This first section, Basic Information Retrieval, will focus on searching in Summon@BTH, but there are several other search tools and databases that you can use to search for material during your studies:

Summon@BTH
Summon@BTH is the library’s search tool where you get access to both print and digital materials for your studies. Summon@BTH can be used to: Search for course literature. Find scholarly texts such as journal and conference articles. Get options to limit your search results, for example, to show only scholarly material. See what the library has access to within the topic you want to read or write about. When you search Summon@BTH you will get direct access to the full texts and resources that the library has bought or subscribed to.

Google Scholar
In Google Scholar you will find academic and scholarly texts from many different sources. You can use Google Scholar to: Quickly find a specific scholarly article. See what has been published within your topic, including material that is not available via the library. See what a specific researcher has written. When you search in Google Scholar you will get many results that you cannot access without paying. Do you want to search only for materials that you have access to? Then search in Summon@BTH instead.

Google
In Google you will find information from nearly all websites that are open on the internet. You can use Google to: Find facts quickly. Explore a topic that is new to you or that is difficult to find information about. Find openly available information from authorities, companies, and organisations. Keep in mind that anyone can publish information on the internet. Also, many companies pay to get their websites or products at the top of the results. That is why it is important that you perform a critical analysis of the results when you search with Google.

Subject-specific databases
In subject-specific databases you will quickly find reviewed material from researchers within a specific subject. You can use these databases to: Find scholarly information within a certain subject field. Get more possibilities to limit your searches, for example, publication dates. Check if you have access to a full text either by putting a limit in your search or clicking on the GetIT@BTH link. You can learn more about subject databases within your field in our subject guides.

AI ASSISTANCE
Many academic databases and search tools have built-in AI functionality, often called research assistant. These AI-powered assistants can, for instance, generate search strings, summarise scientific articles, or find additional articles based on your original search. Example of an AI assistant: Summon Research Assistant.

Ask your teacher or supervisor first whether you are allowed to use AI tools. Make sure to reference clearly if, and how, you have used the AI tool.

Remember to always double-check the generated information carefully when using AI, even in academic databases.