching using Google Scholar and the Primo search engine.

Published
2019-02-25
How to Cite
GÓRNY, Mirosław; CATLOW, John; LEWANDOWSKI, Rafał. An Evaluation of the Usefulness of Multi-Search Engines in Scholarly Communication. Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries, [S.l.], v. 7, n. 2, p. 273-280, feb. 2019. ISSN 2241-1925. Available at: <http://78.46.229.148/ojs/index.php/qqml/article/view/474>. Date accessed: 24 nov. 2024.